The ‘perfect’ accidental murder: local indie tells of the abominable ends of a poisonous affair

RECOVERING from a traumatic experience places a psychological toll on those directly involved, and it can happen to just about anyone when succumbing to urges that are hostile in nature.

The term ‘seeing red’ is not just a passing expression if you decide to watch Kabus, a 70-minute feature film by brothers Feisal Azizuddin (director-producer) and Iskander Azizuddin (producer).

“It’s a simple ‘who done it?’ film, but the filmmaking process was not as such,” noted Feisal during a recent film screening for the media.

“This was mostly because filming was done during the pandemic and it’s our first (production) experience navigating through quite a unique time,” he said, highlighting that there were no plans to sell it initially.

“We just wanted to see how far Kabus could go independently on top of having our primary motivations geared towards having it submitted for a competition – the ‘Kuman Pictures feature film’ challenge,” added the director.

“We were very fortunate to have won the contest eventually and got our money back (mostly) in the end. It took us about RM6,000 to have the film made, so you can say that the budget was kept relatively low.”

“Kabus had its initial screening back in 2020. This time we are doing it again as it is now available on Astro First.

“I’m happy that the feature film is now able to reach a wider audience,” expressed Feisal. 

The gist

Mainly set during the present time of the new normal, Kabus follows a pair of lovers who provide conflicting testimonies in a murder investigation. 

Only one of them is telling the truth, but the plot does leave viewers a little room for having confidence in both characters – Hazim, a shy and withdrawn delivery guy in his 20s, and Ayang, a bubbly and gregarious neighbour, who works as a part-time cleaner for a social influencer. 

Both characters find themselves being interrogated by an officer (voiced by Tony Eusoff) separately, whose task it is to investigate the murder of Ayang’s mother. 

From the outset, the duo could be seen to have signs of mental issues, which become increasingly apparent as the film progresses with detailed flashbacks.

Each fuelled by their own motive, the lives of both Hazim and Ayang are unraveled in the most bizarre and peculiar way.

Vibe check — ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

For its overall effort, Kabus garnered 3½ stars out of 5 on our Vibes watchable meter with solid praise towards the acting and directing.

Firstly, the minimal production budget does not affect the outcome of the project. 

Viewers can appreciate the careful consideration put not just in the cinematic delivery of the storyboards, but also in the lines performed by the fresh new actors who help to steer the film’s plot from the opening to the end well enough.

On a more contemplative note, when looking at the story, there was an absence of yearning to find out who committed the actual murder.

It is because parts of the script transitioned between dropping clues and showcasing dead giveaways, to possibly meddling with viewers’ thought processes with haphazard flashbacks.

Without spoiling the plot, some scenes can be redundant where the over-telling or presentation of the murder weapon led to very little mystery for avid crime/thriller fans to resolve.

In short, it does not keep us at the edge of our seats to unravel the killer like most classic murder mystery films tend to thrill audiences. 

So, if you are looking for something light, like the campy Cluedo, or the chase that Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and more recent blockbuster Knives Out kind of viewing experience offer, you most certainly won't get it in the way that Kabus is told.

That said, you might gain some pleasure from this indie film as it explores the suspects’ emotional excuses like Netflix’s Criminal – prominently featuring procedural style interrogations.

Where the script is able to place value in its length is by allowing viewers to rethink the way external complexities of a new-age lifestyle influences actions.

This could well be the grace of why independent films, including Kabus, tend to have a distinct appeal of reflecting the societal pressures relevant to their time. 

In fact, writer Ellina Abdul Majid notes that the storytelling of Kabus is a personal commentary on the pervasive influence of the media where its ‘influential’ role distorts the line between fantasy and reality, no thanks to today’s social networks.

It also depicts the private anguish of individuals having to deal with mental distress during a period of forceful isolation and uncertainty. These situations, when not provided with supportive (physical and emotional) care can lead to detrimental consequences.

The ‘bubble’ that we find ourselves in, may control our reality invasively if we carelessly check out, regardless of whether our psyche is shaped based on nature or nurture.

At least, where the psychological aspect is concerned, Kabus carries weight in pushing our minds, and ultimately our behaviour, to become more aware of the immediate environment and the people in it. – The Vibes, February 13, 2022

*Kabus produced independently by Feisk Productions is now available to watch on Astro First