Naga (2023) User Reviews

Don't listen to people opinions.

[elafalghanem · 7/10 · 11 December 2023]

I saw very bad reviews about this movie and I was disappointed, but when I watched it I enjoyed it and was a little scared.

The scenario was good, but the directing was not at the required level, but that's okay, we're still learning, and I think sometimes it's not necessary for the story to represent society or its issues. Let us leave room for some creativity and exploration of other fields. The actors appeared at a good level and the scenario was realistic, even if some describe it as bad. Unfortunately, the music was annoying in many of the shots, but in the end this is considered a good start for Saudi drama.

Irreverent and quirky

[Blue-Grotto · 5/10 · 16 October 2023]

A young woman, Sarah, ignores the nightly curfew set by her father and sets out for a party in a remote part of the desert. In addition to the expected arrogant and creepy men there is a bloodthirsty, rabid camel and other obstacles.

The plot for this irreverent and quirky film is interesting, but the execution is awful. Naga is disjointed, shallow, and lacking in depth and substance. The unstable camera work, meant to give the film a spur of the moment appeal, is just annoying. Still, it is an intriguing glimpse into a world so much unlike the regular one I inhabit.

World premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Weird Movie

[meshalm7 · 5/10 · 8 December 2023]

For many times for watched movies and experienced in cinema movies, this is the weirdest Movie that I have seen in My entire life.

Meshal Aljaser (the director) I know him that he makes other movies short on YouTube and He makes them weird.

The story of this movie is unknown the Idea of this movie I Do not know what is it?

The Visual effect Is annoying and Is a Distraction from the movie.

The cast was good at acting: The protagonist Adwa Bader will have a good future in acting.

The sounds were excellent.

The picture of life in Riyadh was perfect.

My rate is good for watch ones. And for the first time well done.

Take ibuprofen beforehand

[Plasticbag123 · 3/10 · 8 December 2023]

This looks like an indie movie made by a struggling film school student who had just learned a few visual tricks. So much camera movement from unnecessary angles. I know it's the trend nowadays but the movements have to serve a purpose which I am not sure the director had one.

It seems that the story was intended for a short movie and for some reason somebody thought it was a good idea to make it a 113 minutes long film!

I could keep going but it was so awful that writing about it -even negatively- only makes it less awful than it actually is. You have to see it for yourself.

Finally, a word for young filmmakers: focus on writing. It's what separates a good movie from a bad one.

Unusual and intresting

[taghiramzi · 8/10 · 25 January 2024]

The movie is about a girl who despite a curfew and controlling parents, decides to attend a party with her boyfriend in a camp in the middle of nowhere.

As a person from Iran, I was very curious about this movie as didn't know much about Saudi's. After watching, to me at least, this movie showed that despite our politicians' intentions, we have pretty similar beliefs and fears, and our societies are not much different. The movie has almost everything: thrill, horror, drama and mystery, but makers tried to not just scare or thrill, but also address some other issues, like honor killings and controlling parents, which some of them may not make sense for western viewers, but they are extremely familiar for the people from other countries in the region, problems which we hope and pray that would solve soon.

So while I liked the movie, I reckon that it is kind of unusual movie, I hope to see more from my Saudi buddies in the future.

The First Saudi Movie on top level

[meeedooo23 · 7/10 · 8 December 2023]

It's a beautiful film and a great story.

The actress deserves praise. This is the first Saudi film from the beginning of Saudi production. I like it.

The film combines horror, excitement, adventure, drama, action and black comedy.

The film is bold and talks about reality and actual events that no one dares to talk about in public in Saudi Arabia.

The film is flawed by the director's excessive philosophy and the strange method of filming, which requires a cure for headaches.

It is clear to me that the good preparation for making this film gave it high value in terms of the quality of direction, production, and selection of the cast

Fabulous, fantastic, excellent.

disappointing

[mxd-22902 · 1/10 · 8 December 2023]

This film is said to embody the reality of life in Saudi Arabia, and this is wrong. You can do it, as there is no embodiment in it that is close to reality without insults, cursing, and forbidden relationships. In terms of the story, it is on my list of the 10 worst films in history in terms of writing. There is only one positive thing about this film and that is the photography. You can imagine three years during which this film was produced, and it appeared to us in a bad and boring way. I do not wish my worst enemies to watch this film. Meshal Al-Jasser, the director of this film, you must learn from your mistakes in the past, and everyone knows them, even my five-year-old brother knows that you focus on directing and filming and show us a vague story.

That's what I call a real "Movie"

[TheMoviesGod · 9/10 · 10 December 2023]

I always said "I hope that Saudi film industry will reach this level one day on the directorial and cinematic level", and guess what? Naga movie has met that!

