Image Credit: Netflix Based on the beloved supernatural novels from the late Ahmed Khalid Tawfik, ‘Paranormal’ is set in Cairo in the 1960s, and follows Dr Refaat Ismail, a … The place you come to when you want to read a hard-hitting analysis on whether or not The Mighty Ducks' infamous play would fly in real life, to discuss the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, to share your inexplicable love of that show or movie. After a supposedly cursed mummy is autopsied, a black cloud looms over Cairo. 1 Summary 2 Cast and Characters 3 Episodes 4 Awards 5 Gallery 5.1 Promotional Videos 5.2 Promotional Images 6 See More 7 References Ahmed Amin as Refaat Ismail Razane Jammal as Maggie Mckillop Ayah Samaha as … The Scottish-educated Dr Refaat Ismail (rising comedian Ahmed Amin, playing against type) has left his practice and become a university teacher. Likewise, the love triangle, unrealistic as it is, contains enough emotional honesty to keep the audience hooked. But its unorthodox leading character and largely morose atmosphere seem to have dissuaded Egyptian producers from adapting it for TV, despite the success of occasional Egyptian f0rays into horror such as Doors of Fear (2011) and Kafr Delhab (2017). Much of this is down to series director Salama, whose highly derivative, irritatingly Americanised middle-of-the-road oeuvre shows no discernible vision. The story is based on the best-selling thriller novel series with the same name "Paranormal" by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik. Netflix - the world's leading internet entertainment service, released the first look images for the highly anticipated series “Paranormal” the first Netflix Arabic Original from Egypt. “We wanted to make this fantastic book series into a TV drama, and we had no idea how to do it. The relative exoticism of the Egyptian setting and the enduring popularity of the novels have made Paranormal, directed by Egyptian film-maker Amr Salama, an undeniable hit since it premiered in November, giving Netflix the much-needed boost it needed to establish a firm foot in the Arab market. The story is based on the best selling thriller novel series with the same name “Paranormal” by late Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, that sold more than 15 million copies. Netflix’s ‘Paranormal’ New Horror Series – Bring On The Scary Shows! How can the two exist side by side? Paranormal was released on 5 November 2020 on Netflix. The new Netflix original, which is based on a book series of the same name by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik… The same goes for some of the best horror pics of recent years - including Jordan Peele’s Us (2019) and Get Out (2017), Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin (2013) and Julia Ducournau’s Raw (2016), to name a few. A long-running horror book series by physician-turned-novelist Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, it started in 1993 and concluded in 2014, long after its core fans had outgrown the stories. It was Netflix's first official original Korean series, and it set a high bar for the streamer's additional Korean series. The new Netflix original , which is based on a book series of the same name by Ahmed … Filmmaker Ricki Stern (Reversing Roe, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work) will exec produce … Your one-stop shop for movie, television, and pop-culture criticism, commentary, and community. Photographer: BATOOL AL DAAWI – BLOW CREATIVE STUDIO Stylist: YASMINE EISSA Makeup Artist: DIANA HARBY Hair Stylist: AHMED MOUNIR. The TV series, based on the bestselling books by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, misses the chance to take a leap forward for regional genre filmmaking, Refaat Ismail (Ahmed Amin) in Paranormal: Netflix is hoping the series will give it a foothold in the Middle East and North Africa (Netflix), Ghost in the machine: Netflix's Paranormal is strictly by the numbers. A one-stop shop for all things video games. If you liked The Haunting Of Bly Manor, you will like this. As a series, Paranormal doesn’t quite live up to its potential. Paranormal  has the capacity to establish its own identity away from the books, while preserving their spirit - but it may need a director other than Salama to pull that off. Paranormal Season 1 Episode 1–6 [Online] Netflix | Eng Sub Full-Online Full-Series Horror | Netflix ☑ AVAILABLE HERE NOW https://cutt.ly/7gONyHY. Being of a scientific mind, Dr. Refaat sees it as nothing more than just a trick of the mind – something to humour, but not to believe. These are characters that can go places. Paranormal, Netflix’s new Egyptian language series, is based on a series of horror/thriller books written by the late Ahmad Khaled Towfeq and tells the story of haematologist and professor, Dr. Refaat Ismail, in 1960s Egypt, as he comes to grips with ancient curses, wicked spirits, and ghosts of … Paranormal is an Egyptian supernatural Netflix Original horror series and based on the books by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik. Don’t get me wrong, Paranormal is a good start to a series that we’ll hopefully get to see more of. Every once in a while there comes a series that is joyous, More than a century after H.G. Netflix agreed and, after two years of work, “Paranormal” has become a reality. The Paranormal books, which feature Dr Refaat Ismail (played in the new Netflix adaptation by Ahmed Amin), were wildly popular with teens in