KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Malaysian horror films continue to hold their ground, but with more releases entering the market each year, it has become increasingly difficult for the genre to stand out and capture audience interest.

Polong, Malaysia’s latest horror entry, cuts through that noise with a fresh approach, delivering eerie tension and a story designed to linger in audiences’ minds long after they leave the cinema.

The hype surrounding the film has been high, with the teaser released last month garnering over three million views across social media platforms in less than 24 hours.

Malay Mail attended the gala night on May 20 at 10Star Cinemas, where Polong’s themes closely reflected its portrayal of black magic legacies, regret, and generational curses.

The story and cast of Polong

Polong is directed by Zulkarnain Azhar, who is known for acclaimed local features such as Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa and Takluk: Lahad Datu.

The cast features Mimi Lana as Fatima, Fad Anuar as Mamat, June Lojong as Maria Hadi, Namron as Adi, and Nadiya Nisaa as Marissa, alongside Riezman Khuzaimi, Amir Nafis, Nesa Idrus, and Elizad Sharifuddin.

The story follows an ambitious journalist, Fatima, who unintentionally uncovers the dark past of Maria Hadi, a notorious female shaman who attempted to repent for her sins near the end of her life.

Fatima’s search for the truth not only exposes long-buried crimes but also unleashes something far more dangerous — an entity once nurtured and controlled by Maria herself.

Now hunted by an unexplainable force, Fatima seeks refuge with Marissa, Maria’s estranged daughter, who has been living in isolation.

“Polong attempts to portray that certain legacies do not bring protection, but instead destruction to the next generation.

“To me, the greatest fear does not come solely from supernatural beings, but from humans who are willing to do anything to fulfill their desires,” explained director Zulkarnain.

The real-life elements that inspired Polong

Malaysians are familiar with the story of Mona Fandey and the infamous case that shocked the nation in the 1990s.

Watching the trailer for Polong, it is easy to see the film’s link to the real-life figure and story of Mona, especially after June drew early attention due to her character’s resemblance to the convicted murderer.

However, Zulkarnain explained to Malay Mail that the film only draws inspiration from certain elements surrounding those events, describing them as a springboard for the story.

Polong, he clarified, is not a biopic but a fictional horror story inspired by real-life incidents and urban legends linked to several infamous cases from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and North America.

“It’s about the urban legends people used to talk about—the myths and folklore that existed during that time.

“It’s inspired by several cases — not just one specific case.

“If it were only one, we’ve already watched that kind of movie before,” he said, referring to 2018’s Dukun, which was largely inspired by Mona’s life.

The director compared the approach to the classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, whose iconic character Leatherface was loosely inspired by notorious American murderer Ed Gein.

The American independent film was not a biopic of Gein but took elements of the character and turned it into a franchise, an approach Zulkarnain said similarly shaped Polong.

Polong’s heavy practical effects and strong early reactions

The script for Polong was first drafted decades ago and underwent about three revisions over the years, according to Zulkarnain.

What stands out in Polong is its realism, showing how movies with minimal CGI and visual effects can still captivate modern audiences.

While the film does include some CGI, it relies heavily on practical effects, particularly in the makeup and horror design of its characters.

The director said he deliberately limited the use of CGI, relying on it only when needed to preserve realism.

This feature uses less than 30 per cent visual effects overall, with the majority of the horror created through makeup and practical in-camera techniques.

Early viewers at the gala premiere have shared mostly positive reactions on social media, praising the film’s intense jump scares, eerie entity design, and unexpectedly strong emotional depth from the cast.

Polong is set to haunt Malaysian cinemas nationwide starting May 28.