The Blue Elephant 2 is a 2019 Egyptian thriller film with drama, horror, mystery, and crime elements directed by Marwan Hamed. It is a sequel to the 2014 box office hit, The Blue Elephant. Produced by Synergy Films, most of the crew members from the prequel made a comeback, such as Karim Abdel Aziz, Khaled El Sawy, Nelly Karim, and Shereen Reda. Principal photography of the film started in November 2018, and the theatrical release was on July 25, 2019. The film was met with positive feedback from critics and fans alike, making it a hit like the prequel and even the highest grossing Egyptian film of all time, generating more than $6 million in lean revenue and staggering everyone with its remarkable success that is well deserved. From there on, the sky is the limit!
Karim Abdel Aziz played Dr. Yehia Rashed, Khaled El Sawy played Sherif Al Kordy, Nelly Karim played Lobna, Hend Sabry played Farida, Shereen Reda played Deega, Eyad Nassar played Akram, Tara Emad played Mermed, and Amgad Elsharqawy played Joy. Veterans of the now-series will quickly notice that much of the cast from the prequel returns, and it returns with a vengeance and thirst for much more!
As for the synopsis, Dr. Yehia returns to work in the Abbaseya Mental Health Hospital after spending five years in voluntary isolation. He works in a sector that examines perpetrators’ mental health. Dr. Yehia gets married to Lobna. Dr. Yehia’s life is flipped upside down upon meeting a new inmate in the psychiatric ward because he emphasizes the fact that his entire family’s death is only three days away. Yehia then uses blue elephant pills as an attempt to control the situation and solve the puzzle at hand once and for all.
The movie is notable for its professional crew and high definition visuals and audio. It is based on an Arabic novel written by famous Egyptian writer Ahmed Mourad. It is a dark and twisted cautionary tale about risk, loss, addiction, and spirituality. It is not afraid to cover dense topics that would otherwise burden the average viewer. However, the movie covers such hefty topics with finesse, making it truly stand out among its competitors (or lack thereof).
Karim Abdel Aziz sat down for an interview during which he talked about the successful project. He said that he was completely blown away by the script upon receipt of it, stating that it packs more drama, intricate cinematography, special effects, graphics, and overall acting. He also added that, despite Dr. Yehia living a satisfying life with his wife, he starts experiencing boredom and restlessness yet again, and the audience gets to see a deeper aspect of Dr. Yehia’s personality and psyche. When asked about the appeal of the movie, he talked about how Egyptians are highly spiritual. Thus, it is easy to embrace a movie with horror and supernatural elements such as exorcism and evil spirits. In addition, Abdel Karim praised Marwan Hamed and Ahmed Morsy’s exceptional work. He went on to add that Dr. Yehia was his hardest role ever physical and mentally, even compared to the prequel. When asked about the effect on his personal life, he said that there was indeed an effect due to his constant attempts to embody the character.
Hend Sabry excelled in the role of her life in the movie. When Abdel Karim was asked about her, he said that they have been friends for a long time who never worked together until this movie, and it was an absolute blast for him. They found lots in common professionally and personally, revealing a new side of her and reaffirming her love for acting. When asked about yet another sequel, Abdel Karim said that part two was likely the last part, not knowing if he has more fuel for another Blue Elephant.
Speaking of the devil angel, Hend Sabry was also interviewed. Not only is she a prolific actress, but she is also a lawyer, mother, WFP Goodwill Ambassador, and IWC Ambassador. When she read the sequel’s script, she became fascinated with the idea of playing a villainous character that is deeply feminine. She said that she believed that most actors love playing villains because of the many possibilities to explore. She also liked how a female character was portrayed differently this time around, especially when it comes to Arabic cinema that usually pits actresses as sweet or naïve girls. When asked about the effort, she mentioned that the process was draining, but she also thought that the effort was worth it. She motivated herself by thinking about the audience. Although the talented actress did not appear much, her scenes were quite demanding nevertheless. Also, she was not part of the prequel, but she felt quite welcome among the cast in the sequel.
When it comes to Nelly, she described the story as deeply engaging with strong characters on the verge of violence, with more elements and moving parts than the prequel. Her character has developed emotionally compared to the prequel, and she now has more depth. The improved script gave the character more breathing space. When asked about the quality of the film, she answered that the quality is so high that it would be easily mistaken for an international film. When asked about the hardest scene, she basically answered that every scene was equally demanding.Now that you know enough about this fantastic movie, end the speculation phase and check it out. It is a godsend for those who are rather fed up with the monotony that sometimes takes place within Arabic cinema, but this movie goes beyond the parameters of typical Arabic movies. It truly is an instance in which Arabic cinema is on par with Hollywood if not better than some contemporary Hollywood movies. Be sure to watch the fantastic Egyptian movie, The Blue Elephant 2, on Shahid Plus when you subscribe to the Arabic mosaic pack on Sling TV!
