It’s Halloween again, and you know what that means! It’s time for a new crop of horror movie recommendations—all coming from Southeast Asia. As a region, we are known for our strong ties to the supernatural—whether through our folklore, or just pop culture in general. This year, our picks range from zombies to the paranormal, so check out our High Five recommendations below because we have a film just for your horror appetite.
Abadi nan Jaya (Indonesia)
First on the list is an Indonesian zombie film, Abadi nan Jaya or The Elixir. The story revolves around a family living in a small town. When their father falls ill, he drinks a concoction said to prolong his life. However, things take a dark turn when the side effects cause the drinkers to turn into terrifying, flesh-eating monsters. Now, the family has to deal with the effects of their choices and fight for their life against a horde of undead. The film doesn’t shy away from making the zombies look incredibly horrifying through practical effects, well timed scares, and a compelling story.
Telaga Suriram (Malaysia)
Next, we have an abduction that’s tied to the supernatural… or is it? Telaga Suriam or Suriram Well is a Malaysian horror film about the disappearance of Suriam (Puteri Rafasya), a sweet young girl from Perlis village in the mid-1980s. The townsfolk blame Maimon (Nabilah Huda) for the disappearance, since she was the last person to see the young girl before. However, seemingly strange things begin to happen in the village that make them doubt their suspicions. Did one of the townsfolk take Suriam away, or is it something else? The film is a little janky with the storyline, but the jumpscares and the real-life scare behind the disappearances make it interesting to watch
Tomb Watcher (Thailand)
Tomb Watcher is its own unique blend of love, revenge and horror. Cheev (Gap Thanavate Siriwattanagul) and his lover, Rossukhon (Goy Arachaporn Pokinpakorn), are challenged to stay with the corpse of his rich deceased wife, Lunthom (Nune Woranuch Bhirombhakdi), for 100 days to get his inheritance. The haunting starts when Rossukhon burns the tree that symbolizes Cheev’s and Lunthom’s love. The premise is intriguing, and the mix of psychological horror with a paranormal revenge plot make it a must-watch.
Sampung Utos Kay Josh (Philippines)
The Philippines’ Sampung Utos Kay Josh or Ten Commandments for Josh explores what happens when a man of faith can no longer hold onto his beliefs. The comedy horror film follows Josh (Jerald Napoles), whose life is crumbling despite his devotion to God. Josh now makes it his goal to commit every sin against the Ten Commandments—thus experiencing the real-life horror and consequences of his choices. For people who have had a crisis of faith, this film is something relatable that deconstructs and reconstructs what it means to believe in a god and in religion.
Daydreamers (Vietnam)
Despite being released in 2023, Daydreamers has been making waves with its US debut earlier this year, especially as the first vampire film from Vietnam that has reached international shores. The story follows Nhat (Tran Ngoc Vang), a vampire from a secluded river community where vampires control their thirst for humans in hopes of regaining their humanity. When his long-lost brother, Marco (Thuan Nguyen), returns with tales of thriving vampires in the city, Nhat joins him to go to the city, where a schoolgirl unearths his identity. An all-out manhunt for the girl turns chaotic, and Nhat and Marco have to decide once and for all if they will hold onto their last tether of humanity, or if they will embrace the monster within.
And that wraps up our High Five picks for this year’s Southeast Asian horror films, all of which are available on Netflix. If you’re looking for new films that you can sink your teeth into this coming Halloween season, then these films are the perfect mix of genres, themes and topics that will keep you up with a fright.
Happy Halloween watching, everyone!