Halloween might be over, but horror’s always in season

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HALLOWEEN may have been last week, but horror films are always popular as they appeal to primal human fears of the unknown and the supernatural. A lot of us have safe and boring lives, so there’s something special about turning on a piece of entertainment just for the purpose of scaring us. 

Streaming service MUBI offers a compelling selection of both regional titles (Southeast Asia) and local independent releases for those who want something different from the mainstream Western fare. 

Here are just some of the regional horror titles available on MUBI:

Munafik (Malaysia) (2016)

Few directors have as much of an impact on the horror genre in Malaysia as Syamsulf Yusof, and Munafik is one of his most notable works. Following the spiritual journey of a man battling his inner demons after his wife’s death, the film garnered nine nominations at the Malaysian Film Festival, and won five, including Best National Language Film and Best Director. It was also the most successful Malaysian movie of 2016. 

Interchange (Malaysia, Indonesia) (2016)

Adam, a forensics photographer is lured into a world of shamans and mystic creatures while helping his detective friend Man investigate a series of macabre murders. As he is dragged further into a tribal world and delves deeper into his friend’s investigation, they discover the city's mystical underground of shamans and supernatural beings.

Lampor: The Flying Coffin (Indonesia) (2019)

Edwin and Netta with their two children return to Netta’s hometown in Temanggung. Netta was greeted suspiciously and was considered a disaster because her hometown was terrorised by Lampor, a demon who brings a flying casket. Shot in actual locations from Indonesian director Guntur Soeharjanto’s childhood, Lampor is an atmospheric journey drenched in satanic rituals and black magic. 

Misteri Rumah Tua (Indonesia, Malaysia) (1987)

Translated to English, the title means Mystery of the Old House. A group of high schoolers on a nature trip come across an old cave which leads them to an old and abandoned house. They find a statue of a woman and decide to put it out under the moonlight. The statue comes alive and pursues her murderous intention on men who had raped her and killed her family.

Rahsia (Malaysia) (1987)

The story follows a couple, Professor Hamdan and Ramlah, who along with their children move into an old house by the sea. Following the death of a daughter everything takes a turn for the worst as they are visited by the supernatural. The plot is not surprising, but is elevated by acting and cinematography.

Black Widow Wajah Ayu (Malaysia) (1995)

Mas Ayu is a modern woman of the 90s: independent, career-minded and attractive. Except at night, when strange dreams of spiders haunt her sleep and one by one, her male friends begin to die. She then starts to believe that she is spiritually linked to spiders and as a result, cannot help but destroy her lovers.

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More titles can be found ar part of MUBI’s 'Flick or Treats: Halloween Horror Specials'. These include titles from around the world. Enjoy a 30-day free trial when you subscribe using this link: mubi.com/promos/petranews. – The Vibes, November 7, 2021