Paradise City Sales has embarked on international sales of the Malaysian paranormal horror film “Balan: Inheritance,” directed by filmmaker Joel Soh (“Police Ebo”), ahead of the European film market.
An unforgettable tale of family liquidation, “Balang” is Saw’s solo directorial debut and is rooted in Malaysian folklore and spiritual belief systems, exploring intergenerational trauma through the lens of possession and ancient curses.
The story is about an estranged son who returns to a remote village to care for his deceased father, only to discover that his lineage is bound by an old pact with a demonic djinn. He is drawn into a shadowy world of shamanism and exorcism, and must face whether he can sever his legacy before it consumes him and his family completely.
Mr Soh is best known as the writer and producer of the buddy cop action comedy Police Ebo, which became one of Malaysia’s most successful homegrown series, grossing over $22 million. After writing and producing the first film, Thor co-directed “Polis Evo 2” and produced “Polis Evo 3” through his banner Blackflag.
Soh describes the project as deeply personal. “‘Balan: The Inheritance’ is based on personal experiences of fear, control and trauma that have been passed down through generations,” he said. “Inspired by Malaysia’s dark folklore and spiritual beliefs, this film confronts us with the unsettling truth of becoming what we once feared and asks whether we can ever be free.”
Paradise City sales director Alexandre Moreau said the film would capitalize on the boom in genre films in Southeast Asia, which has “grown significantly in recent years and has been highly acclaimed internationally”. “‘Balang: The Succession’ is meticulously crafted, based on authentic Malaysian folklore and exorcism rituals, and features an attention to detail and confident filmmaking style,” Morrow continued.
“Balan: Inheritance” was screened at Cannes Frontière and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival’s Project Market.
The Malaysian-Singapore-Indonesian co-production is produced by Black Flag, with Soh producing alongside David Lin, Hee Dominic, Sultan Piljan, Sharon Gan and Elvira Saliyeva, with Yu Ern Chia serving as co-producer.
The cast is led by Malaysian stars Farid Kamil and Diana Daniel, with Wan Hanafi Su and Azman Hassan, and a special appearance by Aaron Aziz. The film’s music was composed by Trevor Grekis, composer of Night Shyamalan’s series “The Servant” and the feature film “The Friend.” The key staff also includes Su Mun Ti (“The Breaking Ice”);
“Baran: Inheritance” joins Paradise City Sales’ EFM production list, which includes Warwick Thornton’s “Wolfram,” Anthony Chen’s “We Are All Strangers” and Mees Peijnenburg’s “A Family.” The lineup also includes titles such as “Nino in Paradise” and “Tell Me Everything.” The same goes for Martin Provost’s Lessons in Love and Judith Godreche’s A Girl’s Story.
