In *Ghoul*, writer-director Patrick Graham puts a creature drawn from Arabic mythology inside a near-future Indian detention centre. He described the authoritarian setting as a deliberately “slightly skewed alternative reality,” not a portrait of one named government. The result is a three-episode horror series in which an interrogation becomes a supernatural fight to survive—and the political atmosphere is part of the unease.
What is *Ghoul* about?
Netflix’s 2018 announcement introduces Nida Rahim, played by Radhika Apte, as an interrogator who has turned in her father for anti-government activity. She is sent to a covert detention centre, where the arrival of a prisoner changes the nature of her work: some detainees, the announcement warns, are not of this world. Netflix’s current title page names the remote facility Meghdoot 31 and the prisoner Ali Saeed, a sect leader whose interrogation leads Nida to discover the ghoul inhabiting him.
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The premise shifts the story from a confined interrogation drama into supernatural horror. Nida’s assignment, the isolated centre and the prisoner’s presence make the institution itself an atmosphere of threat. Netflix lists Radhika Apte, Manav Kaul, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee and Mahesh Balraj among the cast. Netflix’s 2018 announcement and its current title page provide the series description.
What inspired the creature?
In an August 22, 2018 interview with Scroll.in, Graham said he wanted to bring a mythological monster less familiar to modern horror audiences than zombies, vampires or werewolves. He called the aim “a new, old legend”: an old myth given a place in contemporary genre storytelling. The interview identifies Arabic mythology as the source of his inspiration.
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The wording matters: Netflix describes *Ghoul* as based on Arabic folklore, and its episode summary calls the creature a ghoul. Graham’s comments connect the show’s monster to that tradition, but the available statements do not make “jinn” and “ghoul” interchangeable terms across folklore. The title’s creature is best described in the series’ own terms as a ghoul, with Graham’s stated inspiration rooted in Arabic mythology. Read Graham’s Scroll.in interview.
Why set the story in an authoritarian future?
Graham described the setting in the Scroll interview as a “slightly skewed alternative reality” with a generic authoritarian profile—an archetypal right-wing, fascist or totalitarian government. He said the dystopia adds atmosphere to the horror rather than pointing to a particular administration.
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In an August 25, 2018 interview with The Indian Express, Graham put the distinction plainly: “It’s certainly not aimed at anybody in particular, it’s not aimed at any government. It’s anti-certain ways of thinking.” That is his account of the creative intent. Viewers may read the detention centre, state power and anti-government accusations politically, but those readings should not be mistaken for evidence that Graham identified a real government as the target. The Indian Express interview records his explanation.
How did the story grow into a series?
Graham told Scroll.in that *Ghoul* began as a feature-film idea. When Netflix came aboard, the project became a three-part series, which gave the team space to develop character histories and the emotional relationship between Nida and her father. Graham said the expanded format allowed them “to flesh out the back stories of the characters.”
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That context helps explain why the family relationship sits alongside the claustrophobic horror premise: Nida’s professional role and her decision involving her father are part of the emotional groundwork, not just setup for the encounter at Meghdoot 31. Graham’s account of the project’s development comes from the 2018 interview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How many episodes does *Ghoul* have, and where can you watch it?
Netflix currently lists *Ghoul* as a 2018 horror title with three episodes. Its accessed regional title page lists Hindi original audio, plus English, Portuguese (Brazil), Tamil and Telugu audio; listed subtitles include English, Hindi and Portuguese (Portugal). Catalog entries and language availability can vary by location and change over time, so consult the Netflix title page for the options available in your region.
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