In a market inundated with numerous big-budgeted Hollywood blockbusters, it is always encouraging to see a local film making the news. This time around it is the fantasy mystery-thriller, Shadowplay, featuring an ensemble cast of Malaysian talent such as Tony Eusoff, Juria Hartmans, Iman Corinne Adrienne, Khairil M. Bahar and Stephen Rahman Hughes. Check out the trailer below.
Available now on DVD, On-Demand and on digital platforms, the film is executive produced by Ken Petrie (Enemy Within) of 27 Ten Productions and co-produced by Radhi Khalid of Radhikal Films and Isazaly Isa of Kino-i Pictures. Directed by Tony Pietra Arjuna and filmed in Kuala Lumpur, Shadowplay follows private eye Anton Shaw (Tony Eusoff) who is hired to find a young woman Lamya (Juria Hartmans) whose disappearance may be linked to a traumatic event in his own childhood.
While investigating, his obsession with finding her awakens evil forces from his youth and he must overcome his own demons who have returned to prevent him from unlocking a dormant power to manifest his dreams into reality.
As the truth of the case merges with the fiction of a 80s game book Anton is reading, he’s drawn deeper into the story, unsure if he’s losing touch with the real world. In Anton’s search for answers, a mysterious man seems to either be guiding him, or luring him into a fatal trap but nonetheless is holding the key to Lamya’s disappearance.
As Anton gets closer to the truth, he finds Lamya’s diary, and discovers it is a magical tome that enables its owner to rewrite their life into whatever they wish it to be. Did Lamya vanish into a realm of her own creation or has Anton inadvertently re-imagined his own life through these pages?
What is most interesting about Shadowplay is that it may hold the distinction of being one of the few locally-made indie features to have worldwide OTT distribution before its domestic debut. The film will also make its official Malaysian premiere at the Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival on Sep 14.
Shadowplay, is another feather in the cap for director, Arjuna. The American-flavoured noir film arrives hot on the heels of his time working on the VIU Original Series, Devoted, which he served as director and show-runner.
Check out Shadowplay on VIMEO.
