“When we first moved here from the UK, we stayed in SS20, and it was near a graveyard. We moved twice in Damansara Utama, and both times it was next to graveyards. And then we moved to Penang, and it was the same thing. I don’t know if my dad got a cheap real estate deal or something!” Yap told FMT Lifestyle.
“At one of the graveyards in Damansara Utama, there was a makeshift mamak stall. My friends and I would hang out there after school. At night, we would egg each other on and tell scary stories.”
Art imitates life, so they say, and it is perhaps no surprise that Yap’s latest movie is a coming-of-age tale of friends who enjoy hanging around places of death.
Produced by Iron Hill Media Sdn Bhd, “Geng Kubur” tells the tale of four friends who enjoy hanging out at cemeteries: Firhan (Firdaus Sufiyan), Fang Liang (Lion Chong), Prem (Sasidaran Subramaniam) and Melati (Mia Sara Shauki).
Ten years ago, Firhan lost his mother in an accident. While still trying to recover from this traumatic event, he keeps having bad dreams and visions about her: some of which suggest she might still be alive.
Determined to seek out the truth, Firhan invites his friends to accompany him as he revisits the site of the accident, a sinister forest known to be one of the most haunted places in South East Asia.
Little do the four know, however, that something evil lurks within: a powerful entity capable of manipulating their darkest fears. Can the “Geng Kubur” overcome this threat and escape it with their lives?
The film was shot in various locations including Bandar Utama, Hulu Langat and Kampung Baru in September 2022. No, there were no shoots at actual graveyards – mostly because moving around and maneuvering equipment in such places was challenging.
“And for peace of mind, too. I’ve shot in graveyards before, and it’s tense. The atmosphere is very different,” said Yap, who is both director and screenwriter of the film.
Asked how scary the film was, Yap said it depended on one’s threshold for horror. While there are a few jump-scares, “Geng Kubur” leans more into psychological horror territory, with its characters having to overcome trauma and face their demons. Sometimes literally.
Of course, the film is not all scares: it features themes of friendship and self-acceptance, and explores how insecurities, fears and secrets can haunt or destroy you.
As the film revolves around a group of friends, Yap knew it was important for his cast to have chemistry. He therefore signed his main cast up for theatre exercises with local actress Bella Rahim (who also appears in the film), to forge stronger bonds with each other.
As a result, actors Lion Chong and Firdaus Sufiyan said they had fun on the film, and had enjoyed playing their characters.
“Fang Liang is like a leader among the group. He’s had a rough childhood, which makes him a bit more mature and disciplined. The character is quite like me, we won’t easily share secrets or reveal too much about ourselves,” Chong told FMT Lifestyle.
“Firhan has been haunted by visions, and this has resulted in a lot of pressure building up inside of him. He’s quite edgy, and emotional. When I first read the script, I was drawn to this, because I recall feeling like that once when I was younger,” Firdaus said.
The most challenging (and memorable!) part of the film, they said, were the fight sequences.
“We had workshops with a stunt man, who showed us how to fight well on screen, while not hurting ourselves or others. I’d never done anything like that before,” Chong laughed.
“Geng Kubur” will have its world premiere at the first ever Ho Chi Minh International Film Festival in Vietnam this April.
“It’s a fun night at the cinema. We’re not trying to preach any sort of message to anyone. It’s an entertaining ride, which to me, is what going to the cinema is all about,” Yap said.
“The film is something unique. It’s very special to us, and we hope it will be special to audience members as well,” Firdaus concluded.
‘Geng Kubur’ opens in cinemas nationwide from April 25.