KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — A lifelong love of horror is taking Malaysian actress Khayrisyah Kemal from the audience to the big screen, as she prepares to make her theatrical feature film debut in Kacau.

Directed by Muzzamer Rahman, the horror thriller is adapted from Ariff Adly’s book of the same title, published by Buku Fixi.

Khayrisyah plays Wanie, a fan-favourite character from the novel who joins her friends on a ghost-hunting trip to an abandoned shopping mall in Seremban, where their adventure takes a terrifying turn.

While Khayrisyah has previously appeared in the straight-to-television Keluarga Iskandar The Movie, the short film Ribang and the musical short film Rentak & Sajian, Kacau marks her first prominent role in a feature film made for theatrical release.

Speaking to Malay Mail at the film’s trailer and poster launch, Khayrisyah said she never expected her first theatrical film to fall within a genre she loves so much.

“I didn’t expect it, but I really love horror so much, so maybe I accidentally manifested it in a way.

“But alhamdulillah, this is my first movie, and I’m so happy to be part of Kacau,” she said during the preview launch at TGV Suria KLCC.

Her interest in horror spans international and local productions, with her favourites ranging from Hollywood supernatural hit The Conjuring to the psychological horror film Midsommar.

Among Malaysian horror films, she singled out Munafik as her favourite, alongside Jangan Pandang Belakang.

For Khayrisyah, who began her career as a child actress at the age of nine, the film also represents another step in her development as a performer.

She has since appeared in various television series, including recent works such as I.D: Swipe, Steal, Love and Nafsu, while also gaining experience through theatre productions.

Khayrisyah added that she gravitates towards roles that challenge her abilities and push her to explore different aspects of her craft.

“Mostly, I like things that are challenging and tough,” she said.

She also hopes Kacau will offer audiences a different cinematic experience, particularly through its visuals and storytelling.

Rather than simply following the events on screen, she wants viewers to feel immersed in the film’s world and connect with the situations portrayed.

“I think people should watch Kacau because it offers something new in terms of visuals and storytelling.

“I think people should watch it and try to feel as if they are inside the film.

“Because some people might have experienced that situation before, so hopefully all of you can watch it in cinemas,” she said.

Kacau follows a group of young friends whose encounter with a supernatural entity turns a seemingly ordinary ghost-hunting expedition into a terrifying ordeal.

The film also stars Idan Aedan, Fimie Don, Sadiq M. Jamil, Arfie Shah, Nurel Baharin and Evanatie Sannie.

With Kacau, Khayrisyah brings together her passion for horror and her desire to take on challenging roles, marking a new chapter in her acting career when the film opens in cinemas on November 12.