Semum (2008) Online

This true story have terrifying and unforgettable moments for Islamic exorcism world.Some scenes are really creepy and first lets explain what is the Semum; ''According to Islam, people have been created from dry mud and before human being is created, there were some creatures that live on earth. These creatures are created from the smokeless blaze of the hot fire in hell and later they are united with a hellish poison. Soon they became SEMUM. After The Creator blowed to human from his soul and send them to earth, first Devil and some SEMUMS begin to cause many kinds of badnesses to people because of they are jealous of human. Even some SEMUMS spend their whole lifes by attacking people, controlling their brains and torturing their souls with fearful nightmares. Till the judgement day that cosmos will take the last breath, the devilish SEMUMS are sworn to cause all kinds of fear to people. In this movie, the information about them becomes clear by a real story!'' Shortly, a word in Kuran 'SEMUM', is a very dangerous monster which incures in meshes of a person and poison him / her. The Semums can attack anybody at any moment, they can move so fast and in some cases they never go back, make the life a hell to the person it has got into. Semum shows ,perfect performances by all the main actors and I think director and writer Hasan karacadag want to make real stories of Islamic exorcism,and he want to say that could have happened to everybody.Because the main actress of semum is innocent woman and she does not understand that why she attacked by this demonic creatures.The finals scene of Semum is really shocking and I very impressed the editing of surprise scene!It was really well edited and effectively frightening.And with Semum we can say anymore we Turks had a international and professional Turkish horror movie,Finally I like horror movies which like Semum because of Jinns,devil and other dark worlds of Islamic mysticism's creatures are very reach and impressive than stupidly made zombies and vampires!

I watched it with my Turkish friends. I liked this movie as a mystery movie, riddled with the culture of the Arabian nights. The script is solid,the atmosphere seems right but sadly it has also been affected by the usual under-budgeting and much unoriginality. but no problem, I will recommend this movie to everyone. Nice special effects,a nice exorcism story and nice twist.

I would also have to comment the outstanding sound and film editing of this film. It's apparently excellent.

and I think acting was very good from all the cast members. "Semum" is an enjoyable Turkish horror movie.

Semum is an exceptionally good film.OK,I have to say,The story of 'SEMUM' is very original and pretty different from the American horror classic 'The Exorcist'.I would have given 10 out of 10, but some of the acting is not top class, so that brings it down to 9 out of 10 for me. This movie really has a very good intentions,the directing and photography is done here is great. Although if you liked the movie Exorcism of Emily rose I think you will also enjoy this one! They're not similar, not story-wise, but pacing-wise! The scenes of cat and edit of dreams and nightmares was excellent!...For Turkish Cinema we can say the Visual and sound effects are great!When the creature was talking in the dark-red dimension I fell some Islamic myths and dark beliefs so strongly.From start to ending It has good characters, a good story and a good directing. And yes, it gives real eerie and chills...I recommend to everyone.

Actually I have to say, I wasn't expecting very much from semum. I thought it'd be a another awful Turkish horror. Surprsingly, I found interesting plot and good directed horror scenes.There was some bad points too!

The story does have some "American horror" clichés, like 'The Exorcist' or 'Exorcism of Emily Rose'.But no, its not a rip-off!.The storyline is very original especially first hour of movie is really very suspensively written and directed!The atmosphere is haunted,editing and HD cinematography is very good.Some scare and terrifying moment as good as for horrors like that!

There is also problems too.I mean,sometimes The performance of characters are very weak,we can not believe they are real human,I don't like that moments,this is the main problems of Turkish cinema! We can not believe our actors always we always feel they are acting.Anyway this is a horror movie all the crew try to give their best performances! Overall,Semum is in the same level of some Asian and American horrors and if you like exorcism stories with Asian horror style touching,this film definitely deliver scare to you,I think this is enough,and I gave 10/7 for Semum!

Ooo Exorcism of a 'Muslim girl!'.Many of peoples liked second half of the film,but I liked first half too much.Because the first half was very interesting editing,shocking moments and contained a suspenseful psychological thriller points.

I love it when a movie surprises me and Semum has a really good twist.The movie was well written and well directed.The big problem is all CGI and some shots of the creature.

I recommend this film to every fan of thrillers and suspense but don't forget this is about exorcism of a Muslim woman!And This isn't as good as "the exorcist" but it is very good and very fresh exorcism movie.

