KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — The spooky season is here, and so is the return of Malaysia’s largest and longest-running fright festival, Nights of Fright (NOF).

Starting today, NOF once again takes over Sunway Lagoon, transforming the theme park into a nightmarish playground of horror every Friday to Sunday evening until November 2.

Now in its 11th edition, NOF promises a chillingly good time with eight haunted houses, a Scary Tales Theatre, multiple scare zones and show stages, plus 11 adrenaline-pumping rides.

Each haunted house comes with its own distinctive theme and scares, including:

  • The Puppetmaker: Italy 1875
  • Tiki Terror
  • Karak: The Kampong Killers
  • Fortunes & Freaks
  • Legends of Horror
  • Horrorwood Studios
  • The Freezer 2: High Voltage
  • The Blind Box

A map to guide you through your spooky adventure at NOF11. — Picture courtesy of Nights of Fright
A map to guide you through your spooky adventure at NOF11. — Picture courtesy of Nights of Fright

Making its debut this year is The Puppetmaker, the new “master of terror”, complete with two larger-than-life puppets that will roam the park.

Another highlight is the Scary Tales Theatre, which will feature a brand-new short film and stage play, PontianAxe. Malaysian actress Nadia Brian stars as a shaman inspired by one of the country’s most notorious pop-singer-turned-bomoh killers — a character that locals may already recognise.

Meanwhile, The Blind Box is billed as the first haunted house of its kind in the world. Inspired by designer toys and collectibles brand Pop Mart, it is one of the key collaborations for NOF11, according to Sudden Impact Entertainment chairman and CEO Lynton V Harris, the festival’s mastermind.

Harris said humour remains an essential ingredient in NOF’s scares, which this year includes tutu-wearing tour guides roaming the grounds.

“Humour is our biggest asset — when someone gets scared, you’ll laugh at them, and if you’re the one getting scared, you’ll laugh about it together afterwards. 

“What we’re trying to do is embrace the tutus, which represent humour on a grand scale,” he said at the launch yesterday.

Harris also revealed that Horrorwood Studios has been revamped with new famous horror characters, while some 300 ghosts and ghouls will stalk the park to keep visitors on edge.

“The fact is, we’ve got these students around here who have all embraced being part of NOF. 

“It’s probably one of our greatest successes over the last 10 years — employing young people who want to be part of this great show and have a great time doing it,” he said.

Be careful of who — or what — might be lurking around every corner at NOF11. — Picture by Sayuti Zainuddin
Be careful of who — or what — might be lurking around every corner at NOF11. — Picture by Sayuti Zainuddin

Beyond the haunted houses and scare actors, NOF11 offers spooky-themed food and drinks, airbrush body art, and photo booths for those looking to capture their fright-night memories.

Tickets are priced between RM128 and RM288 and are available now.

Since its debut in 2013, Nights of Fright has become a staple on Malaysia’s entertainment calendar, drawing both locals and tourists to Sunway Lagoon.

Pro tip for visitors: bring a handheld fan and a small towel — the Malaysian heat can be relentless even after dark.

NOF11 is strictly for visitors aged 13 and above. For more details, visit sunwaylagoon.com/nightsoffright11