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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Semum
| name = Semum
| image = SemumFilmPoster.jpg
| image = SemumFilmPoster.jpg
| image size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| caption = Theatrical poster
| director = [[Hasan Karacadağ]]
| director = [[Hasan Karacadağ]]
| producer = Hasan Karacadağ
| producer = Hasan Karacadağ
| writer = Mubariz Hajimuradov
| writer = Hasan Karacadağ
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Bigkem Karavus]]<br /> [[Burak Özçivit]]<br /> [[Kurtulus Sakiragaoglu]]
| starring = [[Bigkem Karavus]]<br />[[Burak Özçivit]]<br />[[Kurtulus Sakiragaoglu]]
| music = [[Justin R. Durban]]
| music = Justin R. Durban
| cinematography = [[Seyhan Bilir]]
| cinematography = [[Seyhan Bilir]]
| editing =
| editing =
| studio = [[J-Plan]]
| studio = [[J-Plan]]
| distributor =
| distributor =
| released = {{start date|2008|02|08}}
| released = {{Film date|2008|02|08|df=y}}
| runtime = 116 min
| runtime = 116 minutes
| country = Turkey
| country = Turkey
| language = Turkish
| language = Turkish
| budget = $1,200,000 (estimated)
| budget = $1,200,000 (estimated)
| gross = $1,827,047
| gross = $1,827,047
| preceded by =
| followed by =
}}
}}


'''''Semum''''' is a 2008 Turkish [[horror film]] produced, written and directed by [[Hasan Karacadağ]] which reportedly recounts the true story of a woman who lives in [[İzmir]], [[Turkey]].<ref name="tz01">{{cite web |title=Filmmaker Karacadağ presents Turkey’s first ‘alien’ horror flick |first=Serkan |last=Kara |coauthors= |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-132303-filmmaker-karacadag-presents-turkeys-first-alien-horror-flick.html |work=Today's Zaman |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>
'''''Semum''''' is a 2008 Turkish [[horror film]] produced, written and directed by [[Hasan Karacadağ]] which reportedly recounts the true story of a woman who lives in [[İzmir]], [[Turkey]].<ref name="tz01">{{cite web |title=Filmmaker Karacadağ presents Turkey's first 'alien' horror flick |first=Serkan |last=Kara |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-132303-filmmaker-karacadag-presents-turkeys-first-alien-horror-flick.html |work=Today's Zaman |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>

The story is based on [[Islam]]ic beliefs about devils ''[[Shaitan|šayāṭīn]]'', who torment their victim. In contrast to [[Jinn in horror films|Islamic jinn films]], the movie focuses on metaphysical evil and deals with questions regarding the [[Existence of God|existence of God]] in [[Secularism in Turkey|a secular Muslim majority society]], instead of social transgressions.<ref>Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Twenty-seven-year-old Canan (Ayça İnci) and her husband Volkan (Burak Hakkı) have just moved into a large, new house. Life seems to continue on its routine track in the young couple's new house until one day, when Canan starts feeling that strange things are happening to her although she cannot understand what and why. Canan gradually starts turning into an evil creature as a mysterious and malicious being takes control of her body and actions day after day. Semum, the most loyal servant of the devil, has taken control of Canan, leading her toward hell.
Twenty-seven-year-old Canan (Ayça İnci) and her husband Volkan (Burak Hakkı) have just moved into a large, new house. Life seems to continue on its routine track in the young couple's new house until one day, when Canan starts feeling that strange things are happening to her although she cannot understand what or why. Canan gradually starts turning into an evil creature as a mysterious and malicious being, called [[Nar as-samum|Semum]], takes control of her body and actions day after day.

The first part of the movie is about Canan's life being ruined by the mysterious demon. In the second half of the movie, metaphysical questions are discussed from an Islamic perspective, regarding good, evil, God, and the [[Devil]].<ref>Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w</ref> God is presented by a [[Hoca]], while the demons represent ''[[Azazil|ʿAzāzīl]]'', another name for Satan (''[[Iblīs]]'') in Islamic traditions.<ref>Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w</ref>

Despite similarities to the Western demon-movie ''[[The Exorcist]]'' (1973), [[Hasan Karacadağ]] claims that his work is an independent work. Although both movies utilize Satan as an element of fear, he based his version on the traditions of Islam.<ref>Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w</ref>


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Ayça İnci]] as Canan Karaca
* [[Ayça İnci]] as Canan Karaca
* [[Burak Hakkı]] as Volkan Karaca
* [[Burak Hakkı]] as Volkan Karaca
Line 41: Line 46:
* [[Levent Sülün]] as Ali
* [[Levent Sülün]] as Ali
* [[Süha Tok]]
* [[Süha Tok]]
}}


