In Roxana, Saiful Reza Shukor shudders the audience with his depiction of the dark side of humanity in relation to the evil force and its crimes against them and the world. It starts on a high note: Armand, an accomplished boxer, is back to enjoying the limelight after winning another fight. But the joy does not last long when an altercation with Rizz , a perverted stalker, turns nasty. Scared of being in the presence of their enemy, Armand and his girlfriend, now known simply as Roxana, attempt to run out of the location as if nothing has happened. This is followed by an irreparable loss of sanity for them, as it has no other word to describe their ordeal that tests the greatest of insanities such as the ultimate form of love.
As the couple wrestles with their common knowledge, there arrive two paramedics, who are like God’s send’s to them. The duo makes a bone chilling offer: They will dispose of the corpse in exchange of gold that is guarded by a shaman. In their crazed attempt to save themselves – or perhaps for absolution – they invoke the name of Pak Walok, a malevolent djinn. Straddled between her guilt and her self-defence instincts for her and Armand, Roxana makes a terrible deal. Pak Walok helps Rizz revive but not in the same manner that he had been before. He returns as Sumbaleweng, a frightening embodiment of vengeance, made to obey Roxana but fueled by a desire for revenge.
A World of Fear and Shadows
The film is not limited to the otherworldly evils alone, but also portrays the psychological terror of guilt along with the ethical lines that man crosses in days of need. When Sumbaleweng goes on a destruction spree, the role of Roxana changes from that of a creator to one who is about to be consumed by the created evil and eventually to the one where she has Pag Walok’s evil forces take over her and Armand with no means of escape.
Cast & Performances
The movie’s success lies in its stellar cast, each delivering performances that bring depth and intensity to their roles:
- Raysha Rizrose as Roxana is a revelation, portraying a woman torn between love, survival, and the haunting weight of her decisions.
- Amir Nafis as Armand captures the duality of a man celebrated for his physical strength yet undone by emotional vulnerability.
- Anas Ridzuan transforms into the spine-chilling Sumbaleweng, a creature that embodies raw vengeance and horror.
- Supporting performances by Jasper Supayah and Nazeera Sardi add layers of tension and intrigue, as they weave into the couple’s ill-fated journey.
Visual and Atmospheric Brilliance
Tension is further intensified through exceptional cinematography, darkened environments, grotesque photographs, and well executed action scenes. Pictures from the film are filled with foreboding, starting with the dim lighting in the Bomoh’s hideout, to the aberrant motions of Sumbaleweng. This is due to Saiful Reza Shukor’s excellent direction, which incorporates conventionally horror-style images through the cultural perspective of the Malaysian people.
Why You Should Watch
For horror stories encompassing love and deep human conflicts, Roxana should surely be on your watch list. It’s more than just about the adrenaline rush: it’s a touching tale of the ramifications of guilt and desperation on human life and society. Since the folklore is complemented by action and psychology then the chances are that Roxana will remain with you long after the film is over.
