Hoba

Hoba (stylized in all caps, also known as The Vile in the United States) is a 2025 psychological horror film directed by Majid Al Ansari and written by Al Ansari and Johnnie Alward, from an original story by Al Ansari.^[1] The film is produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi in partnership with Spooky Pictures, a Los Angeles-based production company.

The film had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025 in Austin, Texas, where it won the Best Horror Feature award, becoming the first Arabic-language film to receive this honor at the festival.^[2] Following its festival run, it was released in UAE cinemas on October 30, 2025, with subsequent releases in Saudi Arabia in November 2025.^[3][4]

Amani, a devoted wife and mother living in suburban Abu Dhabi, experiences a dramatic upheaval when her husband Khalid returns home with a second wife, Zahra, without her knowledge or consent.^[5] As Amani's sense of betrayal deepens and she becomes increasingly isolated within her own home, paranormal and sinister occurrences begin to plague the household. Convinced that something dark and malevolent followed Zahra into their lives, Amani's desperate search for truth—driven by instinct and terror—increasingly alienates her from reality. Her daughter Noor watches with growing concern for her mother's sanity.^[6]

The film blends supernatural horror and psychological horror to explore themes of polygamy, betrayal, greed, and trauma, primarily through the perspectives of a mother and daughter.^[7]

• Bdoor Mohammad as Amani, the protagonist

• Jasem AlKharraz as Khalid, Amani's husband

• Iman Tarik as Noor, Amani and Khalid's daughter

• Sarah Taibah as Zahra, Khalid's second wife

The film was produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the production company based in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Spooky Pictures.^[8] Spooky Pictures is known for producing horror and thriller films, including Watcher (2022), Late Night with the Devil (2023), Strange Darling (2023) and Hokum (2026).

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10.^[9]

The film received critical acclaim at its premiere. At Fantastic Fest 2025, it won the Best Horror Feature award, marking a significant achievement for Arabic-language cinema at the festival.^[10]