Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam

As title, when I watched this Movie as kid, it does scare me to my bones. Even that time I have no idea what or how the movie works. Then coming back to watch it and found out the movie did really terrible job on editing. Multiple scenes have been cut and inserted in the movie not in order. It felt like movie has been rushed for finishing for some reason. It jumps to Scene A to Scene D and left out Scene B and C completely. Those are going to watch for the first time will get super confusing at middle part of movie.

Acting.

Maya Karin - She did really good job portraying Meriam and Maria. She was Primadona on her time. The CGI kind of lame it's better put full makeup.

Azri Iskandar - As Datuk Marsani did quite good job as Villains in the movie. But his true intentions really do not make any senses at all.

Rosyam Nor - Win as award for best supporting role, but for me his acting never been doubt is better than all supporting cast. He should be given more screen time + good script.

Overall = This movie like a sinking ship but never want to sink. If you want to get super confused, I recommended to watch this movie. I really hope they release full Director Cut of this movie and properly put the scene.

just watched the movie with my wife, lauded by local critics as one of the best malaysian movies ever, is actually a pretentious little film that showcases disjointed storyline at best.

to provide some insight into a crapfest of a film called 'pontianak harum sundal malam':

it tries too hard to follow the tradition of local superstitious horror element made famous by the genre defining japs and koreans. however, the timeline continuity and makeup are laughable and outright absurd (you have to watch to believe!), the director also tries to provide not one but two retar*ds as supporting characters for comic relief which turned out to be highly irritating personalization of Leo DiCaprio character from "What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)!(that's you, ida nerina & rosyam noor!). but for some reason, he (amateurishly portrayed by rosyam) became normal halfway thru the story, while the other retar*d (ida) died early on, good riddance!

the script is bad enough but the more obvious disaster is the direction by shuhaimi baba, a highly respected film director that shows none of her vast experience in the malaysian film industry. the editing is also one of the worst i have seen for quite some time. it's an ordeal for me and my wife to watch the movie as a whole. it's a waste of $18 for a piece of cliché infested (done without the charm) film. i should have bought the pirated copy instead!

to summarize all the hoopla surrounding this film - it sucked big time!

'Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam'...yuk!

The first time i heard that title made me laugh so hard! Anyway, i start with the pros:

I-) The production looks good for a malay movie ( Maya Karin looks awesome)

II-) The music is superbly memorable

III-) There are SOME few frightening moments

Now to the cons....

I-) What the hell was that movie about?! It looks like a rush job.

II-) The editing are horrible ( make me confuse!)

III-) Rosyam Noor's horrible acting (He is a good actor! Deserve a better script)

IV-) The ending....ah! lame!

I think there's more but overall.. ** out of ****

I think this film is OK. I like it. Wonderful! I never thought Malaysian can make movie like this. Well, to compare it with other horror movies like Ju-On (both American and Japanese), The Ring (both American and Japanese), Amytville Horror it will be unfair. For the Malaysian standard I think this movie is a worth watching than other Malaysian horrors like Mistik, Potret Mistik, Di Ambang Misteri, Makar and other craps. That's all, it's a shame for you Malaysian to underestimate your own masterpiece. Besides it got lot of attention at the Spanish Science and Horror Movies Festival that gave Maya Karin the best horror actress. You should think about that.

I still don't get how the Spanish people see this film to give them awards... OK.. I still sing "Pulangkan" in my shower, the main song by Misha Omar and that song still haunts me.. in a good way. And Maya Karin is a good actress but the film is bad on the 'to be scared' part which is non-existent. However, Maya Karin is the most beautiful vampire I ever seen... next to Kate Beckinsale, of course.

I had to admit, this film is the one of the two film that seem to have passed the image quality in Malaysia for the past years after P Ramlee... (the other is Puteri Gunung Ledang) but I had to admit that long-film directors need to be creative or at least gain more experience like to see more western movies. The image quality and the storyline are synchronized in the western side or at least at China or Japan or the country around us. But I did not mean that they need to have sex and shredded clothing. I still think that Malaysia's advertisement (like Petronas and etc) and short-film are wonderful and creative. I think, these people should have the privilege to direct long-films...

The storyline is acceptable and fairly simple. But what confuses me the most is the fact that if you add stupid comments like... look between your legs to see ghost... it would be too superstitious and unrealistic and too uncivilized; since your bottom is in the movie I sincerely don't get that for the first time.

The audio is good unless you have to comment on the side where too much Pulangkan songs in the middle of the show and the red-teary eyed and weird makeup. Marsani looks like he had talc powder in his hair. Even I can do that kind of makeup trick. Erra Fazira and Yusry do much better on that.

The scene where Ana and Norman were in their house and Meriam tried to scare them... doesn't work. More like a child's scream (this is suppose to be a horror right?) and as an audience, naturally we knew what's going to happen next if the character went silent for seconds.

As a Malaysian teen who sometime writes stories and script, I've develop a conclusion that younger generation should have a chance in this industry without the limits of over-18 in various genre. I publish better vampire stories and adult love stories than these old folks does. Even Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam script seems to be so lame.

But the dance choreograph and the set is marvelous like in Puteri Gunung Ledang.

And for your information, the flower in the movie is not Harum Sundal Malam. My mom and dad says that Harum Sundal Malam is different.

Anyway, the sequel is coming. And yes, I think it would be more confusing than ever. But Rusdi Ramli is going to be in it :)