Some films strive too hard to frighten you. In Flames does something else. It sinks slowly into your skin, and suddenly you understand that the fear is not from ghosts. It was born of people, it was born from silence, from a community that will not let women breathe easily. I was left reeling with this long after the film had finished.
The tale follows Mariam and her mother, Fariha, after a loss of their only male family member. If they rather benefit from the calm, then suddenly they all are engulfed by stress and unwanted interest but also people who believe that two women cannot be without a man. Mariam struggles to complete med school, but odd characters are starting to show up around her. I believed the movie was leading up to a conventional horror scenario.The more I watched though, the more I could see those scary moments were saying something much deeper.
The best part about the picture, to me, was it seemed to not to be in a hurry.It allows each scenario to breathe. No every five minutes loud jump scares. Instead there’s a nagging impression of something that follows you from scene to scene in silence. A dark corridor can be scary sometimes. Sometimes it is worse when a stranger is across the street. I like that gradual build.
Mariam was a real person and not any other horror movie character. She wants to live a regular life but everything she does reminds her that society is always putting up invisible boundaries in front of her. Even small activities like driving a car or going alone become difficult for her because to the behaviour of guys around her. Honestly such moments felt more disturbing than anything other-worldly.
Fariha’s narrative is likewise worthy of admiration. She is struggling to keep her family together while dealing with relatives who are suddenly interested in property and control. It was real to see the two women struggle in different ways. They are afraid, fatigued, and exposed, but they never stop trying.
This film is a sight for sore eyes. Karachi has seldom been this haunting on screen. Because there were several photos that remained in my head as they spoke their own story without a word spoken. Background music is used sparingly. It never tries to frighten. Instead it lets the silence do most of the work.
Another key reason the picture works are the performances. Ramesha Nawal's portrayal as Mariam is quite genuine. What she feels is conveyed by her expressions rather than extended sentences. Even the performance of Bakhtawar Mazhar as Fariha is enticing. I cared about their friendship from start to finish, all because it felt real. The supporting cast fits in the story seamlessly with no one trying to upstage each other.
I must admit the midsection did end up lasting a little longer than I wanted. Some sequences could have been speedier. Still, I always wanted to know what Mariam truly fought and I didn't lose interest. When the final act comes, everything begins to fall into place, and the finale gives you enough to think about, rather than spell out every tiny detail.
In Flames is far more than a scary movie for me. This is the fear that women have every day, even when no one else does. Power, pain, being alone, and staying alive are all parts of it. But it never turns those themes into extended lectures. This may surprise you if you are expecting a standard ghost story. If you like movies that subtly communicate something meaningful and keep you invested, In Flames is absolutely worth watching.
