Kandisha (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Kandisha is a 2021 horror film directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, starring Mériem Sarolie as Kandisha, Mathilde Lamusse and Suzy Bemba. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes and earned $472,092 worldwide on a $3.3 million budget. Critics gave it 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Directors
- Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Shudder
- Budget
- $3.3M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Kandisha About?
The premise of Kandisha without spoilers.
During a sweltering summer, three friends, Amélie, Bintou, and Morjana, share a fascination with local legends and scary stories. After Amélie experiences a traumatic event, she unknowingly triggers an ancient and vengeful curse. The malevolent spirit, Kandisha, unleashes her fury upon the community, and the friends must find a way to stop her before the devastating cycle claims more victims.
Kandisha Themes & Keywords
· 36 tags- genie
- spirit
- demon
- muscled man
- overalls
- french horror
- grindhouse film
- european horror
- based on legend
- death of ex boyfriend
- evil spirit
- evil entity
+24 more Show fewer
- supernatural horror
- female friendship
- graffiti
- murder of ex boyfriend
- animal sacrifice
- pet rabbit
- brother sister relationship
- two directors
- ritual
- teenage girl
- friendship between girls
- interracial friendship
- older sister younger brother relationship
- bloody violence
- gore
- murder of father
- title appears in writing
- drawing with blood
- female demon
- friend
- death of father
- title spoken by character
- one word title
- character name as title
Kandisha Cast & Characters
Mériem Sarolie leads the cast as Kandisha, with Mathilde Lamusse as Amélie and Suzy Bemba as Bintou. Directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Alexandre Bustillo
-
Co-director Julien Maury
- Mériem Sarolie as Kandisha
- Mathilde Lamusse as Amélie
- Suzy Bemba as Bintou
- Samarcande Saadi as Morjana
Also Starring in Kandisha
· 6 more- Sandor Funtek Erwan
- Bakary Diombera Ako
- Nassim Si Ahmed
- Walid Afkir Recteur
- Dylan Krief Ben
- Félix Glaux-Delporto Antoine
More from Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury
More films directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, best-rated first: ABCs of Death 2, Leatherface, The Deep House and The Soul Eater.
Kandisha Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Kandisha 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (30).
Kandisha Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Kandisha registers a mixed to negative reception, landing at a modest score. Critics acknowledge moments of effective horror and striking visual design, yet repeatedly cite weak narrative cohesion and under‑developed performances. User feedback aligns, emphasizing disjointed editing, a thin plot, and subpar acting. While the film’s sensory strikes and occasional rewatch appeal provide modest uplift, the dominant flaws keep the overall impression below average.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
Artistic execution in Kandisha receives a middling appraisal. Critics highlight the film’s effective interior set pieces and occasional striking creature design, yet note inconsistent cinematographic flair and editing lapses that disrupt momentum. User comments specifically call out weak editing and substandard visual effects, diluting the impact of otherwise compelling horror set‑pieces. Consequently, the film’s craft sits between competent and flawed.
- Character & Emotion 35
Character work in the film is widely regarded as a weakness. Critics observe a lack of commitment from the principal trio, resulting in shallow emotional engagement, while users describe performances as poor and occasionally unintentionally humorous. The monster’s presence is praised, yet human protagonists fail to convey depth or chemistry, leaving the dramatic core under‑developed. Overall, the character dimension detracts from the film’s intended tension.
- Story & Flow 30
Storytelling in Kandisha is generally perceived as uneven and derivative. Critics point to a thin, clichéd plot that recycles familiar horror tropes, while users lament incoherent scriptwriting, predictable pacing, and a lack of investigative depth. Although the climax receives occasional praise for its visceral impact, the preceding narrative offers little originality or sustained tension, resulting in a predominantly unsatisfying viewing experience.
- Sensory Experience 60
The film’s sensory elements receive a mixed but slightly positive appraisal. Critics commend the effective interior design, striking creature visuals, and moments of formidable scare that heighten atmospheric tension. Conversely, users note subpar visual effects and inconsistent sound design that undermine immersion. While the auditory and visual cues succeed sporadically, overall sensory cohesion fluctuates, delivering occasional thrills amid technical shortcomings.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Rewatch potential is modest, reflecting both the film’s visceral moments and its narrative redundancies. Positive commentary highlights the memorable monster design and a particularly impactful climax, suggesting occasional repeat viewings for horror enthusiasts. However, critics and users alike cite sluggish pacing, formulaic structure, and uneven execution as deterrents to frequent returns. Consequently, the film offers limited lasting appeal beyond niche fan interest.
-
IMDb 5.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 79% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 29%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 59 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 61% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
1 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Kandisha Box Office & Budget
Kandisha grossed $472,092 worldwide on a $3.3 million budget, 14% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$472.1K
14% of its budget back
- International
- $472.1K
- Budget
- $3.3M
Kandisha Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Kandisha.
Cars in Kandisha
11 cars on screen, including the 2012 Renault Grand Scénic and the Volvo unknown.
-
2012 Renault Grand Scénic Minor role -
Volvo unknown Minor role -
2007 Citroën Grand C4 Picasso Background role -
2011 Land-Rover Range Rover Evoque Background role
Seen Kandisha?
Movies Like Kandisha
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kandisha, Dachra and Kriya.
Kandisha FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Kandisha, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Kandisha?
Kandisha runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was Kandisha released?
Kandisha was released on July 22, 2021.
Who directed Kandisha?
Kandisha was directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury.
More films by Alexandre Bustillo Who is in the cast of Kandisha?
Kandisha stars Mériem Sarolie as Kandisha, Mathilde Lamusse as Amélie and Suzy Bemba as Bintou, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Kandisha make at the box office?
Kandisha grossed $472,092 worldwide on a budget of $3.3 million.
How is Kandisha rated?
Kandisha has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.
Does Kandisha have a post-credit scene?
No. Kandisha has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Kandisha in?
The original language of Kandisha is French.
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