NOOB FILM REVIEW - HARUM MALAM (Blood Flower) by Dain Said

SYNOPSIS (by GSC):
Following his mother`s death, Iqbal, an apprentice healer, is trying to put his abilities behind him. But he unwittingly unleashes a vengeful spirit, which will force him to confront his true powers.

NON-SPOILER REVIEW:
Starts high on top of the flat apartment with blue skies. The descent begins with a breaching of a taboo.

It is a mix of splatter, body, and dark fantasy horror revolving around an entity that is of the title, of a real-life plant called Harum Malam (Blood Flower) or the scientific name Titan Arums (Bunga Bangkai). All the common horror tropes checked.

Other than the exceptional visuals, which are crucial for a convincing horror (kudos to Studio Voxel) and the experienced line of actors blending and guiding with the new ones (kudos to Idan Aedan, Arnie Shasha, and Angelica Petra) the one thing that attracted my attention is the key hashtag that says #akunakjadinormal (I want to be normal).

From the beginning to the end, the film revolves around the main character Iqbal, which the synopsis says has a special power in dealing with the supernatural. The film perspective too (as the film goes) is subjective around Iqbal (what he sees and feels). So it is about him and also other young characters especially Ah Boy.

Looking through the lens of social commentary, thematically, it is about the horror that has been inherited by the younger generation from the self-centered older generation. All revolves around an old, decrepit flat apartment that might be allegorical of the state itself. (i.e. look out for the police conduct in guiding the crime site)

During the press conference after the premiere, Dain Said answered a question from the crowd about it being given a Neo-Noir treatment. He said it is of Baroque instead. This will add to his own 'Cabinet of Curiosity' a la Guillermo Del Toro together with the entities from Interchange and Dukun (also the blood-thirsty characters from Bunohan?)

Looking through a deeper lens of philosophy (and perhaps psychology), the earlier mentioned hashtag might be related to Carl Jung argument about 'normal' and 'abnormal'.

“There are many people who become neurotic because they are only normal, as there are people who are neurotic because they cannot become normal. For the former the very thought that you want to educate them to normality is a nightmare; their deepest need is really to be able to lead "abnormal" lives.”

Hence, the horror. Go with Iqbal through his journey right to the end this coming 9th February. (Rated PG-13)

Trailer: