When the devil whispers: the unholy allure of ‘Malam Terlarang’

‘Malam Terlarang’ follows the story of a family struck by tragedy when the eldest daughter Safar, played by newcomer Aila Azizul (right), dies tragically. (Astro Shaw pic)

It’s not often that horror films get it right. For such stories to truly terrify, they need the perfect mix of dread, suspense, fear, mystery, danger, and characters who feel real.

But some filmmakers take it a step further by adding a layer that doesn’t just scare you – it unsettles you, creeps under your skin, and lingers long after the credits roll.

Astro Shaw’s “Malam Terlarang” is a standout in Malaysian folk horror, blending ancient rituals, unholy desires, and demonic forces to blur the line between fiction and fear.

Directed by Nurhanisham Muhammad, the 110-minute film relies less on jump scares (though there are a few well-placed ones) and more on haunting gamelan tunes, eerie coastal rituals (puja pantai), the otherworldly cadence of Javanese, and a cautionary tale deeply rooted in Nusantara folklore.

Right off the bat, “Malam Terlarang” – starring Zul Ariffin, Sofia Jane, Shasha Abedul, and newcomer Aila Azizul – works because it avoids the disappointing plotlines, overused tropes, and cheap-looking demons that have plagued many local horror films (with the exception of 2020’s “Roh”, another local folk horror triumph).

Set in 1987, “Malam Terlarang” also carries a depth rarely seen in Malaysian cinema. It tells the story of a family fractured by tragedy, consumed by political ambition, and entangled in the forbidden supernatural realm.

The scriptwriters masterfully weave these elements into a terrifying tapestry, holding them in such tension that you can’t help but be pulled into the film’s unrelenting dread.

Shasha Abedul as Mawar (centre) and Zul Ariffin as her father Omar, helm the film with their nuanced acting. (Astro Shaw pic)

Audiences follow Mawar (Shasha), a young woman who dreams of becoming a journalist but finds herself drawn into her family’s dark secrets after her sister’s (Aila) mysterious death.

As Mawar digs deeper, she is haunted by her sister’s ghastly apparition and uncovers horrifying truths about her family’s past.

Without giving too much away, “Malam Terlarang” avoids the moralistic route where wrongs are righted and everyone lives happily ever after.

Instead, it reminds audiences that there are grave consequences to one’s actions – especially when one dabbles in the dark arts. When you make a pact with the devil, a hefty price must be paid. As one character chillingly warns, when the devil whispers, even darkness can sound sweet.

Visually, the film thrives on lingering, atmospheric shots and intense close-ups that amplify the unease.

Many of the climactic scenes were filmed in the mangrove forests and beaches of Kuala Selangor and Pantai Morib, where the meeting of land and sea becomes a spiritual battleground, while haunting Javanese music and discordant sounds hang over it all like a thick, chilling fog.

Another reason the film grips you is its stellar casting.

Stepping away from his usual charming leading-man roles, Zul Ariffin delivers a nuanced performance as a husband and father who will go to any length to protect his family. He embodies a grieving man torn between love and ambition, revealing a vulnerability rarely see from him.

The film sheds light on dark rituals that still beleaguer society today. (Astro Shaw pic)

But it’s breakout actor Shasha Abedul of “Kau vs Aku” fame who anchors the story. She becomes the film’s moral compass – a rebellious voice amid a web of ambition and deceit. Shasha brings emotional depth and nuance to a role that could easily have been one-dimensional in lesser hands.

Sofia Jane, ever elegant, brings a brooding presence to the screen, commanding attention with little dialogue.

Meanwhile, newcomer Aila deserves praise for her chilling portrayal of Safar, the tormented sister. Her physical transformation into a twisted, vengeful spirit is nothing short of haunting.

All in all, “Malam Terlarang” arrives just in time for the spooky season – and it will surely leave you unsettled, drawing you into the darkly familiar world of the Nusantara’s own Faustian tale.

