African horror screenwriter Osarfo Anthony is urging African filmmakers to step up and make meaningful contributions to the global horror film industry. His call comes on the heels of a recent interview with Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari, in which she expressed her desire to explore the horror genre.
“I prefer to do horror and thriller films. Yes. At N.S. B Studios, we like to challenge ourselves. We want to do something creative,” Nadia shared.
Osarfo, who is passionate about seeing more African-produced horror films reach international audiences, was thrilled by her remarks. “I felt a deep sense of joy when I heard Nadia express her intention to venture into other genres during her interview with Abeiku Santana a few days ago. It’s time for variety and diversity. I’m proud she is willing to take on this challenge,” he said.
Highlighting the profitability of horror, he noted, “Unimpeachable data shows that horror movies captivate audiences, consistently draw large crowds, and yield substantial returns on investment. Unfortunately, we Africans have excluded ourselves from this lucrative opportunity.”
Osarfo also lamented the lack of African representation in global horror film discussions. “When I search for ‘the 10 best horror movies of all time,’ not a single African film appears. I’m currently developing course material for a horror presentation, but, regrettably, all the screenwriters, films, filmmakers, directors, posters, and authorities I reference are non-Africans,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, Osarfo remains hopeful. “I envision a future where Africa contributes more horror films to the global film industry. It is possible,” he affirmed.