Psychological Thriller ‘The Tokoloshe’ Shines At Comic Con Africa

 

Psychological thriller ‘The Tokoloshe’, directed by Jerome Pikwane and starting Petronella Tshuma (Rhythm City, Scandal!), opens at cinemas countrywide on 2 November. The film recently screened at the first-ever Comic Con Africa, from 14 to 16 September, and audiences reacted positively both to the film itself as well as the visual effects presentation by the VFX and sound design team.

“As a distributor of films, it was great to show The Tokoloshe at Comic Con while South Africans were dressed up as super heroes and monsters from films like Batman, Black Panther or Star Wars”, said Helen Kuun, head of Indigenous Film Distribution.

The chilling film has generated much interest at fantasy and horror festivals around the world. It had its European premiere at Frightfest in London, the UK’s largest international horror film festival. Known as the ‘dark heart of film’, the festival showcases the best and most exciting horror from around the globe.

The South African film, a tale about a terrifying predator, tells the story of Busi (Tshuma), a young woman who is desperate for money and takes a cleaning job at a rundown hospital. There she befriends a young girl, Gracie (Kwande Nkosi), who believes she is being terrorised by a supernatural being called the Tokoloshe, a diminutive, malevolent spirit with sexual desires who can cause illness or even death. When children start being taken, Busi is forced to ask if the Tokoloshe is indeed responsible.

Frightfest reviewer Kat Hughes said, “It’s a slow-building supernatural story that teases the scares as the film unfolds. It’s not a jump-scare fest like a lot of Hollywood movies, it’s much more sophisticated and intellectual…It perfectly conveys that fear of the dark that you felt as a child, and also works as a brilliant homage to ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.”

UK horror movie review site, Love Horror, said, “director Pikwane has done himself proud with this unnerving and progressive piece”, adding that the visual bleakness of the aesthetic and the choice of a dingy setting with low lighting brings about “an uncomfortable stifling mood which remains a consistent element of the film”.

“Audiences responded positively both in the UK and at the world premiere of ‘The Tokoloshe’ in South Korea,” says Pikwane.  “The story has universal appeal – Busi must confront the demons from her past so that she can save her young friend from the unrelenting monster that hunts them. It’s an evil that has pursued her all her life.”

Producer Dumi Gumbi said, “Film reviewers in the UK have given ‘The Tokoloshe’ a ‘4 out of 5’ rating, which is meaningful coming from international horror experts. We are hoping that South Africans will love seeing how this film deals with a scary South African myth.”

‘The Tokoloshe’ releases on 2 November at cinemas in South Africa – just in time for the Halloween season.

‘The Tokoloshe’, which has already seen several international sales, was funded by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and M-Net Movies, and will be released by Indigenous Film Distribution.

Indigenous Film Distribution: www.indigenousfilm.co.za

FB: www.facebook.com/thetokoloshe

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By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb