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I watched this film mainly because I'm a fan of its screenwriter, who also happens to be the director - Craig S. Zahler. He previously delivered hard-hitting films like Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. Because of that, I already had a clear expectation of the kind of film this would be, even though it's an adaptation of a 1961 novel by Harry Whittington.

If you've seen Zahler's earlier works, you'll recognize his signature approach immediately. He's particularly drawn to placing characters who would never naturally coexist into confined, volatile situations, then letting the tension simmer as everyone anxiously waits to see who will pull the trigger first - or who will betray whom. This kind of slow-burning standoff is very much his comfort zone, reminiscent of the dynamics found in films like The Hateful Eight or Django Unchained.

Because of this, I wasn't surprised to see many online reviews dismissing the film as boring or overly talkative. Objectively speaking, the story itself could probably be wrapped up well under two hours if efficiency were the goal. However, Zahler clearly isn't interested in narrative economy. Instead, he stretches the material deliberately, prioritizing atmosphere, dialogue, and psychological pressure over plot momentum.

Personally, I found this approach effective. While the broad trajectory of the story may be predictable, what remains unpredictable is the execution. Zahler understands that tension doesn't come from what happens, but how and when it happens. The prolonged conversations, the uneasy silences, and the constant sense of impending violence create a sustained atmosphere of dread that kept me engaged throughout.

In the end, this is not a film for viewers seeking fast pacing or constant action. It's a film that demands patience and rewards those who appreciate slow, methodical tension. For fans of Zahler's work, this feels less like a deviation and more like a refined continuation of his thematic obsessions.

It is a good film, based on legendary figure in Malaysia, a silat grandmaster. I think it have a lot of potential, but maybe because of a low budget so it looks cheap and "can do better" feel because the director is a well experienced director so how much epic ca he do with a tight budget? If we want to talk about a weakness, sure there is a lot of weakness such as poor cgi and anything but we cant deny how meticulous they want to make the fighting scene to make sure it looks really good and stylish. Anyone expect for this movie to at least looks the same par as Mat Kilau must remember that this movie is about the journey of malaysian silat grandmaster, its totally different theme. With very low budget.