The film might even make you wonder: how many affluent Malaysians have struck their own deal with the devil on a malam terlarang (forbidden night)? Now that’s the true horror.

As of press time, ‘Malam Terlarang’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.

12 thoughts on “When the devil whispers: the unholy allure of ‘Malam Terlarang’”

Dadurch konnten wir den führenden Anbieter für Online Glücksspiel
in Hamburg identifizieren. Glücksspiel genießt in Hamburg eine tiefe Verwurzelung, und die Auswahl
an Casinos in der Hansestadt ist beeindruckend vielfältig.
Ja, neben den staatlich konzessionierten Spielbanken gibt es in Hamburg auch zahlreiche kleinere Spielhallen oder Spielotheken, die
ausschließlich Automatenspiel anbieten. Die heutige Spielbank Hamburg GmbH blickt auf eine Entwicklung zurück, die sicherstellt, dass das Glücksspiel in einem kontrollierten und sicheren Rahmen stattfindet.
Die Geschichte des organisierten Glücksspiels in Hamburg, wie
in ganz Deutschland, ist eng mit staatlicher Regulierung und
der Erteilung von Konzessionen verbunden. Glücksspiel
hat in Hamburg eine lange Tradition, auch wenn die modernen Spielbanken in ihrer jetzigen Form
natürlich jüngeren Datums sind.
Zudem müssen sie Einsatz- und Gewinnlimits respektieren und dürfen die Glücksspielautomaten durch Jackpotsysteme nicht über die eigene Spielbank hinaus vernetzen. Grand Casinos bieten ein umfassendes Tischspielangebot und das Spiel
an Glücksspielautomaten an. In der Schweiz waren Spielcasinos
bis ins Jahr 2000 generell verboten, weswegen sich
die Spielbanken im grenznahen Ausland recht hoher Beliebtheit erfreuten, etwa in der italienischen Exklave Campione d’Italia oder in Bregenz.
Dadurch wurden die deutschen Länder zum Zentrum der Glücksspieler,
insbesondere die Casinos in Aachen und Baden-Baden (1824).
Eine Spielbank oder ein Spielkasino (auch Casino, Spielcasino und Kasino)
ist eine öffentlich zugängliche Einrichtung, in der staatlich konzessioniertes Glücksspiel betrieben wird.

Das Casino Esplanade ist bekannt für sein elegantes Ambiente und beherbergt sowohl das Klassische Spiel als auch einen umfangreichen Automatenspielbereich.

Selbst wenn du nur mit kleinen Einsätzen spielst oder die Spiele einfach nur beobachtest, kann die Energie an den Tischen und rund um die Automaten faszinierend sein. Jeder Standort hat seinen eigenen Charakter und Fokus,
aber das Kernangebot des staatlich kontrollierten Glücksspiels ist an allen zu finden.

References:
https://online-spielhallen.de/greatwin-casino-cashback-ihr-weg-zu-besseren-gewinnen/

Dieser Bereich bietet ein realistisches Erlebnis mit professionellen Croupiers und einer Vielzahl von Spielen zur
Auswahl, die das Glücksspiel in Echtzeit noch aufregender machen. Der Live-Casino-Bereich von Rolletto bringt den Nervenkitzel echter Casinospiele direkt zu den Spielern nach
Hause. Das Casino bietet 58 verschiedene Versionen von Roulette, einschließlich europäischer, amerikanischer und französischer Varianten, sowie 15
Varianten von Baccarat und 44 Blackjack-Titel.

Rolletto Casino bietet eine große Auswahl an modernen Slots, darunter exklusive
Spiele wie Rolletto-King und beliebte Titel wie Book of Dead,
Sweet Bonanza und Big Bass Bonanza. Zusätzlich bietet das Casino
die Möglichkeit, Spiele im Demo-Modus auszuprobieren, sodass Sie
sie kostenlos testen können.
Bei einer Mindesteinzahlung von 20€ bekommst du einen 100% Bonus bis zu 1.000€
in Kryptowährung. Nachdem du alle Willkommensboni abgespielt hast, stehen dir bei Rolletto Casino noch die Reload Boni zur Verfügung.
Die Mindesteinzahlung für jeden Bonus beträgt 10€, danach musst du den Bonus manuell in deinem
Profil aktivieren.

