"Mantera" highlights the ancient Bobolian rituals of the ethnic Dusun

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"Mantera" highlights the ancient Bobolian rituals of the ethnic Dusun

Writer: Heidi Hsia

The film stars Syafie Naswip

28 Mar - Seeing that horror stories associated with a specific ethnic group, especially in Sabah, are rarely highlighted, director Chester Pang decided that that's the direction he is going with his movie, "Mantera".

The film, which is produced by Pro Merge Vision Sdn. Bhd., tells the story of the ancient rituals practiced by the "Bobolian" (or shaman) commonly associated with the Dusun ethnic group.

"It can be said that not many people are aware of the ancient ritual practices carried out by the Bobolian, who acts as the chief of customs and serves as a mediator between the physical world (humans) and the spiritual realm (kinohiringan, deities). So, I thought the story of the Bobolian or the shaman of the Dusun community would be an interesting subject to turn into a film," Pang said.

Ancient rituals practiced by the Bobolian of Dusun ethnic group

He explained that "Mantera" is a film about an investigation into a murder case closely related to the practice of the Bobolian. He added that the film is not just filled with scary scenes, but also showcases the rituals performed by the Bobolian and highlights the presence of evil spirits in everyday life.

During the filming in February 2024 in Tambunan, Apin-Apin, and Kota Belud, Chester, who is also the producer, acknowledged two eerie incidents.

"The first occurred during a scene involving the summoning of spirits in a community hall, when the lead actress and a supporting actress were possessed, but it was successfully controlled by a silat (martial arts) master who happened to be present at the filming location. The second incident happened when a crew member fell into a ravine and claimed that something had pulled him. This incident was witnessed by Syafie Naswip and Namron," he said.

Stills from "Mantera"

Despite these eerie occurrences, Chester believes that the film should not be missed when it is released in cinemas starting 24 April. He emphasised that "Mantera" is not just a typical horror film but presents a unique narrative by highlighting the ancient traditions of the Dusun community, which may not be widely known.

The film co-stars Syafie Naswip, Jovenia Jim, Namron, Wedylin Batala and Larry Noh.

Cinema Online, 28 March 2025