Tiger Stripes (15)
Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
★★★★

 
THE horrors of puberty both physically and socially are examined in all their gory details in this compelling tween body horror from Malaysian first-time writer-director Amanda Nell Eu. 
 
Set in Malaysia when the rebellious and carefree 12-year-old Zaffan (Zafreen Zairizal) becomes the first girl in her school to have her period she is soon ostracised by her community. She isn’t allowed to take part in prayers and is deemed to be dirty and unclean by her friends and classmates and even her own mother who beats her. 
 
As her body starts undergoing horrific physical changes and girls at school begin to collapse suffering mass hysteria she is declared a monster. Her best friend Farah (Deena Ezral) turns against her and badmouths her to her classmates.  
 
The film critiques the awful treatment girls and women receive in this patriarchal society when they suffer this monthly natural process. 
 
In this horror the changes are taken to extremes. Zaffan undergoes a painfully violent and humiliating public exorcism which is live streamed. Rebelling she accepts her inner beast as she slowly transforms into a frightening creature.  
 
While the special effects are amateurish Zairizal’s performance is anything but. In her first ever acting role Zairizal crushes it giving a commanding and terrifying portrayal along with newcomer Ezral, in her film debut , as her frenemy. Think Mean Girls meets Ginger Snaps. 
 
It is a fascinating thriller which shines a much needed light on the abysmal way girls undergoing puberty are treated. 

Out in cinemas tomorrow.

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (15)
Directed by Alexis Bloom & Svetlana Zill 
★★★★