References:
https://online-spielhallen.de/sol-casino-cashback-ihr-weg-zu-hoheren-gewinnen-und-spielspas/

As you can see the collection is update after you type in something and
focus out on the control. Therefore using ForAll to reference the control directly will not work.

Insert an HTML text control and name it HtmlText1. You have to
create your formula to patch the collection values into your
data source Insert a button and name it Button2. Click on the
Reset button so that our collections will be created.
If the formula returns a record, the resulting table will include records with the same columns as those in the returned record.
It allows you to iterates over a set of data and
execute an action for each item in that set, such as updating records, creating new ones,
or performing calculations. The ForAll function in Power Apps
is used to perform a specific action or apply a formula to each record in a table or collection.
Treasury Casino is an icon of Brisbane, a testament of timeless grandeur and class.
It’s more than just a gaming hub; it’s their pride and a culturally significant landmark.
The proud owners, a formidable group known as the Mississippi
Band of Choctaw Indians, have infused their rich heritage into the heart and soul of the casino.

References:
https://blackcoin.co/play-your-way-only-at-ac8-casino/

Repacks are highly compressed game downloads, designed for people with slow/limited
internet bandwidth. And now, on with the game-hacking goodness!

OpenSpiel is a collection of environments and algorithms for research in general reinforcement
learning and search/planning in games. Play your favorite games in a
borderless window; no more time consuming alt-tabs.

These backup links provide access to various game sites that are not blocked by most network filters.
If you love playing unblocked games at school or work but often run into restrictions
or blocked websites, you know how frustrating it can be.

Whether you’re looking to enjoy these classic games or learn from their code, this collection has something
for everyone! This repository contains a collection of classic mini-games developed in Python, including games like Tic-Tac-Toe, Snake,
and more. Scrape nxbrew to automatically download Switch games
These tools are helpful with cracking your own games.

References:
https://blackcoin.co/harvest-buffet-casino-the-ultimate-online-gaming-experience/

This is the go-to real money online casino for players who have better things to do than sit around waiting to win. It wasn’t until now that I had to test it
extensively and compare it with other Australian online casinos for real
money to give it a proper ranking. The best online casinos in Australia give
you thousands of pokies to explore, smooth payouts in AUD,
and heaps of bonus offers. By reviewing hundreds
of sites of we’ve managed to rank the best online casinos for Australian players.

These promotions can double or even triple your playtime and bankroll — and can be
extremely valuable when the wagering requirements are fair.

And if you miss interaction, turn to the live dealer tables at .
Table games like blackjack and baccarat might be your go-to.

References:
https://blackcoin.co/top-slots-the-ultimate-guide/

Look for names that have a solid reputation when it comes to online
casino games. You might not think of the people who created the game when you’re
playing a casino game with real money bets. See our expert comparison of the benefits
of playing online at the best mobile casinos against land-based casino gambling.
It’s one of the best real money table games for players who
like control and classic style. Real money casinos offer an abundance of popular table games.

That’s also why we bring to our pages only online casino sites that run slots and live dealer games operated via reliable RNGs and with a high return to you, the
player. When you are on a budget, you need to be able to get a lot of games with an affordable minimum bet because
real money online casino games should not cost you a fortune.

Craps is one of those real money casino games that is relatively easy to start playing just using a basic strategy, but also one that offers
many different types of bets, all with their own odds
and probabilities.
Begin by selecting a reputable online casino, such as
one we’ve recommended above. The minimums for these games are often as low as $1 and can go up to six-figure betting limits
depending on which game you play. Popular live dealer games
include blackjack, baccarat, mobile roulette, and Super 6.

References:
https://blackcoin.co/paris-las-vegas-hotel-casino-adults-only/