Rob Munday
Given horror’s rich potential for exploring societal issues, it’s no surprise that one of the most exciting upcoming genre directors, Nuhash Humayun (Moshari), tackles prejudice in his homeland in his latest short, Foreigners Only. This dark and brooding film follows a tannery owner’s quest for accommodation, blending a gripping narrative with touches of humour and gore to deliver a unique and unforgettable experience. It’s the perfect watch this Halloween.
“Certain homeowners prefer their tenants to be foreigners – preferably white.”
Like many filmmakers, Humayun set out to spark a conversation with his film, addressing a “real phenomenon” in South Asia where landlords often “prefer their tenants to be foreigners – preferably white.” While Foreigners Only pushes this scenario to the extreme, the filmmaker hopes his “morbidly funny” approach offers “an interesting look at the colonial hangover.”
Shot in an actual tannery – an experience Humayun described as “incredibly gross” – Foreigners Only opens with the unsettling images of animal hides swarming with flies, paired with a voiceover from a skin-whitening ad. In regions of Asia, where lighter skin has historically been linked to wealth and status, Humayun wastes no time in introducing the film’s central themes, setting the tone from the very first scene.
Mostafa Monwar stars in the lead role in Foreigners Only
From this point out, as we follow the tannery owner in his frantic search for accommodation, social status, and relief from a skin condition, Humayun paints a vivid picture of biased systems and the lengths people will go to in desperate circumstances. As is often true in horror, desperation leads to extreme actions, culminating in Foreigners Only‘s unforgettable climax.
Though the tone and aesthetic of the short suggest horror, much of the action doesn’t align with typical genre expectations until the film’s conclusion. Despite the unsettling turn of events, Humayun masterfully balances comedy with shock – using dialogue to provoke laughs, while the visuals are designed to unsettle the audience. In the end, while Foreigners Only is clearly a work of fiction, the inclusion of real signs advertising rentals exclusively for foreigners serves as a stark reminder of the very real issues that persist in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia.
Created for season 3 of Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween, Foreigners Only further showcases Humayun’s impressive talent – solidifying his reputation as a filmmaker to keep an eye on in the future.