Eid UL Adha 2022 Special: A Comprehensive List of Movies to Help You Get over That Eid Hangover

Eid 2022: The Sequel or Eid Ul Adha 2022. It’s that time of the year… for the second time! You wake up early for “Eid er namaz,” but you are still hungover… from life, thanks to unrealistic expectations of yourself coinciding with insane hours of screen time that are rewarded with an increasingly lower attention span. You might have spent all your budget on shopping and “Qurbani,” a religiously obligatory custom that happens once a year. What’s better than ALL of the ways I have mentioned to spend your second Eid of the year? Watching a movie!

This list is a sequel to whatever I shared with you in April during Eid Ul Fitr. You can read it here. The list for Eid Ul Adha is also not introvert-specific; in fact, it is not even the opposite. (callback much?)  Everyone, not necessarily with others, consumes content in some shape or form, despite their race, religion, sexuality, personality, and taste; does the latter remind you of the delicious red meat you are about to have? No? 

Regardless, you are here, after wrongly conducting your respective Eid Ul Adha prayers, hungry or otherwise, for some suggestions. And I am here to make my self-esteem grow. Eid Ul Adha, much like the previous one, gives you an obligation to feel happy. And we are here to provide you with a source of a good time.

Here Are 5 Movies to Watch This Eid UL Adha:

1. Noroi: The Curse (2005), directed by Koji Shiraishi

Japanese cinema has had its fair share of success in the horror genre, gracing us with masterpieces like Audition (1999), Ringu (2001) and many more. This one employs a pseudo-documentary style of filmmaking, reminding you of the classic The Blair Witch Project (1999). With bone-chilling horror scenes incorporated by the excellent screenplay complemented by impressive performances from its cast, Noroi is a cult classic that shouldn’t be ignored.

2. What We Do in the Shadows (2015), directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi

You might be thinking we are following a pattern here. Yes, and no. Yes, this one is also a horror film. And no, it is not meant to scare you; it’s supposed to make you laugh at vampires who have been at the forefront of every major horror movie, be it The Twilight Saga, the Underworld franchise or even international hits like Let the Right One In (2008) and its American remake (2010). Before Taika Waititi burst into the Hollywood scene as he rejuvenated the MCU by rejuvenating Thor’s popularity by actually giving it a personality and humour, he collaborated with his longtime friend to make this small mockumentary from New Zealand.

A simple story about three vampires living together in a flat in Wellington is full of the sharp, dark and dry humour that Waititi’s films have become synonymous with. I will stop right here since it is not supposed to be a love letter to Taika Waititi’s films- we will have a separate article for that.

3. Run Lola Run (1998), directed by Tom Tykwer

The Germans have a habit of messing with our minds, as Netflix’s Dark provided us with an intellectual acid trip. About 25 years ago, came an experimental crime thriller that took the playful concept from Groundhog Day (1988) and gave it a vicious turnaround by giving it actual, real-life stakes. As the lead character, Lola’s life restarts as soon as she loses it, we are at the edge of our seats throughout the very tight but well-executed 80-minute runtime.

There is nothing more to say about this other than- if you are a film buff who is also an enthusiastic cine goer, you should not miss a movie like this.

4. Midnight in Paris (2011), directed by Woody Allen

What if you could travel back in time and meet your literary icons? Woody Allen’s fantasy-comedy explores this concept and correlates it with one’s idea of love. The story follows a screenwriter, played by Owen “Post-Wow Era” Wilson, who wants to become an author and settle in the city of love, i.e. Paris. One fateful night, he stumbles upon time travel and meets the people who inspired his love for writing in the first place: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, and many more from 1920s Paris.

A delicious film about preconceived ideas of love and creativity, full of elements of magical realism enhancing the storyline, it proves to be a good time and a classic example of “Comfort TV.”

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg

Spielberg walked so that (at least the first season of) Stranger Things could run. The first film of the Indiana Jones series was and still is one of the best action-adventure films ever made. The story was conceived by George Lucas (yes, THAT GUY who also works on Star Wars) and executed by Spielberg, who went on to become one of the best filmmakers to ever live. As a “film bro”, I cannot recommend this enough. It gave birth to a myriad of films, both garbage and masterpieces, that have been inspired by the OG Indiana Jones.

The legendary character, immortalised by Harrison Ford himself, could only have worked so well if not for his chemistry with Karen Allen, which gave the movie its long life. It evokes a childlike curiosity within you to travel and explore and have fun. Also, consider the fact that it was followed by two (I’m not counting the third, sue me) equally, if not more impressive, sequels.

Being a true 80s classic- it has the privilege of being a dialogue and character-driven story with remarkable set pieces- a true blockbuster carried by a protagonist you can always empathise with. They don’t make movies like this anymore!

I hope I have hit the right spots in your movie-viewing taste buds. And with that, I take your leave, as I wish you a fulfilling and comfortable three or so days of Eid Ul Adha.

Eid Mubarak, from my family to yours!

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