Critics, applause for first ever escape room series on STARZPLAY, “SPECTER: BLACK OUT” – a fresh take in the horror genre

Dubai: Zenofar Fathima, film director, producer, and CEO of Zen Film Productions has now launched her long-awaited escape room series Specter: Black Out on OTT platform STARZPLAY. The series follows an ensemble of individuals from diverse walks of life who are mysteriously invited to visit an escape room for a casting call audition.

Directed by Zenofar Fathima and Afraah Farhana, Specter: Black Out is the first ever fictional escape room show to ever be produced globally. “Specter: Black Out being one of the first ever escape room series is not to be taken lightly- it is a great accolade to have. I am very thrilled to have brought this vision to life and am even more excited for my fans to watch the series this summer,” Fathima said. 

The project sees Fathima- who has directed and produced over 20 unique shorts on various topics such as COVID-19 and cyber extortion- combine her social activist filmmaking style with her well-known penchant for the horror genre. “Horror was how I started making movies. It was the genre I had tested the waters with back when I kick-started my career in 2018. Social awareness, on the other hand, is the cornerstone of my every cinematic undertaking, and is what makes my work stand out. It was very crucial that I combined the two to produce a powerful narrative that can not only entertain and spook audiences but resonate with them too,” explained Fathima. With the first episode being available to watch on STARZPLAY, the remainder of the series’ debut season is estimated to have four episodes, slated for release in October and the rest in late 2023. Season 2 is set to have six episodes.

Since the eve of the series’ episode premiere on August 1st, critics and fans of Fathima’s work alike continue to praise the horror slash thriller, acknowledging its unique premise that brings together Gen X and millennials to participate in the unconventional setting of the Gen Z favorite escape rooms, in hopes of overcoming their own personal adversities. Calling the series an “enticing mix of fear and tension”, some have likened Specter to James Wan’s 2004 gore horror film Saw as well as the 2019 thriller Escape Room. Cinema experts also weighed in on the series’ production value, describing it as “top-notch” with “atmospheric cinematography that envelopes viewers in an immersive and chilling world”, with “magnetic performances that make for a compelling tapestry of personalities that heighten the intrigue”.

Fathima also stars in the series as one of the dubious casting call participants, which required her to perform both on and off camera. “It’s always a great experience to both direct and act, a balance which required me to be in two places at once,” said Fathima.

Also starring in the series’ ensemble cast are UAE lifestyle and fashion influencer Muhammad Junaid, award-winning emcee and host Joe Mohan,  actor slash interior design entrepreneur Priya Telavvane, professionally trained method actor Allinson Louis Aranha, fashion designer cum actor Yasir Akhlaq and many more. Future episodes promise an additional lineup that will comprise of more untapped talent of the GCC as well as seasoned celebrity actors and socialites. 

The escape room thriller also features a collaboration between Zen Film Productions and BlackOut Realistic Horror Escape Games as the official location partner for the series. BlackOut, a renowned escape room brand with branches located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is helmed by home-grown organization Cave Entertainment.

Specter: Black Out Episode One is now available to stream on STARZPLAY, which is available for download on iOS, Android, and other internet-enabled devices including smart TVs, and game consoles.