Polygamy-Themed Arab Horror Movie ‘The Vile’ Launches From Fantastic Fest: ‘It’s Something We Grew Up With,’ Says Emirati Director Majid Al Ansari

Emirati director Majid Al Ansari broke out at Austin’s Fantastic Fest ten years ago with Tarantino-esque noir “Zinzana” (aka “Rattle The Cage”) about a psychopathic police officer who inflicts torture on a prisoner in a remote jail. The psychological thriller became the first Arab language film acquired by Netflix.

Al Ansari is now back in Austin with elevated horror film “The Vile” (“Hoba”) a tale of polygamy in which a woman named Amani is blindsided and emotionally shattered when her husband, Khalid, brings a second wife into their home. Living with the new bride, Zahra, Amani tries to re-assert her role as the family matriarch. Polygamy, also known as having multiple spouses, is legally allowed for Muslim men in Gulf countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. However the practice is declining and is often viewed negatively by women who find it detrimental to family stability.

“The Vile…