Roh (film)
A family in the forest encounters a cursed girl.
**Roh (film)**
*Roh* (also released as *Soul*) is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language independent folk horror film. It marks the directorial debut of Emir Ezwan. The story takes place in the past and centers on a family living in a forest. Their lives change when a strange young girl arrives and delivers a terrifying prophecy.
The film was produced by the Malaysian production company Kuman Pictures and shot on location in Dengkil. It was released in Malaysian theaters on 6 August 2020, and in Singaporean theaters on 13 August 2020, later becoming available internationally on Netflix in 2021. Malaysia selected *Roh* as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 94th Academy Awards, though it did not receive a nomination. At the 31st Malaysia Film Festival, the film won six awards, including Best Film.
Critics around the world praised *Roh* for its use of symbolism, its cinematography, and its integration of Malay folklore. Several outlets described it as a standout work in Malaysian cinema and part of a growing wave of low-budget folk horror films emerging from Southeast Asia.
**Plot** In an unspecified past, two children, Along and Angah, live with their widowed mother, Mak, in a rundown shed deep in the forest. One day, they find a dead deer hanging by its neck high in the trees. On their way home, they encounter a young girl who begins to follow them. They take her in and call her Adik (meaning "little sister"). Mak tells them a legend about a restless forest spirit cursed to endlessly hunt animals and children—but victims can save themselves by knocking two rocks together and chanting a mantra. The next morning, the family sees Adik eating raw birds. She then tells them they will all be dead by the next full moon and slits her own throat.
The family leaves Adik’s body in a forest clearing. When they return home, they find an old woman named Tok examining rocks that mysteriously appeared around the house overnight. Tok says the rocks are a bad omen and has the children discard them. That night, Along sees a specter resembling Adik in the crawl space under the house. She develops a high fever, and Mak seeks help from Tok. Tok performs a ritual and instructs Angah to sacrifice two white pigeons, but he secretly lets one go free.
A hunter arrives at the house looking for Adik, but Mak sends him away.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Emir Ezwan
- Starring
- Farah Ahmad / Mhia Farhana / Harith Haziq / Namron / June Lojong / Putri Qaseh
- Music
- Reinchez Ng
- Cinematography
- Saifuddin Musa
- Studio
- Kuman Pictures
- Distributor
- TGV Pictures / Netflix
- Released
- 22 November 2019 · Singapore International Film Festival · 2020 · 08 · 06 · Malaysia, Singapore · 2021 · 06 · 01 · Worldwide · 2021 · 10 · 21 · United States
- Runtime
- 83 minutes
- Country
- Malaysia
- Language
- Malay
- Budget
- MYR 360,000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the film, two children, Along and Angah, live with their widowed mother Mak in a ramshackle shed in the forest. They discover a dead deer hanging high off the ground and later encounter a young girl who follows them home. They call her Adik, and Mak tells a legend about a restless forest spirit cursed to hunt animals and children. The next morning, Adik eats raw birds and predicts the family will be dead by the next full moon before slitting her own throat. The family leaves her body in a clearing, but an old woman named Tok warns them about rocks that appeared around the house, calling them a bad omen. Along encounters a specter resembling Adik and develops a fever. Tok conducts a ritual and instructs Angah to sacrifice two white pigeons, but he secretly releases one. A hunter arrives looking for Adik, but Mak turns him away. Along sleepwalks to Adik's gravesite and again sees the apparition. The hunter finds Along in the forest and returns her to Mak, who suspects him of abduction. Along later dies by slamming her head into a sharp metal protrusion. Mak prepares to leave with Angah, but the boy wanders off. The hunter finds Adik's body missing and warns Mak of evil forces. Mak follows the hunter and kills him with a spear after he slits Angah's throat. The hunter wakes to find Tok performing a ritual over Adik's body; Tok reveals she is an iblis that possesses humans to control their souls. The film ends with Along burning down the family home with her mother and dead brother inside.
Reader's Guide
Roh received critical acclaim internationally, with reviewers praising its symbolism, cinematography, and incorporation of Malay folklore. On Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 9 critics' reviews are positive. The New York Times said it 'succeeds as a spine-tingling baffler,' while Variety commended its 'eerie, poetical simplicity.' NME called it a 'high point in Southeast Asian horror' and highlighted its imagery. Al Jazeera noted Roh as part of a new wave of low-budget Southeast Asian folk horror films bringing international attention to the region. The film was selected as the Malaysian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards but was not nominated. At the 31st Malaysia Film Festival, Roh won six awards, including Best Film, making it the biggest winner of the festival. British director Edgar Wright praised the film on Twitter, calling it 'amazing.'
Did You Know?
- Roh was filmed over two weeks in a forest in Dengkil, south of Kuala Lumpur.
- The film had a budget of RM360,000 ($88,500).
- It was released on Netflix worldwide on June 1, 2021.
- Roh won six awards at the 31st Malaysia Film Festival, including Best Film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Roh (film)?
Roh, also distributed under the English title Soul, is a 2019 Malaysian independent folk horror film produced by Kuman Pictures. It was shot on location in Dengkil and written in the Malay language.
Who directed Roh and why is that notable?
Emir Ezwan made Roh his feature-directorial debut. The project was crafted on a modest budget of roughly RM360,000, underscoring its independent, low-budget production.
What is the plot of Roh?
Set in the past, the film follows a family living in a forest whose quiet existence is upended when a strange, cursed young girl arrives bearing a terrifying prophecy. The narrative then tracks the family's struggle as the girl's presence unravels their lives.
When was Roh released and where can it be watched?
After a 2019 festival run, Roh opened in Malaysian cinemas on 6 August 2020 and in Singapore on 13 August 2020. It subsequently became available for international streaming on Netflix in 2021.
What genre is Roh and what sets it apart?
Roh is classified as a folk horror film, drawing on Malaysian supernatural and religious folklore rather than Western gothic conventions. Its roots in local Malay tradition and its independent, small-scale production distinguish it from mainstream horror releases.
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