Customer Reviews

Born of Fire

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, you read correctly. This is, to my knowledge, the only Islamic Horror movie. Now, Muslim nations such as Pakistan, Turkey, etc. have produced plenty of horror movies. But this is the only one that presents the genre of horror from truly Islamic mindset. All the others were copies of Western / Christian based horror.

In a nutshell, a concert flautist and his astronomer girlfriend go to rural Turkey to investigate a solar disturbance that threatens the earth. While there, the flautist is taken under the wing by a Sufi (Islamic mystic) who helps prepare him to battle a powerful djinn (demonic spirit) - and they do battle using nothing but music as their weapons.

The film has a few flaws, and the symbolism will be a bit confusing to some who are unfamiliar with the base material. But all is all, its a good film; and if nothing else, it holds its own as a unique piece of cinema.

`Born of Fire' is an obscure, surreal film from '83 starring Peter Firth (Equus). Based on Arabian Mythology, the tale delicately unfolds of a young man who travels to the Middle East in search of the mystical Master Flautist bent on destroying the world through sound.

This film is definitely not geared to the general audience. It's extremely slow and the storyline is ill-defined and difficult to follow. However if you give it a chance you'll discover it has a unique, melodic feel all its own that will draw the attentive viewer into it's mystical world and leave its audience a lingering memory of mood and texture if not understanding.

My Rating: -3 ½ Stars-.

I don't see this film so much as horror but as Sufi fairy tale... the Rumi quote at the beginning of the film really sets the tone for theme of the film. Yes, the symbolism (if you want to call it that) is hard to follow, and really, the only way to understand the film is not to take everything literally. I dont know what else I can say about this film, it's very surreal and gorgeous and sensuous and mystical and fiery, all at the same time.

Badly written, but the writing isn't the point. Born of Fire, a feast of inspired, striking imagery and ideas, isn't quite like anything I've ever seen before, although it's somewhat reminiscent of the works of Alejandro Jodorowsky. Some of the reviewers here say they wouldn't classify this film as horror, but it does sustain an eerie atmosphere, and there are moments when it comes off almost like a surreal Islamic version of The Exorcist. The Turkish locations are amazing and otherworldly, and, combined with the director's eye for visuals, go a long way toward establishing the oneiric feel of this remarkable film. Director Jamil Dehlavi succeeds in creating a unique world, which is no small accomplishment. I see that Born of Fire only rates 5.1 out of a possible ten stars on IMDb, which is disgusting. It's sad how many people are blind to visual poetry and incapable of engaging with a film that isn't plot-driven.

Mondo Macabro's DVD transfer of the movie looks fantastic, and the interviews with Dehlavi, and actors Peter Firth and Nabil Shaban are all worth your time. Highly recommended.

I don't think most people reviewing this understand that Born of Fire (1987) should not be attributed to Islamic Horror. Yes, there's shots of some of the Sun symbolism footage but it was not even close to being Horror. Director Jamil Dehlavi is responsible for this aspiring feature. It would have been just as interesting as a mystical documentary.