KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — A sinister doll, a vengeful spirit and a family haunted by secrets. Indonesian horror prequel The Doll Ghawiah promises plenty of scares when it hits Malaysian cinemas on November 12, but its cast hopes audiences will also take home a message about honesty and open communication.
The latest instalment in The Doll franchise explores the tragic origins of the haunted doll Ghawiah and the consequences of keeping secrets from loved ones.
Ahead of an early screening at TGV Sunway Pyramid on November 6, four cast members — Titi Kamal, Darius Sinathrya, Sara Wijayanto and Fara Shakila — joined a virtual question-and-answer session to discuss the film and their characters.
Asked by Malay Mail about the film’s central message, the cast agreed that honesty and communication are essential to keeping a family together.
“The most important message is that family comes first.
“Honesty is also very important, and there should be no secrets within a family,” said Titi, who plays Evi.
“Communication is the key,” added Sara, who reprises her role as paranormal investigator Laras.
Darius, who portrays Evi’s husband Arya, echoed their sentiments.
“I think it is all about being honest and truthful, especially with your family and the people who genuinely care about and love you.
“That is the foundation of The Doll Ghawiah,” he said.
Directed by Guntur Soeharjanto and produced by Rocky Soraya’s Hitmaker Studios, The Doll Ghawiah serves as a prequel to the original The Doll (2016), revealing the dark history behind the franchise’s sinister doll.
The horror series has since expanded with The Doll 2 (2017), spin-off Sabrina (2018) and The Doll 3 (2022).
For Titi, the latest instalment offered an opportunity to reunite with familiar collaborators, including Guntur and Rocky.
She praised the film’s storyline, cast and crew, expressing her excitement at working with Rocky again after their 2025 film Santet Getih Ireng (Black Blood), and with Guntur following Makmum 2.
Darius, meanwhile, described The Doll Ghawiah as a blend of horror, gore, family drama and emotional storytelling that offers more than supernatural thrills.
His character, Arya, is a devoted husband and father who initially dismisses the possibility of supernatural forces.
But when terrifying disturbances threaten his family, his scepticism is put to the test, forcing him to confront his fears to protect those he loves.
Darius also welcomed the chance to reunite with Titi and Sara after their collaboration on Santet Getih Ireng, saying their bond had grown beyond a professional relationship, with the cast becoming like family during filming.
For Sara, returning as Laras was an unexpected bonus.
The paranormal investigator is the only character from the earlier films to return in the prequel, and Sara admitted she had initially believed Laras’ story had come to an end.
She was delighted to revisit the character and further develop her story while working alongside familiar faces.
The film also features 11-year-old Fara as Uci, a mysterious figure linked to an urban legend from Bandung.
Fara said preparing for the role required her to study the character’s behaviour, particularly the way Uci walked and moved, to bring the unsettling figure to life.
Set in 1988, The Doll Ghawiah follows Arya and Evi, who move from Jakarta to Bandung with their daughters, Nala (Laura Moane) and Gita (Aisyah Aqilah), hoping for a fresh start.
But their plans unravel when Nala encounters a mysterious girl and receives a doll named Ghawiah.
Soon, strange incidents begin to plague the household, with the doll seemingly moving on its own and unexplained disturbances leaving the family terrified.
As the supernatural activity intensifies, a disturbing connection emerges between the doll and a tragic hit-and-run incident involving a young girl named Uci.
Desperate for answers, the family turns to Laras, whose knowledge of the paranormal may hold the key to uncovering the truth.
Blending supernatural horror with family drama and mystery, The Doll Ghawiah takes audiences back to where the nightmare began, shedding new light on the mythology behind one of Indonesian horror’s recognisable haunted dolls.
Distributed by Antenna Entertainments, The Doll Ghawiah opens in Malaysian cinemas on November 12.
