Roh

Interesting film with an unexpected twist. Would recommend if you want to broaden your horror movie repertoire.

It's kinda boring because nothing is really happening

With many Malaysian horror movies that revolve around idea of the main character falling in love with the ghost, Roh stands out with its unique plot and creepy atmosphere inspired by Malay folktales. Felt a little bit too short though, could use a couple extra minutes to iron out the details. Overall, a good horror movie on the same level as Munafik.

It leaves you wondering what's around the bend or just behind a stand of trees, but it also feels as though it could have contained more when it comes to the folklore. Not a bad movie, but it did feel as though it needed a little more to it.

A Malaysian folktale horror that took place in the wood. This was quite a creepy atmosphere due to the slow-pace and secluded area. The first half really unnerved me but also kept me interested in the mystery. However, towards the end I just realized how convoluted the story was. Maybe it's just me, but it shouldn't be this confusing. Overall, it's still a creepy one. 6.5/10

After recently watching The Medium, a Thai version of The Wailing, I realized I had a soft spot for Asian rural folk horror. Something about the rustic lifestyle in a tropical setting, outside the urban environment of nearly all movies in the horror genre, is captivating and unsettling. I decided to make a list of these types of movies and that list is way too short. I think this setting really gets under the skin of us urban/suburban-dwelling comfort hounds. There's a simple scene very early in the movie that is disturbingly effective. A boy and a girl who live in a ramshackle hut in the Malaysian jungle come across a dead deer hanging by its neck from a fork in a tree branch, about eight feet from the ground. It is obvious that it didn't get stuck there by itself or get put up there by a human being. While we, the audience, are probably thinking "fuuuuucccckkkk -- that's creepy," the young boy just says matter-of-factly "that's a week's worth of food!" The film looks great with its tropical setting and authentic rural vibes, and a lot was squeezed out of what was likely a very small budget. Some of the acting is amateurish/overdramatic, and it it regurgitates scenes from some of the more familiar folklore horror from the last few years (the aforementioned films, The Witch, The Ritual, Impetigore, etc.). But give me a version of The Wailing from every South and Southeast country (Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka , etc.) any day over the constant Hollywood retreads and Conjuring Universe sequels.