SQUEEZING the labyrinthine prose of a complex novel into the tight, 90-minute skeleton of a feature film is a task often fraught with peril.
It is a creative alchemy that requires more than just a camera; it demands surgical precision and a devoted fandom.
For acclaimed director, producer and scriptwriter Muzzamer Rahman, this challenge has defined his latest cinematic venture: an ambitious adaptation of the cult-favourite horror novel ‘Kacau’.
Published by the edgy indie powerhouse Buku Fixi, the source material is a dense tapestry of terror that has been simmering in Muzzamer’s mind since 2019.
LONG ROAD TO MACABRE
Muzzamer is no stranger to the weight of expectation. He first turned heads with his gritty, monochrome debut ‘Prebet Sapu’ (Hail, Driver!), which was selected as Malaysia’s official entry for the 94th Academy Awards in 2022.
While that film navigated the neon-lit, socio-political underbelly of Kuala Lumpur, ‘Kacau’ sees the filmmaker pivoting toward the visceral thrills of the mainstream.
“Actually, the selection of the novel ‘Kacau’ began back in 2019,” Muzzamer shared during a recent break on set somewhere in the capital.
“At the time, the book’s publisher, Amir Muhammad, asked me to read it. He mentioned a production house was interested in turning it into a series. I was intrigued, but the project stalled due to the pandemic.”
As the world locked down, the director’s focus shifted to his debut feature. However, the ghosts of ‘Kacau’ refused to be exorcised.
“After ‘Prebet Sapu’, I felt my second film should be a more mainstream ‘naskah’ (manuscript). I chose horror because I’d dabbled in the genre with short films before.
“By the end of 2022, I began developing it again, this time for the big screen,” he said.
ART OF EDITING
Translating Ariff Adly’s original text proved to be an exercise in brutal distillation.
To ensure that the film maintained a sharp visual pace, Muzzamer reveals that the cinematic version retains only about 40 per cent of the original plot.
“The similarity between the novel and the film is perhaps roughly 40 per cent,” he admitted.
“We made significant changes to suit the medium because the novel is incredibly long.
“There were many subplots that we felt would overextend the scenes, so we altered much of it — with the author’s blessing, of course.”
The script underwent a rigorous evolution, cycling through four or five drafts between 2019 and 2022.
The breakthrough came when fellow writer Nazim Masnawi stepped in to collaborate.
“When he started writing and narrating the story, I felt — I could sense — that this was exactly what I wanted,” Muzzamer noted.
For the director the secret to a successful adaptation lies in a dual identity: being both a ruthless filmmaker and a dedicated fanboy.
“To satisfy the readers’ expectations, I myself had to be a reader and a fan of the novel first.
“When I love the material, I know which scenes are compelling, what the ‘soul’ of the novel is that needs adapting, and which scenes we can do without.”
He is quick to remind audiences that the page and the projector are distinct beasts.
“I realised that a novel and a film are two different mediums. Transitioning from text to visuals is a different job entirely.
“If I can adapt the novel into a film, I hope the audience can also adapt themselves from being readers into being viewers,” he said.
SHADOWPLAY AND SPOOKS
Visually, ‘Kacau’ promises to be a moody affair. Production has been a nocturnal marathon, with nearly 70 per cent of the scenes filmed under the cloak of darkness.
The shooting spans 12 locations, including the requisite eerie staples of the genre: dilapidated hospitals and abandoned buildings.
“At the moment, much of it is indoors, but we have exterior shots at a hospital at night,” explained Muzzamer, who also wrote the scripts for ‘Indera’, ‘Ninavau’ and ‘Abah Saya, Uncle Mike’.
Dealing with “abandoned” spaces in Malaysia often brings whispers of the supernatural, but the crew remains grounded.
“We didn’t hire a bomoh (shaman), but we held a ‘doa selamat’ (prayer session) during the launch. We pray every day before filming begins.
“When we enter abandoned sites, we prepare not just for ‘entities’, but for the physical safety of the location as well.”
‘Kacau’ features a young cast that includes Idan Aedan, Khayrisyah Kemal, Nurel Bahrin, Fimie Don, Arfie Shah, and Evanatie Sannie.
It tells the story of a group of friends who start dying in gruesome ways after a seance game goes wrong.
The survivors try to save themselves, but one of them has something to hide.
As ‘Kacau’ moves through its final phases of production, the industry is watching closely. Can Muzzamer translate his arthouse sensibilities into a commercial spine-chiller?
If his track record for haunting imagery is any indication, audiences should prepare for a restless night when the film hits cinemas in late 2026 or early 2027.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
