Movies
‘Curse of the Totem’ – Upcoming Malaysian Horror Film Based on Ancient Rituals of Human Sacrifice
Malaysian horror movie Curse of the Totem, aka Sumpahan Jerunei, draws from 13th-century Borneo sacrifice rituals, and, thanks to Variety, a new image gives a first look at the upcoming horror movie described as an “urban legend story.”
Curse of the Totem “tells the story of Dr. Sani, who goes in search of his wife, who disappeared on a genealogy expedition to study the ancient mythical legend of Jerunei’ Burial Poles of the indigenous Melanau tribe in Borneo. Combing through the Borneo jungle for answers, each member of Dr. Sani’s team experiences inexplicable hallucinations, malicious disturbances and eventually are haunted by unexplained spirits of the dead. Things take a turn for the worse when one of them is completely possessed by evil forces.”
While human sacrifice was outlawed in the 18th century, the Burial Poles still exist today as grave markers, contributing to the true-life origins that inspired this urban legend horror story.
The film was directed by Jason Chong and written by Sky Khor. Curse of the Totem stars Bront Palarae, who more recently starred in Shudder’s Blood Flower, Satan’s Slaves, and Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion.
While the film was released commercially in Malaysia this past summer, Variety reports that House of Film has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Asia, and will launch international sales at the upcoming American Film Market.
“This is an especially distinctive urban legend story that keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat knowing it is inspired by true events,” Ava B of House of Film told the outlet.
Curse of the Totem is produced by Wendy Wong and Nancie Foo in association with the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak in Malaysia. With the film already released in Malaysia and making its way on the International film festival circuit, expect this horror movie to get snatched up for distribution soon.
Stay tuned for additional details on the film as they arrive.
NEON has been absolutely slaying the marketing game for their horror output this year, and they’re kicking the Longlegs campaign into high gear with one more month until release.
A cryptic ad in The Seattle Times today (seen below) has led clever horror fans to discover TheBirthdayMurders.net, the brand new official viral marketing website for Longlegs.
The in-universe website details the victims of the serial killer known as Longlegs (Nicolas Cage), described as a “Satan-worshipping psycho” who has terrorized families throughout the Pacific Northwest for nearly three decades.
The website details, “A bloody trail of bodies here in the great state of Oregon attests to the depraved savagery of this one-of-a-kind serial killer. With over three dozen victims that we know of, LONGLEGS is one of the most prolific mass murderers ever to have graced the region, and his gruesome endeavors are the stuff of nightmares. At first, all of the killings appeared to be straightforward murder-suicides: the handiwork of average men who suddenly snapped and slaughtered their wives and children. But a series of eerie coded messages left at the crime scenes indicate that someone – or something – is influencing these horrific crimes. The cryptic letters are signed by someone calling himself LONGLEGS.”
“With thirty-eight kills to his name, LONGLEGS has torn apart the lives of eleven different families throughout the Beaver State. His victims were good people: honest fathers, decent mothers, innocent little children.”
The website is loaded with secrets, clues, and gruesome (faux) crime scene photos, and you might even find a mention of yours truly nestled in there. Poke around. Stay a while.
Longlegs arrives in theaters July 12.
The upcoming serial killer horror movie marks the return of director Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel). Nicolas Cage stars alongside Maika Monroe, with Monroe playing an FBI agent and Cage playing a serial killer.
In the film, “FBI Agent Lee Harker (Monroe) is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer (Cage). As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family.
The film is rated “R” for “Bloody violence, disturbing images and some language.”
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