==Production==
==Production==
Talking about the film in ''[[Today's Zaman]]'' the director argues that, "he tried to create a model of a Turco-Islamic horror film and that he would make the world recognize this model, of which he sees ''Semum'' as the first example.''<ref name="tz01" /> ''Semum'' will be compared with ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'' and star [[Ayça İnci]] will be compared with [[Linda Blair]], the director told ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', noting that the Turkish horror films made so far have been far from satisfactory.<ref name="tz01" />
Talking about the film in ''[[Today's Zaman]]'' the director argues that, "he tried to create a model of a Turco-Islamic horror film and that he would make the world recognize this model, of which he sees ''Semum'' as the first example.''<ref name="tz01" /> ''Semum'' will be compared with ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'' and star [[Ayça İnci]] will be compared with [[Linda Blair]], the director told ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', noting that the Turkish horror films made so far have been far from satisfactory.<ref name="tz01" />



===Filming===
===Filming===
The film was shot on location in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]].<ref name="imdb01">{{cite web |title=Filming locations for Semum |first= |last= |coauthors= |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1153085/locations |work=IMDB |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>
The film was shot on location in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]].<ref name="imdb01">{{cite web |title=Filming locations for Semum |first= |last= |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1153085/locations |work=IMDB |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>


== Release ==
== Release ==
The film opened in 142 screens across Turkey on {{start date|2008|02|08}} at number 1 in the box office chart with an opening weekend gross of $441,665.<ref name="BOM01">{{cite web |title=Turkey Weekend Box Office for Semum |first= |last= |coauthors= |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?id=_fLEBALLONROUGE1902&country=TR&wk=2008W6&id=_fLEBALLONROUGE1902&p=.htm |work=Box Office Mojo |date= |accessdate=2010-02-24 }}</ref>
The film opened in 142 screens across Turkey on {{start date|2008|02|08}} at number 1 in the box office chart with an opening weekend gross of $441,665.<ref name="BOM01">{{cite web |title=Turkey Weekend Box Office for Semum |first= |last= |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?id=_fLEBALLONROUGE1902&country=TR&wk=2008W6&id=_fLEBALLONROUGE1902&p=.htm |work=Box Office Mojo |date= |accessdate=2010-02-24 }}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==

===Box office===
===Box office===
The film was the thirteenth highest grossing [[Turkish films of 2008|Turkish film of 2008]] with a total gross of $1,827,047.<ref name="BOM01" />
The film was the thirteenth highest grossing [[Turkish films of 2008|Turkish film of 2008]] with a total gross of $1,827,047.<ref name="BOM01" />


=== Reviews ===
=== Reviews ===
Todd Brown, writing for ''[[Twitch Film]]'', notes that this film, like the director's previous hit ''[[Dabbe (film)|Dabbe]]'', ''once again draws on Islamic mythology and demons as its inspiration,'' but that, ''he had a better budget to work with this time and the cinematography is a good bit better while also indulging Turkey's traditional campy edge''.<ref name="twitch01">{{cite web |title=D@bbe Director Returns With Semum! |first=Todd |last=Brown |coauthors= |url=http://twitchfilm.net/news/2007/12/dbbe-director-returns-with-semum.php |work=twitch |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref> ''Cinematography and design work is dead solid and I do believe I detect notes of both [[Death Note]] and [[Constantine (film)|Constantine]] in the demon and hell effects,'' he adds.<ref name="twitch02">{{cite web |title=Full Theatrical Trailer For Turkish Horror Semum! |first=Todd |last=Brown |coauthors= |url=http://twitchfilm.net/news/2008/01/full-theatrical-trailer-for-turkish-horror-semum.php |work=twitch |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>
Todd Brown, writing for ''[[Twitch Film]]'', notes that this film, like the director's previous hit ''[[D@bbe|Dabbe]]'', "once again draws on Islamic mythology and demons as its inspiration," but that, "he had a better budget to work with this time and the cinematography is a good bit better while also indulging Turkey's traditional campy edge".<ref name="twitch01">{{cite web |title=D@bbe Director Returns With Semum! |first=Todd |last=Brown |url=http://twitchfilm.net/news/2007/12/dbbe-director-returns-with-semum.php |work=twitch |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref> "Cinematography and design work is dead solid and I do believe I detect notes of both ''[[Death Note]]'' and ''[[Constantine (film)|Constantine]]'' in the demon and hell effects," he adds.<ref name="twitch02">{{cite web |title=Full Theatrical Trailer For Turkish Horror Semum! |first=Todd |last=Brown |url=http://twitchfilm.net/news/2008/01/full-theatrical-trailer-for-turkish-horror-semum.php |work=twitch |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }}</ref>

