After the arrival of Zombeid (2026), I have been talking at length about the potential in the horror genre when it comes to the Pakistani film industry. Despite the story being a downer, an excellent first attempt at VFX is undeniable, which could lead to a horror universe expansion and exploration of one of the most untapped Lollywood genres.
In fact, the story of great VFX effects starts from The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022), which broke the expectations of a Pakistani remake with an extraordinary decapitation sequence right in the beginning. It truly made me jump out of my seat, as such clean artistry was totally unanticipated.
While stylistic and resource constraints still exist compared to Hollywood, Zombeid's director, Nabeel Qureshi, kept the technical execution and ambition above par when all the combined horror movies of Pakistan are considered. The extremely locally viable creature feature that gave rise to a high-concept VFX horror film is one of the pioneering projects of Pakistan, signalling a bright future.
Production houses like Geo Films and Filmwala Pictures are among those who are willing to invest in unconventional, high-VFX cinema spectacles in an attempt to bring films like Zombeid to the mainstream. The tactile prosthetic makeup with digital enhancements would not have been possible within the same region, since reports indicated that The Legend of Maula Jatt drew on international sources.
It is refreshing to know that the local talent is capable as well as lucky enough to gain deep financial backing for the project. They have risen to the occasion, making the experimental film genre one of the benchmark examples of the industry. Leaving aside plot weakness for a moment, polished blockbuster-level VFX remains proof that Pakistani ingenuity can touch the skies if given the right resources.
Lollywood has struggled for years to achieve the threshold of a thriving cinema due to shrinking cinema infrastructure, inconsistent film productions, lack of funding, and high competition for international content. Industry figures have often argued that Lollywood's stories need stronger scripts and better visuals to make films on a larger scale with more experimental storytelling that would have a wider impact to attract audiences.
While talking to Arab News, actress Mehwish Hayat emphasized the same fact that one successful romantic movie does not mean everyone should follow the herd mentality. Taking creative risks in different genres is necessary. She said: "When it is an international project, a lot of work goes into development before going on the floor... Here we sometimes treat projects like a rushed exam, whereas filmmaking should be like architecture, where the foundation has to be strong."
Between The Legend of Maula Jatt and Zombeid, there were other horror releases as well, such as the well-known Deemak (2025), but it suffered from CGI inconsistencies and cartoonish visual effects. Directed by Rafay Rashdi, the production hired Canadian VFX producer Julia Millais to work on the smoky apparitions, levitating actors, and floating furniture. However, the end product was devoid of any finesse, looking dated.
Never before has a zombie film been attempted in Pakistan on this scale, and the reaction to the danger and chaos was a different form of horror that audiences were to witness for the first time. They had to make it as convincing as possible. Cinema is a powerful medium for showing stories to people that wow them without vilifying other nations.
If fueled and used carefully, Pakistani cinema can work wonders. The country has people who know how to do their job once empowered with the right resources. And this ambitious shift needs to persist for better zombie or horror movies, especially if Zombeid 2 comes out, which is very likely.
Echoes is an opinion column on film and television from the perspective of a writer based in Pakistan.