Misteri Dilaila

The Mystery Of Delaila
Directed bySyafiq Yusof
Screenplay bySyafiq Yusof
Produced byYusof Haslam
Starring
CinematographyIndra Che Muda
Edited bySyafiq Yusof
Music by
  • Lo Shi Seng
  • Ken Hor
Production
companies
Release dates
  • 21 February 2019 (2019-02-21) (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei)
  • 15 March 2019 (2019-03-15) (Indonesia)
Running time
  • 81 minutes (version 1)
  • 82 minutes (version 2)
CountryMalaysia
Languages
BudgetMYR 2.2 million
Box officeMYR 9.4 million[1]

Misteri Dilaila (English: The Mystery of Dilaila) is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language psychological horror thriller film directed by Syafiq Yusof starring Zul Ariffin, Elizabeth Tan, Namron, Rosyam Nor and Sasqia Dahuri. The film follows a couple as the wife (Elizabeth Tan) goes missing after the husband (Zul Ariffin) experiences strange events during their first night staying at the family bungalow in Fraser's Hill. Things get complicated when another woman (Sasqia Dahuri) appears and claims to be the wife.

The film was released in two versions on 21 February 2019 in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei,[2] making it to be the first Malaysian film to have two versions that has different alternate endings.[3] The movie is an adaptation of the 1986 TV movie Vanishing Act which itself was based on the 1958 movie Chase A Crooked Shadow.

Viewers claimed that nearly 80 per cent of Misteri Dilaila’s storyline bore similarities to the David Green-directed film which starred Mike Farrel and Margot Kidder.

Plot

The story follows a young couple named Jefri (Zul Ariffin) and Dilaila (Elizabeth Tan) who are on vacation at a bungalow house in Fraser's Hill, Pahang. During their first night in the house, Jefri is disturbed by strange events, only to find out the next day that his wife has gone missing. Jefri meets Inspector Azman (Rosyam Nor) and tells that his wife comes from a very wealthy family and the bungalow is his in-law's wedding gift to him. Jefri also explains that he is worried about his wife's disappearance since she is not a good driver, implying that she might have met with an accident. Later that night, Jefri is visited by a local Imam Aziz (Namron) who claims that Dilaila was staying with him and he has now convinced her to return to her husband. When Jefri sees Dilaila, he reveals that she is not his wife; but the girl knows details of their lives and Jefri is discredited by the evidences. Is a stranger impersonating Dilaila or is Jefri delusional?

Cast

  • Zul Ariffin as Jefri
  • Elizabeth Tan as Dilaila
  • Namron as Imam Aziz
  • Rosyam Nor as Inspector Azman
  • Sasqia Dahuri as Dilaila II / Farah
  • Mas Khan as Farid
  • Iz Sulaini as Photographer
  • Kenji Sawahi as Banker / Wong
  • Nafiez Zaidi as Corporal Kamal

Production

The film cost about RM 2.2 million. Filming started on 26 March 2018 and ended on 1 May 2018 in a total of 36 days, with shooting taking place on location in Fraser's Hill, Pahang and Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.[4][5]

Release and reception

Misteri Dilaila was released on February 21, 2019 in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.[6]

Controversy

The film was accused of plagiarism not long after it was screened, and fans has expressed disappointment. 80 percent of the plot is said to have similarities with the 1986 American TV film Vanishing Act that originally aired on CBS, directed by David Green and starring Mike Farrell, Margot Kidder and Fred Gwynne.[7][8] The TV film itself is a loose remake of two Indian films, Sesh Anka and Puthiya Paravai, which are loosely inspired by the British classic Chase a Crooked Shadow. According to Syafiq Yusof in an interview, he stated that he took the inspiration from two South Korean films: Forgotten (2017) and Challenging.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Misteri Dilaila kaut RM8.8 juta selepas 11 hari tayangan". Astro Awani. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ Bissme S. "Playing mind games". The Sun (Malaysia). Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. ^ Amirul Haswendy Ashari (26 February 2019). "Satu filem, dua penamat". Harian Metro. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via Pressreader.
  4. ^ Ramlah Zainal (20 January 2019). "Special project for Zul Ariffin". Harian Metro. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ^ Aref Omar (7 December 2018). "Onstage passion". New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  6. ^ Kenneth Chaw (20 February 2019). "Director Syafiq Yusof pulls no punches in horror thriller Misteri Dilaila". Star2. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  7. ^ Melanie Chalil (5 March 2019). "Horror fans slam 'Misteri Dilaila' for ripping off Hollywood film 'Vanishing Act'". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Netizens are disappointed that Misteri Dilaila is related in plagiarism". Malaysiakini. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  9. ^ Dennis Chua (5 March 2019). "#Showbiz: Two Korean films inspired 'Misteri Dilaila', says Syafiq". New Straits Times. Retrieved 6 March 2019.