Ürei horror film explores family trauma in Kazakhstan

The film Ürei, written and directed by Yerkezhan Baizhan, has been featured at Fantastic Fest. An expansion of Baizhan’s 2024 short film, the feature-length horror explores the relationship between a teenager and her grandmother in a remote Kazakh village.

The story follows 13-year-old Kalima, played by Akerke Kozayyr, who is sent to live with her aging grandmother following family tensions and parental conflict. As the grandmother’s health and mental state decline, the domestic situation transforms into a disturbing nightmare. The film utilizes atmosphere, shadows, and unsettling sounds to depict the complexities of familial care, dementia, and the emotional distortions caused by distress.