the Middle East (AFP) Paranormal is the second instalment in Arabic Original series – following Jinn which was launched last year in June, set in Amman and old Petra, Jordan. From book series to television series, fans are excited to see how Tawfik’s mystical world will be brought to life, especially under the … Bahir likes jazz, documentaries, Ken Burns, and summer blockbuster movies. Yes, his five features and one TV series to date make for a diverse, mildly entertaining output, but they lack sustainable themes, visual invention and tangible points of view, including a naively conceived mystery romance (Zay el naharda, 2008), a moralising Aids drama (Asmaa, 2011) and a thin sectarianism satire (Excuse My French, 2014). The series contains Egyptian mythes that play a big part in each episode, that deliver humor, fun, action, some creepiness, monsters, demons and ghosts, all told with a great affecting narrative. Paranormal is a Middle Eastern horror fantasy series created by Amr Salama, based on late author Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s best-selling book series of the same name. He really hopes that the HBO MAX Green Lantern series will help the character be cool again. The afterlife is getting the docuseries treatment at Netflix. Refaat's old flame Maggie returns from Scotland, and he reluctantly invites her to a party... 2. Refaat is also that hero tortured by a past that is never fully explained. 47m Paranormal/Netflix ... the lack of official renewal and the time it takes to adapt such a well-known book series, Paranormal will likely not return for at least another 12 months. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. His “journey of doubt” unfolds over six standalone episodes, each centred on one of the famous urban legends in the Paranormal books, ... Paranormal releases on Netflix on November 5. ‘Paranormal’ — Netflix’s first original Egyptian horror series — will set a new standard for Arabic-language television when it premieres on November 5. Paranormal 1. Then again, that may be the way the books are written. Enter Netflix, whose reach in the Arab world has grown steadily during the past few years. What drew him to Shiraz? 3. One hopes that, with time, such media giants give auteurs in the region the opportunity to create their own unique work, instead of playing it safe with unexceptional works aimed at attracting new subscribers. The Myth of the Curse of the Pharaoh Netflix’s ‘Paranormal’ Official Trailer Brings The Popular Best-Selling Novel To Life! You can watch as much as you want, whenever you want without a single commercial – all for one low monthly price. Alas, the skill to work within budget limits and shoot around the goofy special effects, or the mediocre wire work, just isn’t there. Paranormal is not your next big scare (I mean, I am the one reviewing it after all). It’s a little creepy, but never outright scary. Here's a list of the scariest Netflix horror series ranked by Tomatometer, including "Stranger Things," "The Haunting of Bly Manor," "American Horror Story," "The Walking Dead," "Lucifer," "Penny Dreadful," "Supernatural," and more. Rather, he is a fantasy figure to whom men can aspire to be; the kind and clever, if not resourceful, nerd who women fall for despite his faults. But it’s also no Pasal Kau (Netflix’s first Malaysian movie). The series starts off strong, with Refaat narrating to the audience, in first person, about his relationship to ghosts, or rather, one specific ghost from his past. Netflix is finally bringing us the first Egyptian original on its international platform and it’s based on none other than the widely popular book series all over Egypt and the Arab world, “Paranormal”.. His “journey of doubt” unfolds over six standalone episodes, each centred on one of the famous urban legends in the Paranormal books, ... Paranormal releases on Netflix on November 5. It’s a compelling character with amazing potential. Paranormal conjures up some fun, action and tragedy with a fresh take on the paranormal. Unlikely. His crouching posture, ever-present pout and unjustified self-pitying are not the qualities one might expect to draw the likes of Huwaida and Maggie. Everything about El Nadaha was unusual. The TV series is set in Egypt in 1969. Provocative, stereotypical or both: Why is new Netflix thriller ‘Messiah’ causing a stir. © Middle East Eye 2020 - all rights reserved. After the success of shows like Haunting of Hill house, haunting of Bly Manor, Netflix has a lot in store for us when it comes to horror movies. Paranormal could be on the cards for Netflix and the series is the first Egyptian original series to air. Paranormal/Netflix ... the lack of official renewal and the time it takes to adapt such a well-known book series, Paranormal will likely not return for at least another 12 months. And as the series progresses, he becomes more and more weary at the world, both the physical, and the metaphysical. Viewers are looking forward to this new series, in particular horror fans! But its commercial success has not been matched artistically, and there is room for radical improvement: judging by his track record, Salama may not be the appropriate director to steer this mega franchise in the right direction. Each episode of Paranormal is named after a different legend pertaining to a different book, giving the series a case-of-the-week-like structure in tandem with a wavering narrative that traces whatever has triggered the demons and