ABU DHABI // UAE-made horror movie Djinn has taken a record Dh1 million at the box office in its first week of release.
The supernatural tale has also become the second-highest grossing film in the GCC after Hollywood blockbuster Captain Phillips, starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks.
The high viewing figures follow the movie’s premiere at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
The film focuses on an Emirati couple who move into a haunted apartment block in Ras Al Khaimah and is directed by award-winning “master of horror” Tobe Hooper, who made Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist.
It was produced by Image Nation, part of Abu Dhabi Media, which also owns The National.
In the UAE, 23,000 people saw the film in its first three days, increasing from 6,500 on opening night to 8,500 on day three.
“The biggest success for Image Nation is that audiences of all nationalities are going to see Djinn, especially as the majority of dialogue is in Arabic,” said Mohammed Al Mubarak, chairman of the production company.
“It really has crossed the boundaries between the different communities we see here in the UAE. The number of people going to the cinema to watch our film has in some ways taken us by surprise as these statistics are pretty rare in UAE cinema.”
Mario Haddad, chief executive of Empire International, the film’s distributor, said: “After watching the premiere of Djinn at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival last week and hearing the positive reaction of most exhibitors in the theatres, I was convinced the picture was going to open big.
“The film is currently number two in the Gulf area, second only to Tom Hanks’ Captain Phillips, a Sony production distributed by Empire as well.”
The Empire office in Dubai secured 22 screens in UAE and a further 20 screens in the GCC region, making it the widest release an Emirati film has ever had.
“What helped the film most is the subject and title,” Mr Haddad said.
“We have based our work on the fact that this subject was approached for the very first time in a local movie, but what also helped is the language used in this film, that reflects exactly what you hear in the Gulf territories – a mixture of Arabic and English – adding credibility to the general atmosphere of this production.”
Michael Garin, chief executive of Image Nation, said: “We hope that this film will eventually be seen around the world.
“It basically equalled the total grosses of our first picture, Sea Shadow. It certainly exceeded our expectations.”
Mr Garin said Emirati involvement was a key objective of Image Nation.
“Fifty per cent of our team is Emirati, so we have no lack of talented kids here,” he said. “What we lack is experience, which takes time, mentors, and the opportunity to work on world-class projects, which is why we work on international projects, so they can get experience there.
“Djinn has overtaken Hollywood pictures here in the GCC. This is not just an Emirati picture as far as audiences are concerned, this is a film for everybody. Word of mouth, which is critical now, will hopefully carry the picture’s momentum.
“It is not an easy sell, but the most powerful tool in motion pictures is the audience experience. When your friends say it was a good picture, you don’t care what the critics or the advertising says, you are more likely to go. That is what is driving the audiences for us now, and will hopefully continue over the coming weeks.”
Scott Rowell, a 24-year-old Scottish expatriate living in Abu Dhabi, was one of the first in line to see the film last Thursday.
“Horror films have always been a favourite of mine, so when I heard the UAE had released its very own, directed by the great Tobe Hooper, I knew I had to see it,” he said.
“It definitely exceeded my expectations – and I jumped out of my seat a few times.”
Another viewer, Emirati Aiysha Al Junaiba, 26, said: “It was definitely worth the wait to see this film – I waited a long time to see it. It gets a nine-and-a-half out of 10 from me.”
ksinclair@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Copa del Rey final
Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday, 11.30pm (UAE), match on Bein Sports
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
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- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
bundesliga results
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Schalke 1 (Caligiuri pen 51') Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Miranda og 81')
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
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3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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