Writer: Anne Jamaludin

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Watch this if you liked: “Quarantine”, “Paranormal Activity”, “The Blair Witch Project”

According to the co-directors Pierre Andre ("Jangan Tegur") and Ming Jin ("Salon"), this thriller drew its inspiration from the 2008 movie "Quarantine". Touted as the first Malaysian slasher flick, "Seru" follows a group of movie crews during their filming process in a secluded jungle. Things begin to take an extremely horrible turn when some of the crew members are mysteriously possessed and attacked one after another, causing paranoia as well as panic among the survivors.

Upon first impression, "Seru" can be mistakenly identified as Malaysia's very own version of "The Blair Witch Project". One could not be more wrong. The only similarities the former might have with the latter would only be the 'found footage' camera style (except the pixel quality is better in "Seru") and also the focus on a group of people trapped in a deserted jungle with no means of escape. However, just like "Quarantine", this film induces panic and trauma however "Seru" is more of a suspense thriller than horror but for reasons that the audience will be able to find out for themselves at the cinema.

There is nothing surprising about the plot but the manner of its flow and execution moves really well for a joint collaboration between two very young directors. Their daring efforts to tackle such genre prove that slasher flick can be a good film if it is tapped and developed properly. The only setback (which could be rather passable) would be the slightly over-enhanced sound editing but indirectly, it provides more tension to the film's atmosphere. Meanwhile do not be deceived by the names of newcomers in the cast line-up as their performances are praiseworthy in the movie, deserving credits as well as future film opportunities. Shaarnaz Ahmad in particular, as the main lead manages to deliver a strong acting as the one of the remaining survivors.

For thriller suspense fans who like the idea of a slasher type flick taking place that is closer to home, "Seru" is a must watch movie. Although be fairly warned, this film has a tendency to induce paranoia and nausea. For the moviegoers who have a mild heart, be prepared to take a lot of deep breaths for some scenes will tend to make one's heart skipped a bit.

Cinema Online, 25 April 2011