KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — At a time when gore-driven Malaysian features have become increasingly rare — and are often heavily toned down before release — Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan stands out for remaining fully intact in its final cut.
Written and directed by Pierre Andre, the film combines psychological, spiritual, and visceral horror elements as it arrives in Malaysian cinemas today.
Produced by Metrowealth Pictures (MIG), it marks a bold attempt at the gore concept, taking a more extreme and mature approach.
According to MIG CEO David Teo, the project is a high-risk venture, but one expected to bring something fresh to the local film landscape.
Story origins and inspirations behind ‘Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan’
Nar’sata follows the story of Balqis, a woman whose life is destroyed after she becomes the victim of violence at the hands of a group of men.
Rescued by a mysterious old woman, Balqis later becomes bound by a horrifying pact that leads her down a path of revenge and dark powers.
Brutal action sequences and graphic horror elements are featured with intense scenes that are likely to appeal to fans looking for something different in the local horror genre.
Pierre shared with Malay Mail that the origin of the story began with a crow.
He had always been fascinated by how intelligent crows are, but more importantly, by their fierce capacity for holding grudges.
“That element of deep, relentless vengeance became the spark for Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan,” he shared.
The inspiration also came from several seminal titles known for their tension and gore — films like I Spit on Your Grave, Hostel, Saw, Evil Dead, and I Saw the Devil.
New and veteran cast, with Trisha Ooi chosen for the lead
Director Pierre Andre of ‘Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan’ hopes for the success of the film, stating that it may open the door for more local gore films in the future. — Picture courtesy of Metrowealth Pictures
The film stars Trisha Ooi in the lead as Balqis, alongside Mawar Rashid, and features a lineup of young stars including Fadlan Hazim, Khenobu, Dai Fuad, Imranul Effendy, and Aniq Suhair.
The cast is further strengthened by veteran actors including Khatijah Tan, Namron, Wan Hanafi Su, Ashraf Muslim, and Vanidah Imran.
The director also spoke about his decision to cast Ooi in the lead stating he had consistently heard strong praise about her talent and discipline from trusted industry figures.
“My decision to cast her was further solidified when Metrowealth themselves confirmed her remarkable talent and professional discipline.
“On top of that, learning that Trisha actually started out as a stunt performer in the industry immediately reminded me of our legendary Michelle Yeoh.
“At that moment, I knew she absolutely deserved the opportunity to take on the mantle of Balqis,” he added.
Why the film’s extreme gore was necessary
The film’s graphic violence is striking, and there is nothing “cute” about Nar’sata, making it a rare and distinctive entry in the local horror landscape.
Pierre told Malay Mail that the bold and gory direction was necessary to stand out in an evolving genre landscape, saying, “I wanted to carve out a new path within the genre.”
“Personally, I have always been a fan of gore-centric horror.
“When analysing the current market — both in Malaysia and Indonesia — I noticed that psychological gore and visceral horror elements are still largely underutilised.
“I thought to myself, ‘Why not now?’”
He added that the primary concern was censorship—specifically, whether the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF) would approve such intense violence.
Fortunately, Nar’sata was approved with zero cuts, a milestone for which he is incredibly grateful.
“This approach allows the team to offer local audiences something genuinely fresh, intense, and competitive on a regional scale,” he added.
Expectations and the weight of return
Trisha Ooi during the May 12 gala premiere of ‘Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan’, a film that was released nationwide today across cinemas. — Picture courtesy of Metrowealth Pictures
Pierre has high expectations for Nar’sata.
“I am well aware that many were left disappointed with Jangan Pandang Belakang 2,” which Pierre directed.
“However, what I can confidently say is this: Nar’sata is entirely different.
“This film carries a highly significant strength because of the meticulous, rigorous preparation we put into it.”
He added that he genuinely hopes audiences will give this new work a fair chance and, as the director previously mentioned during the press conference at Sunway Pyramid in May 12, this may very well be his final horror film if it does not perform well at the box office.
However, he remains open to producing more gore-centric horror films in the future if Nar’sata proves successful.
“Ultimately, it all rests in the hands of the audience now,” he concluded.
Nar’sata: Sekutu Setan is currently screening in cinemas nationwide.
The film has been classified 18SG and is specifically targeted at mature audiences.
