Set in 2003, genre-defying Senegalese supernatural horror thriller SALOUM is centred on the story of three legendary mercenaries who are forced to hid out in a mystical region of Senegal known as Saloum. Shot down after fleeing a coup and extracting a drug lord from Guinea-Bissau, the trio known as the Bangui Hyenas -- Chaka, Rafa and Midnight -- must stash their stolen gold bounty, lay low long enough to repair and refuel their plane and escape back to Dakar, Senegal. When they take refuge at a holiday camp in the coastal region of Sine-Saloum, they do their best to blend in with their fellow guests; including a mute named Awa, with secrets of her own, and a policeman who may be on their tail, but it's Chaka who happens to be hiding the darkest secret of them all. Unbeknownst to the other Hyenas, he's brought them there for a reason and once his past catches up to him, his decisions have devastating consequences, threatening to unleash hell on them all. With Yann Gael, Evelyne Ily Juhen, Roger Sallah.

"Few films at TIFF 2021 were as genre-bending and defiantly original as the Senegalese thriller “Saloum.” Congolese director Jean Luc Herbulot mixes styles as diverse as spaghetti westerns, monster movies, and samurai dramas in the movie without overshadowing the story’s West African backdrop." (The Playlist)

"Freely mixes and marries the cinematic languages of spaghetti Westerns, samurai dramas and classic monster movies to tell an exciting and distinctly African story." (Variety)

"Spirituality, morality, mythology, and mysticism get thrown into a gritty crime thriller blender, culminating in a refreshingly unique type of genre-bender." (Bloody Disgusting)

"The film weaves together supernatural horror elements with comedy and suspense. All aspects come together to create a unique story about how the cycle of revenge can come back to haunt you." (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Tuesday, September 13
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 8:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SALOUM (Jean Luc Herbulot, 2021 / 84 mins / 14A / French and Wolof with English subtitles) In 2003, three mercenaries extracting a druglord out of Guinea-Bissau are forced to hide in the mystical region of Saloum, Senegal.