Indonesian star horror queen Aghniny Haque headlines the much-awaited new Nusantara horror-mystery movie 'Khadam'

In a special media gathering this week, it was announced that two acclaimed Malaysian production houses; Red Communications and Komet Productions, have joined forces to bring audiences a gripping new horror film set in 1950s Malaysia. 

"Khadam promises to blend the richness of local Nusantara folklore with chilling cinematic storytelling, anchored by powerful characters.

Fronting this cross-border collaboration is a stellar cast led by Aghniny Haque, widely recognised as the queen of Indonesian horror (KKN Desa Penari, Pemandi Jenazah), alongside Malaysia’s own heartthrob Remy Ishak (The Experts, Pulang, Sangkar) and rising star Siti Khadijah Halim (From Saga With Love, Ash & Aish). 

Khadam marks Red Communications’ bold entry into the horror genre and pairs Red’s celebrated storytelling expertise (Istanbul Aku Datang, Kami The Movie, Songlap) with Komet’s proven track record as a trusted South-East Asian content partner (Executive Producer – Blood Brothers Bara Naga, Ejen Ali The Movie 2, Siksa Kubur).

This milestone project has already sparked significant international buzz, drawing strong interest from foreign investors, including Sil Metropole (Hong Kong) and Applause Entertainment (India). 

Their involvement signals the growing global appetite for high-quality Southeast Asian genre films with distinctive cultural roots. This project has also received the support of FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia).

Khadam will be directed by Shamyl Othman, who previously helmed Rahsia, one of Malaysia’s blockbuster horror titles. The film is written by Fariza Azlina Isahak, the acclaimed writer behind the award-winning film Songlap, and the iconic KAMI The Movie, both celebrated for capturing the zeitgeist of their generation.

The story follows Melor, who, after the death of her mother, reluctantly inherits her family’s saka (a spiritual inheritance with dark and mystical undertones). As the saka tightens its grip on her life, she races against time to protect her young daughter from a violent destiny as the next mistress of this dark legacy.

At its core, Khadam is more than a horror film. It’s a poignant exploration of the struggles of motherhood and the choices women must make in times of societal and supernatural pressure, brought to life through a suspense-filled and spine-tingling story wrapped in South-East Asian folklore.

The collaboration between the two production houses reflects the continuous efforts to strengthen the local film industry, bringing together resources, talent, and vision to elevate Malaysian horror onto the regional stage. With an Indonesian star taking on a pivotal role in this Malaysia-based project, the film aims to reach a wider audience across South-East Asia. - Movie info from OPR Network