If there’s one thing Deemak makes clear, it’s that the scariest things aren’t always ghosts — sometimes, it’s the silence around us. Directed by Rafay Rashdi and written by Ayesha Muzaffar, this Pakistani horror film offers something we rarely see in local cinema: genre with substance. It’s not just about making you jump; it wants to make you feel. And it largely succeeds.
At first glance, Deemak appears to be a classic haunted-house setup. A young couple lives under the watchful, often hostile eye of the mother-in-law. Strange things start happening — noises, shadows, unexplained events. But it’s the emotional atmosphere that feels the most oppressive. This isn’t just about what’s haunting the house. It’s about what’s haunting the people inside it.
The performances are a major strength. Samina Peerzada is nothing short of brilliant, balancing quiet menace and vulnerability in a role that could have easily become a stereotype. Sonya Hussyn brings raw emotion and authenticity to the daughter-in-law’s unraveling, while Faysal Quraishi adds a conflicted subtlety as the man caught in between. Even the supporting cast — including icons like Bushra Ansari and Javed Sheikh — lend the film a grounded weight.
But the real surprise? Deemak doesn’t rely on loud jump scares or gore. Instead, it builds tension through atmosphere and emotional stakes. You care about these characters, even when the supernatural starts to take over. That’s a rare feat in horror — local or otherwise.
The film is inspired by real stories from writer Ayesha Muzaffar’s own family, and you can feel that personal touch throughout. There’s a quiet rage beneath the surface — about women not being believed, about trauma being swept under the rug, about the generational patterns we pretend not to see. In that sense, Deemak is less about a ghost and more about a legacy of hurt.
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. The pacing in the second half drags in places, and the visual effects don’t always match the emotional weight of the story. Some of the CGI moments feel jarring — more like a video game than a film trying to pull you into its world. But even with these technical stumbles, the movie never loses its emotional core.
For Pakistani cinema, Deemak is an exciting step forward — a genre film that refuses to be shallow, one that dares to explore the intersections of horror and heartbreak. It’s a reminder that horror can be intelligent, and that Pakistani filmmakers are more than capable of pushing boundaries when given the space.
So, if you’re looking for something that goes beyond the usual, give Deemak a watch. It won’t just spook you — it might just stay with you.
A slow-burning, emotionally grounded horror film with standout performances and a message that cuts deeper than any ghost story.