After the anger comments on this movie, by the ridicule, do you think we should take a deep breath and let us evaluate the film with its true identity?

The movie Naga is a psychological drama, psychological thriller, suspense, psychological horror, social horror,

From what I see from the comments, I was expecting a movie, a philosophical drama, a social drama. Some even described it as science fiction.

So, you put the film in a different mold and judged it according to the mold that you set for it, and this is not the problem of the film or its makers. The film put itself in the molds of Jordan Peele's films, such as Get Out and others. You put it with Taxi Driver and demanded from it compelling social messages, leaving out the elements of suspense, excitement, and horror, and paying attention only to your issues. Your claims are with lawyers, not filmmakers

I really don't know when was the last time I saw a scenario for an Arab psychological thriller and psychological horror film that had these elaborate twists in the scenario without being marred by many exaggerations or many coincidences. Even the dazzling use of horror tools was sometimes acceptable and sometimes wonderful.

There is a matter, unfortunately, that I did not see anyone praising, even though it was a basic pillar. This type of film is the product of foreign culture, and all the Arab films I saw in this mold were attracting many foreign ideas and implanting them in their scenarios. Have you seen the originality in the tools of excitement and horror in the film? ? Meshal Al-Jasser used common Saudi social and cultural tools and made them themes of horror and created branches of the dangers that the heroine of the film will face, such as:

Desert: a terrifying geographical area and a period of time

Paternal authority: and the fear of the father, and this was specific to the scenario, and this was very justified by making it a driver, given that it is controlled by a family that has a history with the ruler. His father killed his mother, and the doctor only created for her reason what the father would do when controlling his daughter, but what is very beautiful is that in The end of the movie is for a reason for the door after she made a very smart move. Even if we admit that the burning of the store was a coincidence, this type of scenario requires these coincidences because it is a starting point. You wanted to go back to the most famous horror and suspense films and count how much they talked about this type of accident. If she discovered that it was not the source of fear, but rather the source of safety for her, his crying and fear for her and the absence of heavy drinking on her hijab with the capabilities of children on it, it was a wonderful social message and you will be accused of the film, you will know that it is selling messages.

Her disregard for social controls and her going out surreptitiously with a foreign man: This is what I was upset about. The film's director discusses this issue as a basic dilemma in the scenario and said that it happens in every home! Rather, the man created all the expanses of the universe and these disastrous adventures from his personal actions. I see how a mistake leads to a bigger mistake and a bigger mistake. Did he acquit the girl for her eyes? Do I see you as persecuted? We conveyed to you the journey of extremism and the dangers that result from this scene

The many secret parties: They were wonderful and well-informed, as the barbarian preacher went to the land and talked about them. There were only wonderful sequences, whether with events or past twists, and future events, including a smooth social and sarcastic comedy. There was also the demarcation of the heroine Salhiya, who is the truth and revenge, which will remind him of the severed instrument, which represents the marrow. For the movie, whether when her lover chose her side or she wrote to her friend for causing a very old problem for her, this was shown by the pouring of coffee on her face in a scene in which there was a duality between implementing her hatred and revenge and trying to wake him up.

The camel "Naga": Since he went into the world of experimental horror, he used the camel as one of his terrifying themes. What about her? With a very common incident, which is the accidents of camels on the roads, which created a line of excitement and horror, and even the spinning of traits such as hatred, the constant suffering of a character as long as it remains a desert, and the matter did not end only with spinning the camel with this characteristic, with spinning it with the character of the heroine, not for the other symbolisms and philosophical purpose, but rather to make it appear whether the heroine is confronting herself in her vision. It carries the same characteristic that the she-camel carries, which is truth and revenge... a feast that was eaten by humans, gods and monsters. It seemed that the hero looked like a she-camel, as she fed from the she-camel by eating it brutally as a kind of circle of revenge that did not end, but it was interrupted in the last scene when she beat her brother and took revenge on him. There was an event that came before all of these planes that completed the traits of her personality that she began with, which is that she never forgets her hatred, to complete the story of the poster in the movie that Sarah is the she-camel.

Good 7/10

[aamirbilal · 7/10 · 17 March 2024]

The movie opens with a gut wrenching scene and slowly fades into igniting the curiosity of the viewer. A Saudi girl with some issues of her (or they would become spoilers) has a date which proves to be a hell of a ride for the memory. The cinematography is excellent. Not even for one second you can doubt that it is not a Hollywood level flick. The angles add to the story and so does the creepy and eerie music that gets under the skin. In the middle of the movie, the film does begin to drag a little but the last quarter of the movie is a refreshing part in itself.

