Dachra

Tunisia, modern day. Death seems a constant companion to Yasmin; her parents are dead, her grandfather ritually embalms those who passed, and she is plagued by nightmares of a woman in black. But she’s not one to shy away from a challenge. Two university classmates, Walid and Bilel, are given the assignment to produce an exclusive investigation report for their year-end assignment. Bilel suggests Mongia, a suspected witch found naked and mutilated by the highway 25 years ago. While it’s a cold case now, Bilel has access to the asylum where she’s kept. Following a harrowing meeting with her, they pinpoint where she was discovered and make their way into a remote forest. There, they discover an isolated archaic village filled with mute women, one pigeon-eating child, chunks of hanging meat, and an impressive amount of goats. Something’s very not right. Once the overly sympathetic cult leader forces them to stay the night, the friends quickly realize the danger is real, it links to Yasmin’s past, and that they may not make it out alive. (Fantastic Fest)