The French filmmaking duo Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury are best known for horror movies Inside, Livid, and The ABCs of Death. Kandisha is another offering from the pair. We are treated, this time, with diverse female protagonists at the center of the story. The narrative follows a close-knit circle of friends with three girls in the middle of what becomes a curse gone awry. Drawing many comparisons to Clive Barker’s tale of (The Forbidden) which later inspired the film Candy Man, Aïsha Kandisha is a nightmarish Moroccan fable. Say the name of Aïsha Kandisha and exact revenge on someone who has done you wrong.

“She’ll drive you insane and kill you.”
Kandisha legend

Amélie, Bintou, and Morjana love nothing more than to hang out with other neighborhood teens. They smoke and spray beautiful graffiti and their murals in hidden away locations are much like themselves. Similar to the Candyman setting, Kadisha draws on socio-economic backgrounds and the poorer side of the city to set the scene. Central characters have backstories that stir up an emotional attachment and relationships that hinge on closeness and understanding of each other’s turmoils.

Aïsha Kandisha

After the discovery of Kandisha’s name written on a wall, the three friends say her name as they joke around trying to scare one another. But it’s later that night, after the subsequent assault of Amélie by her abusive ex-boyfriend, Farid we begin to learn who Kandisha is. When Amélie is attacked, and beaten that night, she paints the bathroom wall with a pentagram in her own blood.

She says the demon’s name over and over. The next morning when Farid turns up dead, Amélie instantly blames herself. Of course, no one believes her until more bodies begin to pile up. Rather than pretend that Kandisha doesn’t hold similarities with the 1992 Candy Man or Veronica films with a similar ethos, its characters propose an awareness. The dialogue includes an awareness of films they are slowly becoming a part of.

A Vengeful Djinn

Not left out is the history behind the demon herself and it’s explained that she is the immortal spirit of a woman. This woman is said to exact revenge on the closest male of any female who summons her. Long ago, Aïsha Kandisha’s husband was murdered by soldiers, or so the folklore goes. She then began to pretend to offer a night of love but instead bludgeoned 6 of these soldiers to death. So they executed her. Now as a Djinn, once summoned, she slays six men. After that, she can return to wherever she came from.

The supernatural horror movie is beautifully cinematic but overall comes across as quite basic most of the time. Despite some excellent graphic kill scenes such as a body being ripped in two, and another stomped to death with giant goat hooves, those looking for hair-raising gore might be left wanting.

There was predictability and a generic feel to Kandisha that no amount of likable characters could outrun. I anticipated a mind-blowing film. But perhaps that’s part of the problem when stories like this are done so often. Unless there is some groundbreaking moment, there will be a surge of disappointment. Overall, I liked this title, but I didn’t love it.

This fantastic filmmaking duo’s next release, The Deep House is also released now. I’m here for it and I will watch anything Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury create.

Kandisha movie is rated

3 steam room kills out of 5

Mother of Movies score

Kandisha Full Movie Trailer

Where to Watch Kandisha

Kandisha premiered on July 22 on the Shudder platform. the title was acquired as a screener for review purposes. Watch Kandisha using the Apple TV link below.