I'm a big horror-movie fanatic and I don't explain why but always I feel shame at our Turkish horror movies.But this one is really different.Director Hasan karacadag simply using eastern based horror themes,Islamic legends,nightmare stories,religion based incubus,demons and especially Holly book Koran based Jinns.These themes are include very new and fresh ideas for horror movie making.Director said that he want to make very new eastern mystical horror films for all around the world.D@bbe was first steps for him an now he made his second feature horror film 'Semum'… Semum is Incredibly Creepy and Haunting horror film.From beginning to ending you can feel paranoia, suspicion,fear of unknown and the eerie touch of demonic jinns.Slow movements of original and creepy atmosphere are very impressive.Some scenes are very dangerous and risky for seek people!The storyline is haunting and the editing is provocative.You can never understand what is going on!...The special effects are very stylish for Turkish animations and CG worlds.I really like the performance of actors and actresses.Improver exorcism scenes are awesome.If you wonder what is the different of eastern horror movie definitely you have to watch Semum!...I think this movie will be legend at all around the world! We will see…

I have seen this movie on DVD with English subtitle.This is very amazing horror film from Asian country Turkey! Islam literature is very rich about mystical and other dimension worlds.Especially Jinns;'In Arabian and Muslim folklore jinns are ugly and evil demons having supernatural powers which they can bestow on persons having powers to call them up. In the Western world they are called genies.

In the Old Testament King Solomon had a ring, probably a diamond, with which he called up jinns to help his armies in battle. The concept that this king employed the help of jinns probably originated from 1 Kings 6:7, "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought there, so there was neither hammer nor axe nor and tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." In Islam, jinns are fiery spirits (Qur'an 35. 15) particularly associated with the desert. While they are disruptive of human life, they are considered worthy of being saved. A person dying in a state of great sin may be changed into a jinni in the period of a barzakh, separation or barrier.

The highest of the jinns is Iblis, formerly called Azazel, the prince of darkness, or the Devil. The jinns were thought by some to be spirits that are lower than angels because they are made of fire and are not immortal. They can take on human and animal shapes to influence men to do good or evil. They are quick to punish those indebted to them who do not follow their many rules'.

In this movie there is a perfect interpretation of Jinns! Especially the commentary of 'Semum' is really very valuable,I mean if you wonder the meaning of Semum Just watch this film and say what you want to say It's just better than Ringu,the messengers,The exorcist,The Ring,Shutter and any Asian horror film that i have seen all.

Overall 9/10

I think,If you've seen the trailer of that haunting thriller before watching the movie you'll know what your going to get – suspenseful, claustrophobic horror, when creepy things happen to a young woman after possession by an unnamed creature! The story of movie is contain very different kind of darkness and terror.Direction and camera angles was perfect! Lead actress Ayca Inci show her best performances for metamorphosis scenes.I recommend to everyone especially who wants to know about deep mystical mean of Islamic genesis and secrets of human's Creation.And if you wonder the mean of real devil,just watch this,and keep hear the talks of Semum!

I loved it.It's the good mix of modernity and Islamic horror components! When I watch on the big screen The story of 'The Exorcist' has been my favorite for a very long time. And now firstly this movie is not the adaptation of the Exorcist.The storyline of Semum is very different,It has special,pure and sentimental moments.Some CGI Works and camera angles are very captivating.

I think sooner or later the International horror festivals will discover this small budget Turkish horror movie.

The twist of movie is very very simple but never you can not understand about it. It's not truly an unique movie to watch but its a clear and a good film, well directed and written, with some powerful images and acting. In short this will be a cult film, a must see for all horror fans. So just go watch it!

Semum was a film that's based upon a true story.

If you watch it,definitely you will see Classic horror elements and new wave of Japanese horror styles are mixing in a very strange story! Paranoia and the oriental ambiance has never been captured like this before.

I gave it 9 of 10.Yes It's more of a weird mysteriousness and psychological movie than a run of the mill horror film.

If you want to see a real Turkish horror classic with touch of great movie 'The Exorcist(1973)'...!!!

I recommend it.

Fantastic film! And I agree it's Scary ... but not as scary as Sixth Sense, The Shining, The exorcist etc.

The lead actress Ayca Inci gave an excellent performance.The story is Based on a real life story of Canan Karaca.

You can learn the meaning and construction of 'human possession' according to Islamic literature.The movie is really has a very simple but also great story.Some scary visuals are very creepy.

...from each scene hence it moves quickly and draws you in moment by moment.

I highly recommend this film and If you are going to see this, try to watch it without interruptions and in the dark.

Indeed I don't like horror movies much more; but Semum is really different. The first movie of the director (Hasan Karacadağ), D@abbe, was one of the best examples of Turkish horror movies based on Islamic inspirations. I think this one is beyond that in any terms: scenario, special effects, actors etc. And I think the most important significance of this movie lies behind its right and careful stresses on the Islamic understandings of the fight between human and evil. It is because Semum is a kind of evil created from smoke in hell; and this creature can capture a human. This story may seem a little bit "interesting" for some; yet remember that the scenario is totally based on a true story. One more word: All the people from different parts of Turkey subjected to be captured by Semum portrait it almost the same! Must see this movie!

Most of the time, I have prejudice on Turkish horror films because of my previous experiences. But this movie proved that Turkey may have potential to produce high quality films in future.

First all, effects was above average and slow motion scenes was promising. Also I liked the performances of main characters. Especially Muslim preacher was perfect in terms of stressing the powerful Islamic words and spiritualism.

