"Qissat Hessa"... A Story from the Seventies

In the atmosphere of Kuwait during the 1970s, the series “The Tranquil Soul: The Story of Hessa” takes viewers to a different corner of Gulf drama, where horror stems not only from shadows but also from memory and the secrets and unresolved emotions hidden within the human psyche.

The story begins with Talal, who returns home after his father’s death, attempting to turn a new page and move past the pain of loss. However, his return does not bring the peace he seeks; instead, it confronts him with an unfinished past and long-buried events that resurface.

As the narrative unfolds, visions, memories, and mysterious encounters intertwine, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The name “Hessa” repeatedly surfaces in Talal’s memory, transforming his quest for truth into a confrontation with guilt, old love, and the dark side of the past.

The series stars Haya Abdul Salam as Hessa, and Yousef Al-Farhan as Talal, alongside Hussein Al-Mansour, Ibrahim Al-Harbi, Asmahan Tawfiq, Huda Al-Khatib, Laila Abdullah, and others. This ensemble cast allows the work to operate on multiple levels: the characters face not only external fears but also internal conflicts shaped by the past, making the horror here more psychological than reliant on conventional jump scares.

“The Tranquil Soul: The Story of Hessa” is directed by Saeed Al-Marouq, produced by the Shasha platform, which also developed the story, with Iyad Saleh writing the screenplay.

The four-episode series will premiere on Netflix on the 30th, representing a Gulf production that bets on psychological horror and mystery while evoking images of 1970s Kuwait, making the past a central character in the narrative rather than merely a backdrop for the events.