Acclaimed Singaporean director Glen Goei's latest film Revenge of the Pontianak, produced by Tiger Tiger Pictures, will premiere in local cinemas on 29 August 2019. The release marks Goei’s long-awaited return to the cinema, a decade after his previous production, the 2009 murder mystery The Blue Mansion.
A modern interpretation of the classic Southeast Asian Pontianak folklore legend, Revenge of the Pontianak is a horror story with a romantic twist, seeking to humanise one of Southeast Asia’s most revered horror icons.
Co-directed by Malaysian actor and director Gavin Yap, Revenge of the Pontianak features a stellar lineup of some of the most popular and most respected actors from Singapore and Malaysia, including Nur Fazura, playing the titular role of the Pontianak, and Remy Ishak, paired as her on-screen lover for the first time. Other actors include Singaporean actors Shenty Feliziana and Hisyam Hamid. The theme song for Revenge of the Pontianak is sung by Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza, with a haunting music video starring Siti Nurhaliza accompanying the film’s release.
The Pontianak in Southeast Asian mythos refers to the vengeful spirit of a pregnant woman who dies in childbirth. It is widely known as one of the most gruesome horror tales in Asian folklore but at its core, Revenge of the Pontianak is, like Dracula and Frankenstein, a tragic tale of love and loss. Portrayed on a unique Asian canvas, global audiences will be introduced to a completely new and intelligent take on the female vampire horror genre. With Revenge of the Pontianak, Goei and Yap pay homage to classic horror, but with a revisionist and contemporary spin.
On the inspiration behind Revenge of the Pontianak, Goei remarks, “With this film, I was heavily inspired by the look and feel of film classics from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Revenge of the Pontianak incorporates deep, saturated colours iconic of the period to give a more nostalgic feel to the film. Just because it is a horror film does not mean it cannot be beautiful.”
He adds, “An intentional deviation from past Pontianak films, I chose to tell the story from the perspective of the Pontianak for a change. You see and understand the motivations behind the actions of the monster.”
The production crew consists of the best talents from the region including editor Lee Chatametikool (box office hit Shutter), sound designer Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr (Cannes Palme d'Or winner, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives), and upcoming Singaporean cinematographer Jon Keng.
Revenge of the Pontianak is produced by Tiger Tiger Pictures and distributed by Golden Village Pictures in Singapore. It will be released in Singapore cinemas on 29 August.