Roh

I am usually the first to dissent from saying that a certain film is the foreign equivalent of another, but in this case the comparison helps me identifying the tone and target audience of who will appreciate this film.

It's a slow burn, devoid of any mainstream sensationalism that makes the horror genre suffer lately. It's definitely more of an arthouse work, that cares more about constructing a narrative than making the audience get a heart attack.

Like, as I learned, most of the latter horror films from far east, Roh draws from local folklore. What makes Roh more interesting is the sense of mystery that sorrounds the events.

In a clear choice, the dialogue is minimal and there is heavy subtraction. In other words, much is implied, not said, assumed, and this makes the ending, although clear, with unanswered questions.

I mentioned "The Witch" because the tone is very similar, although the setting is somewhat radically different, and the different culture makes the seemingly similar plots very radically different.

Roh is Emir Ezwan's directorial debut, and as such, it is outstanding. I hope that we get to see more from him in the near future.

I have seen "Roh" at the Far East Film Festival Online. Despite the first "official" screening is on the 3rd of July, all the films of the films can be seen at any time during the festival days.

A creepy & ill-omened folk horror that invokes its eerie vibe, foreboding tone & uncomfortable aura from the remote wilderness setting its plot operates in, Roh (Soul) relies on its minimalist style, relaxed pace & central mystery to envelop the viewers into its grasp and only gets more unnerving as it progresses. There are however a few confusing bits in it that go over the head.

Directed by Emir Ezwan in his directorial debut, the story concerns a family of three who live an isolated life in the forest but soon find their quiet existence disrupted after the arrival of a mysterious girl with an unsettling prediction. Ezwan's direction exhibits ample restraint as he allows the sinister atmosphere to set up gradually and lets each scene play out in its entirety.

Assisting the director in bringing his vision to life on the screen is the methodical camerawork, brilliant sound design & restless score. Every new stranger turning up at the family's doorstep only amplifies the film's dark, ominous mood with their undisclosed identity & intention. As for the performances, the amateurish & unpolished acts aren't a plus but they're still serviceable.

Overall, Roh combines folklore, superstitions, spirits, omens, sickness, devilry, death, rituals & premonitions into a bleak & unforgiving fable of a family that gets ruthlessly torn apart by evil forces. The final act runs longer than required plus the local flavours & context at play remain lost on foreign viewers but this indie art-house horror from Malaysia is oddly fascinating if not wholly satisfying.

I feel pretty down the middle on this one. I was invested, but maybe not riveted. It delivers the necessities competently, never feeling derivative, but not totally something you haven't seen before. I couldn't always see where it was going, but I wasn't that surprised when it got there. It's the pinnacle of the slow burn, taking it's time but properly peppering in some shockingly morose scenes, and definitely not shying away from violence towards children. The cinematography is lovely, though that generally just amounts to a multitude of slow shots of the jungle, the droning music hammers home the moody atmosphere.

I don't wanna come off too harshly, it's clearly an indie picture due to how sparse it all is, but it looks great and the performances are excellent. Basically everyone involved did good at their jobs, which is a pretty solid accomplishment for first time director Emir Ezwan. The minimalism is a bit of a patience tester, so it'll be down to individual tastes how effective that is. If you're a fan of folk horror and stuff like The Witch, this might be up your alley. It feels like a wise old sage spinning a dark tail of the evils of the old world, delivered at a steady, deliberate pace with very little light at the end of the tunnel.

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.

Bringing new blood to Malaysian horror, 'Roh' provides a suitably unsettling destination for fans of darkly atmospheric horror. While it's sparse in plot and setting, Emir Ezwan's skilful and careful execution, in the staging, composition, editing and excellent photography, elevates the story further and covers up most of the film's missteps.