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Khadam Review: An Indie Horror Set in the 1950s That Draws On Malaysian Folklore
Malaysian horror has quietly been having a moment, and Khadam is a strong reason to pay attention. Released in Malaysia in June and now in Hong Kong cinemas from October 8, it's a 1950s-set supernatural thriller built on local folklore, and it doesn't play things the way you'd expect.
The title refers to a hereditary spirit servant, bound to a family by a pact. In Malay belief, this kind of inheritance is known as saka: something passed down through generations that starts as protection and gradually turns into control. The film follows Melor (Aghniny Haque), a mother who inherits the spirit from her late mother to protect her young children, and finds that the arrangement comes at a heavy price. Director Shamyl Othman has said the film doesn't romanticise the supernatural, focusing instead on the slow loss of control, according to Business Today.
It opens very tense, and you feel it straight away. Then the film settles into a calmer stretch, and I was surprised to find it genuinely funny in places, with some well-judged comic relief that lets you breathe. That's exactly when it catches you off guard, turning properly scary again and building to a high-stakes, emotional ending that I didn't see coming. That shifting rhythm is its strength: the tension feels earned, and the heart of the story is a family, not just a monster.
The acting is good overall. Aghniny Haque anchors the film in a largely silent role as a mute mother, conveying fear and devotion through expression and movement. Critics agree: The Sun called it one of the strongest performances in a Malaysian horror film this year, and also praised Remy Ishak's layered turn as Awang.
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Shamyl Othman previously directed the 2023 reboot of the 1987 cult horror Rahsia. The script comes from award-winning screenwriter Fariza Azlina Isahak, and the film is a first Bahasa Malaysia horror for production house Red Communications, the team behind KAMI and Songlap.
On screen, Indonesian actress Aghniny Haque makes her Malaysian debut here, best known for the 2022 horror hit KKN di Desa Penari. She's joined by Malaysian star Datuk Remy Ishak, Siti Khadijah Halim and Jun Lojong, with Zarra Zhaf and Karl El in the child roles. The film earned RM2.6 million in its first seven days in Malaysian cinemas, and critics there praised its reliance on atmosphere over cheap jump scares.
The Verdict
A tense, funny, emotional and properly scary ride that keeps you guessing, with strong performances and fresh cultural texture. If you want something different from the usual horror lineup, this is worth seeing on the big screen.
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