The cast did a very honest job. The vfx shine. I really wish more of such great films come out of the kingdom. 7/10.

an amazing step for saudi cinema

[saudansx · 10/10 · 10 December 2023]

While i wasnt a fan of the camera work at many times

this was still an enjoyable thriller treat!

A movie that has a simple story a character that has a simple task but when things go wrong it twists and it becomes a full of nightmare and anxious thriller

a mix of " after hours " and " good time " but in a saudi setting

as a saudi im proud of this movie and this step

not to forget we got some new fresh faces , adwa who brings an amazing performance.

However i hope the hate the movie is getting doesn't get to meshal's head, anyone who's familiar with this style of movies wouldn't hate on this movie like most people did. Sadly.

Some people are not ready for a movie like this which is normal since cinema is still up and coming in saudi.

People are too used to a certain style of movies that has been a thing here for decades so a big change like this will forever bring controversy.

Good film

[dacecmon · 6/10 · 23 December 2023]

Tbh, my life and the lives of many of my friends were represented in the film a little: it was forbidden to go out and the people were strict. In any case, it cannot be denied that these behaviors exist in any Arab society.

I also understand her lying and her fear of her father at the end of the film. Many of our fathers were victims of their fathers and are now applying what they learned to their children.

The actress is beautiful and her facial expressions are good in acting, unlike the men who acted with her who lacked acting and cleanliness.

I didn't understand it well until I saw some analysis on Twitter.

A mistake every new Director makes !

[sddre · 1/10 · 8 December 2023]

In the era of technological advancements, many directors tend to forget that the real essence of a movie is the story and the characters ,they do matter more any supplementary addition, and you cannot do sudden hops, thus, what new directors tend to do is paying so much attention to the effects, camera angles, CGI, while having not well built characters nor well told story.

Also, the story could have been summed by less than that duration felt the film was a bit lengthy for the content it had, was a little bored during watching the film.

The use of offensive language on itself was a little off, using the swears on itself could be indicative to the character's personality, what provokes is it, what makes it angry the most, and its values. However, cussing for sake of cussing is not a good sign in which the main character swore and cussed on not necessary occasions which shows nothing but a not well written script and characters and bad writing in general.

Expect to get DIZZY

[qusayabdu · 3/10 · 7 December 2023]

Naga offers a good storyline that initially draws you in. However, a major drawback is the excessive use of light effects and frequent camera rotations, which unfortunately overshadow the narrative's strengths. This excessive visual flair reached a point where it became a hindrance to my viewing experience, to the extent that I had to stop watching due to feeling dizzy. Despite the intriguing story, these overpowering visual choices made it challenging to continue. This film, while promising in concept, fails to maintain a balance between visual spectacle and storytelling, ultimately detracting from what could have been an engaging experience.

Fascinating

[jrahafj · 10/10 · 13 December 2023]

I don't want to see anyone criticizing the film because it's perfect and I hope the director doesn't stop production. This is the second time I've seen this movie to focus on the things that I didn't give them the right attention. I incredibly loved the movie 🎬. Your choice of the actress is wonderful, she made the film even more beautiful. It's enjoyable and unique work, and I rarely see this genre that resembles our dialect. I loved the movie very much. I want to see this type of movie a lot in the future with the same mastery and vibe. Keep up the good work, don't listen to the haters. Love it.

The director is trying so many things

[buali-06626 · 6/10 · 12 December 2023]

Good writing, good directing, and good acting.

Writing is not pure, the story is so simple, and not new at all in Saudi cinema, so the movie could be shorter by half an hour maybe!

Directing is fair, could be more slow. I liked the camera movement but some scenes did not need this and it become like disorder and interruption.

I felt that the director has many potentials and he tried so many things in his first movie. I will forgive him because it is the first movie, but later he should know when to use this camera movement and why I should flip the camera and ask himself does it deserve to disturb the audience?

Acting is good by Adhwa and the movie is one actor based.

This movie was definitely a waste of time 😭

[noot-60283 · 2/10 · 11 December 2023]

I loved the camel . It's a solid 2/10 and this is me being generous. I don't get the hype the storyline was bad the actress overreacting, I know Saudi are new to the cinema, but you really could do better the storyline is the most important part of a movie and you failed. You all should Watch Japanese movies or Iranian small budget with good story is the real deal not everything is about "money"! And the feet scene Hello Tarantino stay true to your heart this is me talking to the director you really have good potential for success I'm not trying to be mean but this is how you'll grow listen to the audience sometimes we know what we talking about.