monsters now chasing Ismail. His work is not that of an artist or an auteur but a competent journeyman. This is the first original Netflix series from Egypt and it’s a collaboration that is off to an amazing start. There is also a subplot chronicling the evolving love triangle between Refaat, Maggie and Huwaida. Netflix is known as a diverse platform on which you can find content from all around the world. Netflix is all set to release another horror series on the platform. bighorrorguide on 6 Nov 2020. Netflix's head of Arabic and African originals, Ahmed Sharkawi, talks Egypt original 'Paranormal' and the SVOD's ramped-up Middle East plan. There’s a reluctance in Dr. Refaat to become an Egyptian Ghostbuster, mainly because he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Paranormal is a Netflix Original Series that will have you sucked in from the very first episode. Throughout the season, Refaat is accompanied by his university colleague, Maggie, as they enter the paranormal world and try to save their loved ones from the immense danger that surrounds them. The series doesn’t do jump scares. Contrary to the pulp fiction heroes of the time, Dr Refaat Ismail, its 40-year-old lovelorn haematologist protagonist, was anything but typical: a balding, middle-aged, down-on-his luck, bespectacled hermit whose sole gift is his suspicious and scientific mind. Why did he freeze during that fateful surgery? The series contains Egyptian mythes that play a big part in each episode, that deliver humor, fun, action, some creepiness, monsters, demons and ghosts, all told … © Middle East Eye 2020 - all rights reserved. The novels have not aged well: Tawfik’s conservativism is now more palpable, while many of the myths no longer feel as ingenious or daring as they appeared to be back in the 1990s. Paranormal, Netflix’s new Egyptian language series, is based on a series of horror/thriller books written by the late Ahmad Khaled Towfeq and tells the story of haematologist and professor, Dr. Refaat Ismail, in 1960s Egypt, as he comes to grips with ancient curses, wicked spirits, and ghosts of the past. To find out more, including how to control cookies, See our Privacy Policy page. Pharrell and his uncle build the world's best gospel choir! What is the source of this paranormal world? The stream-of-conscious narration, attractively dark tone, and Ismail’s hapless love triangle (with Scottish sidekick Maggie and his former fiance, Huwaida), sustained the popularity of the Paranormal series as the stories began to run out of steam, when Tawfik began moving to other, equally successful endeavours. Ahmed Amin as Refaat Ismail and Razane Jammal as Maggie. “We wanted to make this fantastic book series into a TV drama, and we had no idea how to do it. What are the limitations of science? The most inventive horror pictures - from Claire Denis’s cannibal treatise Trouble Every Day (2001)  to Masaki Kobayashi’s ghost story Kwaidan (1964) - are those that mix horror tropes with cultural aesthetics, providing food for thought with meditations on a given idea, social commentary or political jab. A second (and potentially third and fourth) series is inevitable. But in Paranormal, there’s an insistence on conclusions with big climaxes and big scary monsters for several of the series’ six episodes. But he also believes in Murphy’s Law. The series had a good setup but a few setbacks dismayed the audience of the Middle East. Netflix's head of Arabic and African originals, Ahmed Sharkawi, talks Egypt original 'Paranormal' and the SVOD's ramped-up Middle East plan. Paranormal made history today when it premiered on Netflix. It would be unfair to classify Salama's output as sub-par: his technical proficiency and earnestness are quite evident. Based on the best selling thriller novel series with the same name by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, Netflix has fresh original horrors on the way with the Egyptian series “Paranormal.”. Bahir likes to review movies because he can watch them at special screenings and not have to interact with large groups of people who may not agree with his idea of what a movie going experience is. By Mama's Geeky on November 5, 2020 Television. How 'Paranormal' brought Ahmed Khaled Tawfik's beloved horror and sci-fi to Netflix and an international audience for the very first time. The central conceit of Paranormal is the clash between science and the metaphysical - or so we’re initially led to assume. ParanormalNetflix, 1 season, 6 episodesCreators: Amr Salama and Mohamed HefzyWriters: Amr Salama, Mahmoud Ezzat, Dina Maher, and Omar KhaledCast: Ahmed Amin, Razane Jammal, Aya Samaha, Reem Abd El Kader, Samma Ibrahim, Rushdi Al Shami, Batea Khalil, and Karim El Hakim. Based on the popular horror book series by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik which was first released in the early 1990s, Paranormal revolves around the … The result is ambivalent and intellectually inane: the paranormal exists, but it doesn’t need to stand at odds with science. Looking for the best horror binge-watch on Netflix? We never know. As such, his journey is classical: a deeply passive protagonist is driven by external forces to become active and go to extreme lengths to save his loved ones, changing the course of his life in the process. Only England And Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. Warning: Spoilers for Season One of Netflix’s Paranormal. 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