From Karachi to Cannes: Deemak’s Journey to Global Screens

When a low-budget supernatural thriller from Karachi quietly entered production in 2023, few could have predicted that two years later, it would be hailed as a defining force in Pakistan’s cinematic resurgence. Today, Deemak — Pakistan’s highest-grossing horror film of all time — is preparing for a global theatrical release across the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe on 17 October 2025, followed by its GCC release on 23 October. What began as a locally inspired story rooted in folklore and faith has become a symbol of the country’s creative ambition on the world stage.

In a nation where horror is often relegated to the fringes of cinema, Deemak’s rise is nothing short of historic. The film, directed by Rafay Rashdi and produced by Syed Murad Ali, opened to record-breaking box office numbers in Pakistan, grossing PKR 17.5 Crores (approximately USD $620,000). Its success placed it above Hollywood and Bollywood horror releases in local cinemas, positioning it as one of the most commercially successful genre titles in South Asia this year.

Deemak — meaning “termite” in Urdu — is inspired by true events, weaving a tale of generational trauma, inheritance, and the supernatural. The story follows a family whose ancestral home becomes infested not just by unseen creatures, but by buried secrets that threaten to consume them. The jinn mythology, deeply embedded in South Asian belief systems, becomes a metaphor for guilt and the inescapable weight of family legacy.

The ensemble cast — Sonya Hussyn, Samina Peerzada, Faysal Quraishi, Bushra Ansari, Javed Sheikh, and Saman Ansari — bridges multiple generations of Pakistani talent.

As Deemak prepares to haunt screens worldwide, its success signals a deeper change — the arrival of a confident new cinematic voice from Pakistan. It’s a film that dares to scare, but also dares to feel; one that embraces its roots while stepping into the international spotlight.