Exclusive premiere screening showcases Sabah's horror thriller "Mantera"

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Exclusive premiere screening showcases Sabah's horror thriller "Mantera"

Writer: Ann Tan

"Mantera" will be released nationwide on 24 April

18 Apr - A gala premiere screening of the Malaysian production "Mantera" was held last night at GSC, The Starling Mall.

This horror-thriller film, directed by Chester Pang, President of Kota Kinabalu Film and Video Association (KKFVA), is set to open in cinemas on April 24.

The Malaysian production aims to showcase Sabah's unique culture, mythology and beliefs as the selling point of the film, while supporting the long-term viability and growth of Sabah's entertainment industry. It also seeks to create wider market exposure for feature films in Sabah to national and international audiences.

Director Chester Pang (middle) with the cast

CEO of FINAS Dato' Azmir Saifuddin was also in attendance

"Mantera" delves into the mystical and spiritual world, exploring the dark side of old beliefs through a story wrapped in ancient rituals and the threat of evil spirits. Chester's aim is to create a compelling story through visual representation that combines elements of supernatural, horror and action, while incorporating authentic cultural beliefs as the foundation of the film.

The film highlights include the natural beauty of Sabah, revealing the hidden world of ancient Dusunic witchcraft popular in Sabah's culture that is now slowly vanishing due to modernization. Viewers can expect an intense plot with twists, thrilling scenes and sequences enhanced by CGI and dramatic effects.

The star-studded cast features Syafie Naswip as Inspector Zafri, who was most recently in the Sarawak-made film "Tegkang," and award-winning actor Namron as Sarjan Ramli.

Popular Sabahan actress Jovenia Jim, who was the 1st runner up in Unduk Ngadau Sabah 2011, stars as Tana. The cast also includes social media influencer Eva Sandra Duin as Lupiah from Tambunan, who was Unduk Ngadau KDCA 2023 (Penang), and model and social media influencer Devey Grayc as Ondiya from Tambunan, who was Unduk Ngadau KDCA 2023 (Inanam).

The supernatural thriller will be released nationwide on 24 April.