Jangan Pandang Belakang
Encyclopedia
Jangan Pandang Belakang (translates as "Don't Look Back") is a 2007 Malaysian horror film
directed by Ahmad Idham. It holds the record as the highest-grossing film in Malaysia, which was previously held by 1994 drama film
Sembilu
.
) is traumatised by the mysterious death of his fiancee, Rose (Intan Ladyana) who had killed herself. Unknown to him, Rose had been haunted by a malicious spirit which they had brought to her home after picking up a small jar found washed up at the beach. Apparently, the spirit had been imprisoned and was inadvertently released by the couple.
At her home, after her death, before leaving Darma had taken the small jar with him, and with it, the malignant spirit.
Not satisfied with why Rose had suddenly killed herself, Darma decides to investigate the case with the help of Rose's twin sister, Seri, (also played by Intan Ladyana). As they probe into the death, a series of strange occurrences start to unravel, leaving Darma in a disturbed state of mind that affects his life and career. When he is advised to take a week's break from work, he returns to his village to rest. Unknown to him, he is only getting closer to solving his fiancee's death and the truth behind the strange happenings.
It was Darma's senile grandmother who could see the ghost and had unwittingly invited the spirit into the house. In Malay belief, certain spirits cannot enter the house unless invited in. This is similar to the vampire mythology in the West.
The ghost in this movie is called Saka. Saka was a ghost that has been kept by the elder for some uncertified reason. Mostly, Saka starts to give problems when its owner die and Saka needs to be feed. Mostly, Saka will haunt the next generation of the owner.
A stuntman Nazari Abu Bakar died during the shooting of the film. The unexpected thing happen when the cameraman try to take a shot at the location, suddenly capture a mystery entity. That photo are being use as a teaser poster of this film.
, Brunei
, and Philippines
. On its opening weekend, the film debuted at number 1 in Malaysia, grossing $433,589 in 55 theaters with an average $7,883 per theater. In Philippines, the film debuted at number 9 grossing $19,748 in 20 theaters with an average $987 per theater. In Singapore, the film grossed $91,030 on its first premiere, ranking at number 2 in 5 theaters with an average $18,206 per theater. Overall, the film was an international success, grossing RM6.33 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in Malaysia.
Won
Nominated
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
directed by Ahmad Idham. It holds the record as the highest-grossing film in Malaysia, which was previously held by 1994 drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
Sembilu
Sembilu
Sembilu is a 1994 Malaysian drama film directed by Dato' Yusof Haslam. The story concerns on a love story between a famous rock singer, Awie, with his lover Wati which is opposed by Wati's brother.-Synopsis:...
.
Plot
Darma (Pierre AndrePierre Andre
Pierre Andre is a Malaysian actor. His role as Reza in the 2005 movie Gol & Gincu was his first major role. Since then he has since appeared in other films and TV series, as well written a screenplay, and directed his first movie.-Filmography:...
) is traumatised by the mysterious death of his fiancee, Rose (Intan Ladyana) who had killed herself. Unknown to him, Rose had been haunted by a malicious spirit which they had brought to her home after picking up a small jar found washed up at the beach. Apparently, the spirit had been imprisoned and was inadvertently released by the couple.
At her home, after her death, before leaving Darma had taken the small jar with him, and with it, the malignant spirit.
Not satisfied with why Rose had suddenly killed herself, Darma decides to investigate the case with the help of Rose's twin sister, Seri, (also played by Intan Ladyana). As they probe into the death, a series of strange occurrences start to unravel, leaving Darma in a disturbed state of mind that affects his life and career. When he is advised to take a week's break from work, he returns to his village to rest. Unknown to him, he is only getting closer to solving his fiancee's death and the truth behind the strange happenings.
It was Darma's senile grandmother who could see the ghost and had unwittingly invited the spirit into the house. In Malay belief, certain spirits cannot enter the house unless invited in. This is similar to the vampire mythology in the West.
The ghost in this movie is called Saka. Saka was a ghost that has been kept by the elder for some uncertified reason. Mostly, Saka starts to give problems when its owner die and Saka needs to be feed. Mostly, Saka will haunt the next generation of the owner.
Cast
- Pierre AndrePierre AndrePierre Andre is a Malaysian actor. His role as Reza in the 2005 movie Gol & Gincu was his first major role. Since then he has since appeared in other films and TV series, as well written a screenplay, and directed his first movie.-Filmography:...
as Darma - Intan Ladyana as Rose & Seri
- Khatijah Tan as Mak Lang (Darma's aunt)
- Ruminah Sidek as Opah (Grandmother)
- Rio Elani as Lin
- Hafidzuddin Fazi as Tok Imam
A stuntman Nazari Abu Bakar died during the shooting of the film. The unexpected thing happen when the cameraman try to take a shot at the location, suddenly capture a mystery entity. That photo are being use as a teaser poster of this film.
Reception
The film was released on April 5, 2007 on 51 theaters across Malaysia, IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, and Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. On its opening weekend, the film debuted at number 1 in Malaysia, grossing $433,589 in 55 theaters with an average $7,883 per theater. In Philippines, the film debuted at number 9 grossing $19,748 in 20 theaters with an average $987 per theater. In Singapore, the film grossed $91,030 on its first premiere, ranking at number 2 in 5 theaters with an average $18,206 per theater. Overall, the film was an international success, grossing RM6.33 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in Malaysia.
Awards and nominations
20th Malaysian Film Festival, 2007Won
- Box Office Film
Nominated
- Best Actor - Pierre AndrePierre AndrePierre Andre is a Malaysian actor. His role as Reza in the 2005 movie Gol & Gincu was his first major role. Since then he has since appeared in other films and TV series, as well written a screenplay, and directed his first movie.-Filmography:...
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Ruminah Sidek
- Best Cinematography - Indra Che Muda Redzuan
- Best Editor - Ahmad Mustadha
External links
- Jangan Pandang Belakang at Sinema Malaysia.
- Review: Jangan Pandang Belakang