Susuk (2008)

Directors:

Naeim Ghalili
Amir Muhammad

Writers:

Naeim Ghalili (screenplay)
Bijesh Jayarajan (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 August 2008 (Malaysia)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Beauty | Black Magic | Twist Ending

Cast

Diana Rafar	...	Soraya
Ida Nerina	...	Suzana
Adlin Aman Ramlee	...	Dukun Dewangga
Hairie Othman	...	Farish
Sofia Jane	...	Mona
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anne Abdullah	...	Sasha
Rafidah Abdullah	...	Girl with Walkie Talkie
Yasmin Ahmad	...	Nurse
Tony Eusoff	...	Audience Member
Jalaluddin Hassan	...	Producer Razman
Baizura Kahar	...	Idola Marcella
Aleeza Kassim	...	Rozana
Susan Lankester	...	Audience Member
Tengku Marina	...	Aini
Norkhiriah	...	Mastura
Liza Othman	...	Aliya
Ramona Rahman	...	Audience Member
Gambit Saifullah	...	Kamal
Chew Kin Wah	...	Producer Lee
Yasmin Yusoff	...	Yasmin Yusoff

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Malaysia

Language:

Malay

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Filming Locations:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Company:

Grand Brilliance

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Godfather (1972)

Needles for the sake of fame and fortune anyone?

I'm not a big fan of Asian horror movies since I have had my share of watching disappointing ones since way back when. I still haven't found one which I could honestly say I enjoy thoroughly in this genre because most of them are predictable and rehashes from the great ones, except for Shutter (2004), The Eye (Gin Gwai - 2002), Dark Water (Honogurai mizu no soko kara - 2002) and a few others.

I almost liked Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam until the second half marred what could have been a much better classic horror tale. As for Susuk I liked the overall presentation which I thought was quite a treat but still, it's not all there yet to make it the superb horror film from Malaysia.

Of vanity and the suggestive powers of sexuality, it does bear a stark resemblance to the exploitative movies of the sixties whether intentionally or not. The sensuality that oozes out from the female characters are undeniably blatant, while the rest are like undercurrents of a raging river.

When the movie ended it took me a while more to lock in the jigsaw pieces that makes up the whole story, which takes a bit of mind unraveling effort to completely grasp the plot. There's nothing much else I can say without coming close to exposing the spoilers except the vampire creature-like thing could have been more terrifying in design.

Besides the bevy of beauties all in a row, other stars who made their cameos include Yasmin Ahmad, Yasmin Yusoff, Romona Rahman and also Amir Muhammad, the director and writer, himself.

I thought it could have done without the gore and shock tactics that gives it the essence, but hey, what's a horror movie without them? Susuk is a superstitious believe that gold or silver needles inserted into the body enhances one's desirability and appeal.

Amir Muhammad also has a new movie 'Malaysian Gods' in the process of being released, I'm sure it has nothing to do with Neil Gaiman's American Gods though.