As it has good aspects, there were some clichés that drops overall scoring. Without them, the movie would be more unique.

Considering that Turkish movies came this point from funny horror movies, It is kind of a revolutionary film that worth seeing!

This is the first film from Turkey I've ever watched. I'm not familiar with the language, the film scene or Turkish life. But as a Muslim from South-East Asia with a culture heavily embedded with mystical elements, I'm very familiar with the premise of the story. I'd have to applaud the director's vision to bring the supernatural (excuse the lack of a better term) element in Islam to the audience.

However...

There are things that should be left unsaid or unseen. The film tries to hard to shove everything down the audience's collective throats. More CGIs doesn't always produce better end product. There are lots of scary moments in this film that send chills down your spine, but it always cuts off with unnecessary CGI. Why spoil a movie with bad CGI when you can substitute it with a continuous sense of threat that looms in the background. People fear more of things they can't see. That's why scary stories are scarier than a movie. When you can't see the threat, you start imagining things, and that's when you convinced yourself that the fear is bigger than what the film can show.

This film could have been much more. Poor execution, loose plot, sloppy editings ... these are some of the major flaws of the film.

Technically, this movie wasn't nearly as awful as some 'Turkish' pictures I've suffered through.The story has elements of many old Islam legends, mostly 'djinn exorcism'. But It wasn't a copy though, the story is very good, and original.Great storyline, some eerie memorable scenes, and a very meaningful,significant background story of Satan's(sheytan) world. For me It was thrilling! I wasn't bored at any time.And I recommend this film to anyone as it is very interesting and is visually very good.The acting is great, the direction is great, the musical score is solid, the special effects are very good for Turkey's CGI industry.Because there is no Special effects or 3D CGI industry in our country.Go see it for a exploring new kind of dissimilar fear!

The movie creature is a copy of the Iron maiden mascot(with a wig) and its depiction via CGI is awful to say the least.It doesn't get more computer "gamy" then this.This type of effects are abundant along with some unneeded matrix still photography scenes.The actors overact and overreact all of the time and in correlation with the creature witnessed and exposed so much the movie drops to the bottom.

The movie lacks in giving the sense of Islamic mysticism and underlying fear.Its all exposed in the surface and quite badly at that.The movie will perhaps make for a few laughs but other then that it has much to want for.

A movie with no underlying plot, and poor visual effects.

Actors performance is incredible weak, even funny sometimes - but not in the good way :)

The movie is full of standard clichés, imported from USA class B horror films. Most the supposed scares, are just some loud noises from the Semum. There's no suspense in any scene, everything look silly and unfinished.

The Semum make us laugh instead to inspire terror.

So... this movie is boring, especially at the end, and is a total waste of time. I don't recommend to anyone.

This movie is so bad that it collapses in on itself into a singularity of colossally dense tedium and ineptitude.

The first failure of this one is down to the extreme low-budget-ness of "so-called" Special Effects they've created. We watch other movies too and we know what FX means, nobody's that stupid! The main character reminds me Eddie of Iron Maiden, if not worst. At it's best, it looks like Spawn (do you remember how bad it was?), but that's it! I am sure the makers of this "movie" imagined that they could scare people, but come on! With this character? It is plain stupid..

Secondly, this film is lumbered with a pretty awful cast. You've got young actors with their wooden acting, none of them are any good, although Ayca Inci at least provides some unintentional laughs.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love many "so bad, its good" horror films, but this is one of the worst, no doubt about that. It's so awful that in 9 years, it is the second movie that I walk away from the theatre. I just couldn't handle this movie. I've seen better performances in my bowl of rice crispies. Awful story, awful CGI effects and the least scary monster EVER.

Sorry to say but, avoid at all costs!!!!

I am one of the biggest fans of horror movies and I use to watch movies with great attention if we have close look at "Semum" it is ditto copy of Indian movie "Bhoot" directed by Ram Gopal Varma, there is even no difference between make up of leading character and obviously Bhoot has connection with Classic horror movie Exorcist. Its Turkish movie and the Director of Semum added an Islamic flavour in it and showed concepts of Islamic Exorsism. Director used a graphic ghost which was not as scary as it should be. He could have been used better one who supposed to look like human or something. I do not have idea about Turk film industry that how much they are advance in technology but it could have been better. But bottom line is that come up with new ideas.

All about Exorcism !!

I have seen this movie recently and I have seen the movies like this earlier. It has 80 percent resemblance of Exorcist. The movie is a bit lengthy but used visual graphics well. I think acting by the lead role is not up to the mark but yet this the best Turkish horror.

I felt that there are some areas(scenes) that should have been more realistic. Well, this is connected to Islamic exorcism. I felt boring at sometimes and pretty much predictable. First half an hour was good. Some scenes are not scary and I felt unnecessary.

However, I recommend the horror flicks lovers can watch for one time.