If the words “Based on a true story” weren’t so prominent in the marketing materials, I never would have believed that Three was derived from factual circumstances. This admission gives incredible context to Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja’s religious horror film, which also marks her feature-length directorial debut. Regarded as the “first female film director in the United Arab Emirates,” Al Khaja displays exceptional control over every facet of the film’s execution, starting with the rich color grade to the eerie soundtrack and a rousing performance from the young lead. Given all of the above, Three feels like a much bigger movie in scope than its indie peers.

Ahmed (Saud Alzarooni) suffers from intense night terrors, which have been steadily increasing with every passing day. Much to the distraught of his mother Maryam (Faten Ahmed), Ahmed begins acting out in bizarre ways, seemingly unable to control his body. From self-harm to attacking his classmates, Maryam believes the only explanation is that Ahmed has been cursed by an evil eye. In a desperate attempt to absolve him from the evil inside, she seeks out religious leaders to perform a traditional purging of djinn spirits. When that doesn’t work, Maryam turns to Western medicine and Dr. Mark Holly (Jefferson Hall). Dr. Holly empathizes with the young mother and takes it upon himself to get to the root of Ahmed’s supernatural condition, however, his attempts fall short. As a non-Muslim doctor, he embraces treatments that traditionally fall outside of his comfort zone, and it becomes clear to everyone that the only thing left to try is the most invasive and extreme method of all: an Islamic exorcism.

Outside of the more traditional horror tropes that envelop many psychologically bent films, there is a freshness to Three that feels energizing and exciting. There is a similarity here between Three and A24’s breakout hit of 2023, Talk To Me, in that both films are centralized on body trauma and are grounded by confident performances. However, the personal connection and authenticity that is the backbone of Three‘s horror make the stakes that much higher and, in turn, very unforgettable.

Fueled by a demonic score by composers Vladimir Persan and Pantawit Kiangsiri, Three seems to be the start of a promising career trajectory for filmmaker Nayla Al Khaja. Making its World Premiere at the Red Sea Film Festival in 2023, Three is a twisty ride through Eastern and Western beliefs, religious sensitivities, and the universal mystery of the absurd. Told in both English and Arabic, this cross-cultural film is a successful portrayal of the personal compromise one must make for the greater good.