Two years ago, filmmaker Yerkezhan Baizhan introduced audiences to a haunting vision with her short film Ürei, a dark fairy tale about a toddler left alone with a frail grandmother. That brief but potent story left festival-goers wanting more. Now, Baizhan returns to Fantastic Fest with a feature-length expansion that transforms the quiet terror of aging into a full-blown psychological nightmare.
In this new version, the focus shifts to 14-year-old Kalima (Akerke Kozayyr), who is sent to a remote Kazakh village to stay with her sickly grandmother. What should be a simple family visit quickly becomes an unsettling experience where the lines between memory, imagination, and reality start to blur. Kalima finds herself trapped in a home that feels alien, while her grandmother's love twists into something darker as she grapples with her own fragility and isolation.
Our exclusive first look captures Kalima staring at her makeshift bed in the dimly lit, rustic house. The sparse lighting emphasizes the lack of modern comforts, making the space feel cold and unwelcoming. It's easy to see why she feels so uneasy being alone with a relative who can barely care for herself. Even with family nearby, Kalima is on a journey into the unknown that could leave lasting scars.
Baizhan's feature debut is described as a slow-burn horror that explores shared fears across generations. It's a story about loss and the terrifying forms it can take, wrapped in a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll. The film joins a rich tradition of horror features born from successful shorts, much like forgotten thrillers that still deliver chills or the recent found-footage nightmare that turned a viral concept into a big-screen hit.
The cast includes Tynsyshkul Sultanberdiyeva, Asset Eszhan, Gulbakhram Baibosynova, and Zangar Miyatuly alongside Kozayyr. With Ürei, Baizhan aims to add her name to the list of directors who successfully expanded a short into a beloved feature, following in the footsteps of Lights Out, The Babadook, and Smile. Even the massive Backrooms phenomenon started as a series of YouTube shorts before becoming a blockbuster.
For fans of psychological horror, Ürei promises a deeply unsettling experience that examines the bonds between generations and the fear of losing those we love. It's a must-watch for anyone who appreciates psychological thrillers that define the genre.
Ürei world premieres at Fantastic Fest, running from September 17 through 24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. Stay tuned for more exclusive previews from the festival, and check the official Fantastic Fest guide for the full lineup.
