Netflix has really expanded its original content to international marketplaces over the past couple of years. We had countless Spanish Netflix hits, like La Casa De Papel, Korean hits like Squid Game, and Japanese hits like Alice in Borderland. Now, Netflix dropped their first original movie from Saudi Arabia, called AlKhallat+. So, where was AlKhallat+ filmed?
AlKhallat+ is an anthology movie following four separate stories filled with black comedy and drama. It was filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, namely, in Riyadh, the country’s capital. The film garnered great initial reviews and was based on an earlier 22-episode series of the same name.
The movie is jam-packed with humor and quite brilliant dialogue, and if you’re looking for something new and refreshing, you should definitely give AlKhallat+ a shot. If you want to hear more about the movie, its filming locations, etc., you’re in the right place.
AlKhallat+: A brief synopsis
As we’ve mentioned, AlKhallat+ is a Netflix original movie stemming from Saudi Arabia. It is based on a 22-episode series of the same name and follows a similar premise. However, the film, obviously, has a shorter runtime, clocking at 1h 48m.
The movie is created as an anthology, following four separate stories of people with completely different backgrounds. However, each story is packed with deceit, trickery, black humor, and navigating tough life situations. In the end, all four stories somewhat connect, making the movie feel much more coherent and concise.
The official synopsis provided by Netflix for AlKhallat+ states:
“These four tales explore trickery and deception, from tire thieves crashing a wedding to a man’s frantic attempt to bury a secret for a deceased friend.”
The TV series I mentioned earlier was a huge streaming hit that had over 1.5 billion streams overall, which is by far the most-viewed Saudi Arabian show of all time. The movie likely won’t garner those kinds of numbers, but it already caught some eyes on the platform.
Generally, I loved the comedy, and the dialogue was absolutely spot-on. The jokes will have you rolling with laughter – that is, if you don’t mind some pure black comedy.
The only story of the four where I felt the humor – although great – was a bit clouded by an emotionally-packed storyline was the second story about Sara, a chef at a five-star hotel who was just trying to do something nice for her parents but ended up getting fired.
Overall, it’s a really cool flick with some very cool locations and wonderful shots. Here’s where it was all filmed.
AlKhallat+ filming locations
As I’ve mentioned, AlKhallat+ is the first Netflix original movie stemming from Saudi Arabia. So, the filming location is actually quite straightforward – the entirety of the movie was filmed in Saudi Arabia – namely, in Riyadh.
Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia, formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, and the nation’s economic center as well. It is located in Riyadh Province with an area of almost 2000 square kilometers, making it by far the largest city in the country. Riyadh lies on a desert plateau that’s at an altitude of about 600 meters. The population is close to 8 million.
There are numerous landmarks notable for Riyadh and the area surrounding it. One of the most notable skyline landmarks is the 302-meter-high Kingdom Centre building and the Al Faisaliah Centre with a glass globe on top that’s 267 meters tall. The Deira district of the city is the most historical part of the city and can be seen in numerous shots in the movie.
Out of all the landmarks, Riyadh is actually most well-known for its numerous cultural centers, such as the King Abd al-Aziz Historical Centre and the huge National Library.
AlKhallat+ Cast and Crew
AlKhallat+ was released on January 19, 2023, on Netflix, but the film’s premiere happened a bit earlier at the Gala Theatre during the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2022.
The director of the movie is Fahad Alammari, mostly known worldwide for his short movie called Is Sumiyat Going to Hell?, where he was a crew member. After that movie, Alammari directed the AlKallat series, which became a colossal hit; hence, he was given the keys to directing the movie as well.
The cast included Fahad Albutairi, Ismail Alhassan, Vishesh Chachra, Hesham Elshazly, Sohayb Godus, Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, Mohammed Aldokhei, Ziyad Alamri, Abdulaziz Alshehri, and others.
Interestingly, Mohammed Aldokhei and the director, Fahad Alammari, have already collaborated on the short movie, Is Sumiyat Going to Hell?