Don't mind the ratings it is a perfect WILD JOURNEY!

[HnOon · 10/10 · 12 December 2023]

One of the best saudi movies I've seen

Naga is the name of the female version of camel , and this story is the female version of life in Saudi for a girl that was not accepted in her community for her extreme bad choices that she had to choose to feel free of her very conservative family and strict father unlike her friend that lives a very normal life and her family accepted her even when she do something wrong.

This movie it not a reflection of Saudi women But a reflection of one girl that made a wild bad choices in a row.

Note: The camel as an animal is known for not letting go of hatred towards anyone that does it wrong! Hints why how the girls attitude resembles the NAGA. After everything she went through She still ate the NAGA's meat with hate while crying.

Very brave point of view and a wild journey indeed 👏👏

A relentlessly trippy yet flawed 113-minute ride! [+60%]

[arungeorge13 · 6/10 · 8 December 2023]

A woman battles patriarchy, drugs, creepy camels, fake-ass poets, and more in this super-trippy, fairly engaging Saudi thriller. As a viewer, I think you can better connect with the material if you're aware of the region's geography and living conditions. Having lived in the Middle East for a good amount of time, the environs (especially, how a late-night desert camp looks, sounds, and feels) brought back a lot of memories. NAGA intends to take you on an anxiety-inducing ride with a lot of fast cuts and distorted edits; the frame often goes dangerously close to the characters' faces. The film also probably features the spookiest camel you'll ever see.

Meshal Aljaser's penchant for long & wide shots is evident, and he puts them to stupendous use in certain scenes. While the thrills keep coming, I feel the film is around 15 minutes too long. The entire episode at the quad rental shop (towards the end) didn't add much - even from a psychological perspective, I began to think Sarah (the protagonist) had too much to endure for one single night. Credit to Adwa Bader for her remarkable portrayal of Sarah; the shot of her breaking shackles and fervently consuming camel meat made me feel uncomfortable.

Boring movie

[yossefwld · 2/10 · 8 December 2023]

The movie lacked the spark to engage audiences, with a monotonous plot that failed to captivate. Character development was superficial, leaving viewers disconnected. The pacing dragged, making even pivotal moments seem uneventful. Dialogue felt uninspired, contributing to a sense of monotony. Cinematography lacked innovation, resulting in a visually dull experience. Despite a talented cast, their performances couldn't salvage the tedious narrative. Overall, the film fell short in delivering excitement or emotional resonance, making it a forgettable and unremarkable watch. I dont recommend whatching Nagah.

A masterwork

[ghvdr · 10/10 · 10 December 2023]

A movie that almost doesn't want to be liked if that makes sense especially when it represents a reserved people but the more people hate it, the better it has done its job.

That's how I knew I gotta watch this movie.

It was brilliant how it shed light on a lot of things, the back story of her father and the truma he had, concluding that's how he ended up being strict. Also the upper class people can get dirty too. There were so artistic shots and connected to 80s Vibes kinda thing Besides everything Sara the protagonist did very well in acting I felt tensed, dizzy, sick just a whole lot of mixed feelings.

good, but story so weak!

[ahmedobo · 6/10 · 26 January 2024]

The movie idea is good but its not good enough to make a2 hours movie. The director was great but in first scene it was not ok at all when he comes down the stairs. Action scenes so weak by the story side and photography angles. But the acting was really good and most directing was also good. If this story has alot of actions and events the movie will be good. I like the end of the movie its really great.

The scenario was really good and and the makeup of the camel is really amazing it was scary like the best level required. If this movie ne shorter if this movie was shorter, it would be much better, because there are a lot of boring scenes. In the end, i highly recommend watching this movie because despite its many flaws, it will still be a unique experience.

Time Waster

[mohanadxd · 1/10 · 9 December 2023]

"Naga" is an absolute disaster of a film, leaving me questioning how such a production even made it to the screen. The casting choice for Sarah is a colossal misstep; her performance is painfully amateurish, making it abundantly clear that this is her first foray into acting. The lack of skill and charisma she brings to the table is cringe-inducing, and it's bewildering how she secured a role in the first place.

The director's incompetence is glaringly evident throughout the entire movie, turning what could have been a remotely enjoyable experience into a grueling ordeal. The camera work is a nauseating rollercoaster ride, inducing headaches with its dizzying and disjointed movements. It's a shame that the filmmakers failed to grasp the basic principles of cinematography, leaving the audience physically uncomfortable.

The plot, if one can even call it that, is a convoluted mess that lacks coherence and purpose. The narrative stumbles aimlessly from one poorly executed scene to the next, leaving viewers with a sense of bewilderment and frustration. Dialogue is stilted and forced, further highlighting the overall lack of talent involved in the project.

