‘Barzakh’ trailer toys with the supernatural

The trailer for Barzakh has finally dropped, cast members have begun posting the trailer on their socials, offering a long overdue peek into this masterpiece. Helmed by Asim Abbasi, Barzakh boasts Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan as the two main leads. As its first impression, the trailer does well to seamlessly mix realism with supernatural fantasy against the unassuming backdrop of a family reunion.

The series teases the journey of a 76-year-old man who shocks his estranged children and grandchildren: he’s marrying the ghost of his first true love. This unconventional announcement triggers a cascade of emotional revelations and confrontations, leaving the family torn between celebration and intervention. Amid the chaos, a haunting question looms: “When all has withered, will love endure?”

It opens with a wide shot of the mountains in Pakistan’s northern areas, focusing on a sign that leads somewhere called “Land of Nowhere”. As we move further into the trailer, we’re able to come to the conclusion that Land of Nowhere might be the quirky name of the hotel where most of the series is set. Emphasis on “might” because it’s clear that in the case of this series, audiences should expect the unexpected.

The trailer strongly features cult-like symbolism and the occult, showcasing scenes of pink-clad figures with rocks tied to their backs performing rituals around a tree, and Saeed encountering a red-shrouded figure against snow-covered mountains. The stark contrast between the brightly lit scenes of Hunza’s beauty and the dimly lit, eerie moments filled with sinister laughter and a chalky hand caressing a shoulder amplifies the show’s unsettling atmosphere.

The trailer ends with three consecutive shots that leave viewers as aptly confused as when they started it. The creepy figures in pink and red make a reappearance which only adds to the auidence’s growing need to know more. Who are they? Or more importantly — what are they? One thing is clear: This is no typical desi drama. It is something hauntingly beautiful that promises to captivate and terrify in equal measure.

With powerful performances from the entire cast, Barzakh stands out as a must-watch. Alongside Khan and Saeed, the six-episode series features Salman Shahid, Eman Suleman, Khushhal Khan, Faiza Gillani, Anika Zulfikar, and Franco Giusti, among others. The series is produced by Shailja Kejriwal and Waqas Hassan, with stunning cinematography by Mo Azmi. Mark your calendars for July 19, when Barzakh premieres simultaneously on Zindagi’s YouTube and ZEE5.