'The Vile' Review: A Haunting Blend of Domestic Drama and Supernatural Terror
- Jack Ransom
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 29
By Jack Ransom - October 17, 2025
The second feature film from director Majid Al Ansari, The Vile sees Amani's (Bdoor Mohammed) peaceful life as a wife and mother shatter when her husband (Jasem Alkharraz) brings home a second wife (Sarah Taibah), unleashing mysterious dark forces into their household.
My final film of LFF 2025 was a disturbing, claustrophobic success, which was also pretty much a blind viewing outside of the small-scale synopsis on the festival lineup listing. The Vile is undeniably made up of a recipe of influences from across the horror and thriller board; however, its engaging family dynamic, distinct cultural elements, some superb imagery, and jolting scares help set it apart.
Tonally, the film manages to hit a fitting balance of being a serious domestic drama and certainly wears its messages and themes on its sleeves (Dude’s, please don’t be greedy and ruin your family life for old traditional values and potential succubus). The pacing is solid and moves consistently across the just under 1 hour 40 minute runtime as we see Amani’s paranoia and suspicion grow, as Zahra’s (Taibah) influence grows over her daughter (Iman Tarik). Sure, her journey follows familiar beats (the research scene, the lead tracking down someone still connected to the villain’s past, the leering supernatural angle). It’s home territory for horror fans, but it’s executed very effectively.
Stylistically, this is shot well and features a myriad of creative camera choices and angles. A lot of looming upside-down and rotating shots, superb framing, and lingering that’ll have you peering around the frame. There are a handful of brilliantly creepy set pieces (the TV sequence being a highlight), and the trippy, bonkers finale features gnarly violence and a couple of absolutely vicious jump scares thanks to the top-tier sound design and lighting.
Performance-wise, everyone does a top job here. Bdoor Mohammed’s determination, mind-scrambled fear and shame, and anger surrounding her husband’s portrayal is a fantastic lead anchor for the story to center around. Sarah Taibah is effortlessly devious, glamorous, and manipulative. Iman Tarik’s switch-up from anxious and quiet to growing confidence, snark, and violence is effectively presented, and Jasem Alkharraz nails the self-centred, shameless, cheating husband role.
The Vile may tread familiar ground throughout its screenplay, but it delivers a damn good blend of 90s-esque thrills, a modern horror tone, and a smattering of seat-jerking scares. Check it out when you get the chance!
While the film has yet to receive confirmed U.S. or U.K. theatrical or streaming release dates, it made its international premiere at the Sitges Film Festival and later screened at the London Film Festival in October 2025.
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