Goodbye to movies era if we can call this a movie .

WORST MOVIE EVER

[abgrundanziehung · 1/10 · 9 December 2023]

"NAGA" is a film that unfortunately fails to deliver on multiple fronts, leaving viewers disappointed and questioning the choices made throughout its production. From the acting to the technical aspects, this movie falls short in almost every aspect, resulting in a lackluster and frustrating viewing experience.

One of the most glaring issues with "NAGA" is the subpar performances from its cast. The actors struggle to bring their characters to life, delivering wooden and unconvincing portrayals. Their lack of chemistry and inability to connect with the audience make it difficult to become emotionally invested in the story. It's evident that the actors were ill-suited for their roles, and their shortcomings greatly hinder the film's potential.

In addition to its technical and artistic shortcomings, "NAGA" also suffers from a significant misrepresentation of Saudi people and culture. The film fails to accurately portray the rich and diverse heritage of Saudi Arabia, instead relying on shallow stereotypes and clichés.

The characters in "NAGA" are one-dimensional and lack depth, reducing them to caricatures rather than authentic representations of Saudi individuals. This misrepresentation perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces misconceptions about the Saudi people. It is disheartening to see a film that had the opportunity to shed light on a vibrant culture instead resort to lazy and inaccurate portrayals.

Furthermore, the cultural aspects depicted in the film are often exaggerated or distorted, further contributing to the misrepresentation. From the clothing to the customs and traditions, "NAGA" fails to capture the nuances and intricacies of Saudi culture. It is essential for filmmakers to approach cultural representation with sensitivity and respect, and unfortunately, this film falls short in that regard.

Misrepresentations in media can have real-world consequences, perpetuating biases and reinforcing stereotypes. It is crucial for filmmakers to approach cultural storytelling with care and authenticity, ensuring that they accurately represent the people and traditions they are portraying. Unfortunately, "NAGA" missed the mark in this regard, further adding to its list of disappointments.

In conclusion, "NAGA" not only suffers from technical and artistic flaws but also fails to accurately represent Saudi people and culture. Its shallow and inaccurate portrayals do a disservice to the rich heritage of Saudi Arabia, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. It is a missed opportunity to showcase the beauty and complexity of a culture that deserves to be portrayed with authenticity and respect.

The technical aspects of "NAGA" are equally disappointing. The lighting and camera angles are poorly executed, resulting in a visually unappealing experience. The film lacks the necessary visual flair to engage viewers and fails to create a captivating atmosphere. The cinematography feels amateurish and lacks the finesse needed to elevate the storytelling. It's a shame that such a crucial aspect of filmmaking was overlooked, as it greatly detracts from the overall quality.

Furthermore, the writing and directing in "NAGA" are major letdowns. The screenplay is riddled with clichés, predictable plot twists, and uninspired dialogue. The narrative lacks depth and fails to engage the audience on any meaningful level. The pacing is inconsistent, making it difficult to stay invested in the story. The director's choices feel misguided and fail to bring out the best in the material, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfying narrative.

In summary, "NAGA" is a film that falls short in every aspect. From the bad acting to the poor technical execution, it fails to deliver a compelling and enjoyable experience. The lack of quality in the writing and directing further exacerbates its flaws. Unfortunately, this film is a prime example of how a combination of bad choices can result in a disappointing final product. With its numerous shortcomings, "NAGA" receives a rating of 0/10.

lots of hidden messages

[danyssalzz · 10/10 · 13 December 2023]

I absolutely loved it. So real and on point idk why people hate it so much but i think it's because they're in denial about it happening in saudi. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the whole movie i felt the anger, the misery, the fear, the anxiety, the paranoia. Meshal did a great job making the viewers feel all of that. Every shot of the movie felt like a painting. The hallucinations were so on point and how whenever she got anxious or scared her hallucinations got worse. Her bad trips and the fear in them made me so anxious and i loved every bit of it. This movie was great work thank you meshal.

The first step is always the hardest

[NASSER-IMDB · 6/10 · 15 December 2023]

I watched the film and I know that Meshal Al-Jasser has a different style in photography from his beginning on YouTube to what we see now in cinema. The idea is somewhat beautiful, but it was not clear to the viewer. The camel's paragraph is enthusiastic, but it was missing some ideas that improve the quality of viewing. The film was lacking in writing, but In terms of effects and photography angles, creativity, but there is excessive rotation of the camera, which distracts the viewer a little. I hope that Mashal in the future will produce a better film than that, and I have confidence in him. Thank you.