Harum Malam [Movie Review]

Harum Malam [Movie Review] | When I read the list of actors in this movie and watched the trailer, I immediately booked my friends to watch it with me in the cinema.

Was it worth watching in the cinema?

SYNOPSIS

Harum Malam (2023) Trivia

• Starring: Idan Aedan, Bront Palarae, Remy Ishak & Nadiya Nisaa
• Director:  Nandita Solomon
• Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Marc Butan, Gerard Butler & Alan Siegel
• Production Companies: Apparat, Skop Productions and D'Ayu Pictures
• Release date: February 9, 2023
• Running time: 102 minutes
• Rating: TV-MA
  
• Country: Malaysia
  
• Language: Malay
• Harum Malam gets its international film festival premiere at Fantastic Fest, a "genre" (horror, fantasy) film festival that is the largest in North America Austin Texas in September 2022. 
• In October 2022 there was a screening for the film Harum Malam at the Sitges Film Festival, Spain, a major genre film festival in Europe. 
• In the international market, Harum Malam is represented by Reel Suspects, while XYZ Films represents int films in the North American market. 
• The international title for the film Harum Malam is Blood Flower.

Iqbal and his mother has the ability to see the creatures of the other realms, or known as makhluk ghaib in Malay. Both of them also has the ability to exorcise the demon possessions.

On a trip to exorcise a possessed girl, his mother died after being tricked by an evil spirit - who apparently wanted to kill Iqbal.

After the incident, Iqbal starts to hate his ability and even begs his father to find ways to stop his ability, as he feels like the power is nothing is he still unable to save his mother. 

His father always assist during the exorcism, is a bit reluctant to seal his ability. He works odd jobs, including as a masseur. One of his clients, Jamil wants him to look after his greenhouse while he is away on his field trip to acquire more exotic flora. He reminds Jamil not to let anyone else into the greenhouse and to never unlock one door that is marked with a talisman.  

One day, Iqbal brings his friends and his sister, Alya into the house. Ali and Bob jokingly dares everyone to open that 'one' room. When nobody opens the door, both boys rip the talisman from the door. And suddenly the door swings open, making the children runs for their lives. 

Since then, the children starts hearing sounds and seeing shadows around them. 

Iqbal starts seeing his neighbours' ghosts around him, way before the neighbours are dead. He now knows that he can also foretell who's going to die soon.

And not long after, he sees his friends' ghosts around him.

Can Iqbal uses his power to rescue his friends and family from the evil?

MY REVIEW

Plot: 4.2/ 5.0 I love the premise of the movie as I also have had a roomie who has the ability to see spirits when I was in the uni. 

The script is a bit loose and some scenes are not seamlessly connected. It could have been more interesting - there's something missing from the movie.

Cast: 4.6/ 5.0 The cast is superb. Their actings are marvellous - especially Idan Aedan, Nadiya Nisaa (albeit her screen time was short), Arnie Shasha and Angelica Petra. 

Will I Watch It Again: Sadly, I don't think I would rewatch this one. 

 The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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