Imagine shooting a huge and complicated action-movie scene in the bustling heart of Kuala Lumpur with tremendous numbers of vehicles and people. And not in just any part of the capital city, mind you, but in vibrant Bukit Bintang – an area perpetually buzzing with activity.
It may sound like a logistical nightmare, but that is exactly what happened during the shooting of local action film “War on Terror: KL Anarki”. Its crew successfully coordinated over 150 cars, 50 motorcycles, and even a helicopter through the city’s streets to create the film’s pulse-pounding climax!
“Technically it was very difficult. We closed off the city centre for 10 nights, and we could only start blocking roads from midnight until about 5am, so we didn’t disrupt things too much. We had less than five hours to film each night.
“It was challenging but I’m thankful to the team for pulling it off,” producer Keoh Chee Ang said before the film’s gala premiere at GSC Lalaport on Nov 14.
Directed by Kroll Azry and Frank See, “War on Terror: KL Anarki” tells of a police anti-terrorist special-forces team, whose members include the headstrong Khalid (Aedy Ashraf), determined Anis (Farali Khan), good-natured Zack (Noki K-Clique), and tech-savvy Bob (Kahoe Hon).
Their leader, senior assistant commissioner of police Rahman (Adlin Aman Ramlie) orders them to investigate a group of terrorists who have blown up a train station on the east coast.
While one terrorist, Lang (Qi Razali) is apprehended, his sibling Joe (Naque Ariffin) manages to escape, and threatens to detonate bombs in KL if his brother is not released.
Khalid must thus deal with this terrorist threat, while navigating familial troubles with his estranged wife Maria (Daiyan Trisha) and young daughter.
Indeed, he and his teammates must overcome their interpersonal conflicts and rise to the occasion – or risk countless innocent lives being lost.
One of the biggest draws of “War on Terror: KL Anarki” is its impressive action set pieces, which were carried out by professional stunt coordinators. The opening scene, for instance, features a dramatic heist on a moving train: something the producers believe is a first for a local movie.
These stunts were an exciting experience for Aedy who, with this film, takes on his first lead role in an action feature. He performed all his stunts himself – even one gripping scene that required him to leap off the 13th floor of a building.
“I was very scared, but I put a lot of faith in our stunt team and stunt director. And I thought, this is probably the only time I will get the chance to jump off a building. I must have jumped 20 times for that scene!” Aedy said with a laugh.
He shared that he’d later met a makcik who told him somebody had leapt to their death there just the week before. “I’m so glad she only told me this after my filming.”
Actor Naque Ariffin, who plays the big bad Joe, said he lost about 10kg from all the physical stunts. This included a tense fight set in a lift, which he described as the most challenging experience during the shoot.
“Overall, it was a very intense time, especially because I usually don’t play villainous characters. But being able to shape how I imagined Joe to be, with the director’s feedback, was great and very rewarding,” Naque told FMT Lifestyle.
Co-director Kroll Azry added that the movie was made in part to appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the Royal Malaysian Police in protecting the country’s safety and security.
“I hope audiences appreciate all the work that has gone into making this film, and uncover the unique points that make it stand out from other police movies. The cast have put in solid performances that really bring the story to life,” he concluded.
‘War on Terror: KL Anarki’ begins screening in cinemas nationwide today.