Get ready to sleep with the lights on, folks—because HOBA is here to crawl right under your skin. Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Spooky Pictures have just dropped the news that HOBA, a bone-chilling psychological horror-thriller from award-winning Emirati filmmaker Majid Al Ansari, is making its world premiere this September at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. And trust us, Fantastic Fest isn’t just any film festival—it’s where the weird, the bold, and the “are-you-sure-you-can-handle-this?” kind of movies go to shine.
A Story That Cuts Deep
So, what’s the deal with HOBA? Picture this: Amani (played by Emirati actress Bdoor Mohammed) is living her best loyal-wife life until her husband casually walks in one day with—plot twist—a second wife, Zahra (Saudi filmmaker and artist Sarah Taibah). If that wasn’t drama enough, Zahra doesn’t just bring matching luggage… she brings something darker. An unseen evil seeps into their home, twisting love, loyalty, and survival into a terrifying game of shadows. Let’s just say this is not the family reunion anyone asked for.
The Cast, the Crew, and the Milestone
The spine-chilling cast doesn’t stop there. Eman Tarik joins as Noor, Amani’s daughter, while Jasem AlKharraz plays her father Khalid. Behind the camera, an Avengers-level lineup of producers—Roy Lee (The Ring), Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity), Derek Dauchy, and Rami Yasin—back Majid Al Ansari’s vision.
Add executive producers Mohamed Hefzy and Yasir Al Yasiri, and you know this horror baby is in very sinister hands. But beyond the scares, HOBA is making history: it’s the first Arabic-language Emirati feature on the Image Nation + Spooky Pictures slate. Translation? It’s not just terrifying—it’s groundbreaking.
More Chills From Image Nation
And the fright-fest doesn’t end with HOBA. Image Nation Abu Dhabi is doubling down at Fantastic Fest with two more premieres: the North American debut of The Plague and the world premiere of V/H/S Halloween (because clearly October wasn’t spooky enough already).
Coming Soon: Are You Brave Enough?
Circle October 30, 2025, on your calendar, because that’s when HOBA hits UAE cinemas. Right before Halloween—perfect timing to watch something that’ll make you suspicious of every flickering light and every creak in your house. So, are you ready to let HOBA mess with your head? Or will you chicken out and stick to pumpkin-spiced lattes and family-friendly romcoms this Halloween?