AnthroFred, writing for ''[[Slasherpool]]'', wrote, ''Forgettable Exorcist rip-off which didn't do much for me. It's an okay movie but it's a bit too long and a bit too unoriginal for my taste. It's refreshing to see something different from Turkey though but I just wish that they would stop recycling others scripts and come up with some ideas of their own instead. Worth a watch if you're a fan of The Exorcist.''<ref name="sp01">{{cite web |title=Semum |first= |last=AnthroFred |coauthors= |url=http://slasherp.nexcess.net/htm/reviews/semum.htm |work=Slasherpool |date= |accessdate=2010-02-18 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[List of Islamic films]]
* [[2008 in film]]
* [[2008 in film]]
* [[Turkish films of 2008]]
* [[Turkish films of 2008]]

⚫
==External links==
⚫
* {{official|http://www.semum.com/}} for the film
⚫
* {{imdb title|1153085}}
⚫
* {{tcmdb title|736273}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

⚫
==External links==
⚫
* {{official website|http://www.semum.com/}} for the film
⚫
* {{IMDb title|1153085}}
⚫
* {{tcmdb title|736273}}


[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2008 horror films]]
[[Category:2008 horror films]]
⚫
[[Category:Turkish films]]
[[Category:Films set in Turkey]]
[[Category:Films set in Turkey]]
[[Category:Turkish horror films]]
[[Category:Turkish horror films]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:Films about Islam]]
⚫
[[Category:2000s Turkish-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Istanbul]]
[[Category:Religious horror films]]

Latest revision as of 04:14, 30 August 2024

Semum
Theatrical poster
Directed byHasan Karacadağ
Written byHasan Karacadağ
Produced byHasan Karacadağ
StarringBigkem Karavus
Burak Özçivit
Kurtulus Sakiragaoglu
CinematographySeyhan Bilir
Music byJustin R. Durban
Production
company
Release date
  • 8 February 2008 (2008-02-08)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryTurkey
LanguageTurkish
Budget$1,200,000 (estimated)
Box office$1,827,047

Semum is a 2008 Turkish horror film produced, written and directed by Hasan Karacadağ which reportedly recounts the true story of a woman who lives in İzmir, Turkey.[1]

The story is based on Islamic beliefs about devils šayāṭīn, who torment their victim. In contrast to Islamic jinn films, the movie focuses on metaphysical evil and deals with questions regarding the existence of God in a secular Muslim majority society, instead of social transgressions.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Twenty-seven-year-old Canan (Ayça İnci) and her husband Volkan (Burak Hakkı) have just moved into a large, new house. Life seems to continue on its routine track in the young couple's new house until one day, when Canan starts feeling that strange things are happening to her although she cannot understand what or why. Canan gradually starts turning into an evil creature as a mysterious and malicious being, called Semum, takes control of her body and actions day after day.

The first part of the movie is about Canan's life being ruined by the mysterious demon. In the second half of the movie, metaphysical questions are discussed from an Islamic perspective, regarding good, evil, God, and the Devil.[3] God is presented by a Hoca, while the demons represent ʿAzāzīl, another name for Satan (Iblīs) in Islamic traditions.[4]

Despite similarities to the Western demon-movie The Exorcist (1973), Hasan Karacadağ claims that his work is an independent work. Although both movies utilize Satan as an element of fear, he based his version on the traditions of Islam.[5]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Talking about the film in Today's Zaman the director argues that, "he tried to create a model of a Turco-Islamic horror film and that he would make the world recognize this model, of which he sees Semum as the first example.[1] Semum will be compared with The Exorcist and star Ayça İnci will be compared with Linda Blair, the director told Today's Zaman, noting that the Turkish horror films made so far have been far from satisfactory.[1]

Filming

[edit]

The film was shot on location in Istanbul, Turkey.[6]

Release

[edit]

The film opened in 142 screens across Turkey on February 8, 2008 (2008-02-08) at number 1 in the box office chart with an opening weekend gross of $441,665.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

The film was the thirteenth highest grossing Turkish film of 2008 with a total gross of $1,827,047.[7]

Reviews

[edit]

Todd Brown, writing for Twitch Film, notes that this film, like the director's previous hit Dabbe, "once again draws on Islamic mythology and demons as its inspiration," but that, "he had a better budget to work with this time and the cinematography is a good bit better while also indulging Turkey's traditional campy edge".[8] "Cinematography and design work is dead solid and I do believe I detect notes of both Death Note and Constantine in the demon and hell effects," he adds.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Kara, Serkan. "Filmmaker Karacadağ presents Turkey's first 'alien' horror flick". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  2. ^ Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w
  3. ^ Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w
  4. ^ Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w
  5. ^ Erdağı, D. Evil in Turkish Muslim horror film: the demonic in “Semum”. SN Soc Sci 4, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00832-w
  6. ^ "Filming locations for Semum". IMDB. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Turkey Weekend Box Office for Semum". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  8. ^ Brown, Todd. "D@bbe Director Returns With Semum!". twitch. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  9. ^ Brown, Todd. "Full Theatrical Trailer For Turkish Horror Semum!". twitch. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
[edit]
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