Zibahkhana
Zibahkhana: Hell's Ground | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Omar Ali Khan |
Produced by | Pete Tombs |
Written by | Omar Ali Khan |
Starring |
Ashfaq Bhatti Sultan Billa Osman Khalid Butt Rubya Chaudhry Rooshanie Ejaz Najma Malik Saleem Mairaj Haider Raza Rehan Kunwar Ali Roshan |
Music by | Stephen Thrower |
Cinematography | Najaf Bilgrami |
Edited by | Andrew Starke |
Distributed by | Mondo Macabro |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
Country | Pakistan |
Language |
Urdu English |
Zibahkhana (English: Slaughterhouse (literal meaning), Hell's Ground (English title)) is a 2007 Urdu-English slasher film directed by Omar Khan. It premiered at the NatFilm Festival in Denmark and has been screened at festivals including Toronto, New York City, London, Neuchatel, Stockholm, Cape Town, Austin, Philadelphia, Cambridge, Puerto Rico, Sitges, Valencia, Oslo and Helsinki. [1] The film passed censors in Pakistan (with nine seconds cut) and became the first non 35mm, HDV feature film released in Pakistan cinema history. It was shot in 30 days.[2]
Cast
- Kunwar Ali Roshan as Vicky
- Rooshanie Ejaz as Ayesha
- Rubya Chaudhry as Roxy
- Haider Raza as Simon
- Osman Khalid Butt as O.J.
- Rehan as Deewana
Release
Home media
The film was released on DVD by TLA Releasing on 24 June 2008. It was later released by Danger After Dark on 4 August that same year.[3]
Critical reception
Zibahkhana received mostly positive reviews upon its release. Ain't It Cool News praised the film, calling it "one of the most badass flicks of the year". The reviewer also noted that although the film had its faults, mainly that it was stupid and predictable, "it's got something so incredibly captivating about it that it has its own place in the line of truly great indie horror flicks".[4] Dread Central awarded the film a score of 4/5, calling it "a genuinely weird and somber horror movie that transposes familiar narrative themes from the genre into a cultural aesthetic few in the West will have had any prior glimpse of."[5] Film Threat gave the film a positive review, commending its effective visuals, and strong nighttime atmosphere. The reviewer concluded by writing, "Overall, a measured mix of clichéd horror bits and wit to joke about them keeps Hell’s Ground even for a horror audience."[6]
Awards
- Won "Jury's Award for Best Film of 2008" at the Riofan Film Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Won "Jury's Special Award for Best Gore 2007" at the Fantastic Film Festival, Austin, Texas.
- Won "Best Film" award at the Fantaspoa film festival 2009. Port Alegre, Brazil.
References
- ↑ Sandhu, Sukhdev (11 August 2007). "Zibahkhana: Beware zombies wearing saris". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ↑ "Zombies invade Pakistan". Variety.
- ↑ "Hell's Ground (2006) - Omar Khan". Allmovie.com. AllMovie. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ↑ "AICN Intern Muldoon checks out the Pakistani Zombie Horror Film, HELL'S GROUND, at Fantastic Fest!!!". Ain't It Cool News.com. headgeek. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ↑ McCanibal, Paul. "Hell's Ground (2007) - Dread Central". Dread Central.com. Paul McCanibal. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ↑ "HELL'S GROUND". Film Threat.com. Film Threat. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- Fantastic Festival 2007 awards coverage
- Cinematical's coverage of the Fantastic Festival awards, 2007
External links
- Official website
- Hell's Ground at AllMovie
- Zibahkhana on IMDb
- Zibahkhana at Rotten Tomatoes
- 31 Flavors of Death – Bidoun magazine profile by Achal Prabhala
- Zibahkhana at Fantastic Film Festival 2007, Austin, Texas
- Hell's Ground at the 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival