KUCHING: Sumpahan Jerunei, a local horror film shot in Sarawak, premiered on July 27, and two weeks later, the movie is still screening in cinemas all over the country.
According to primeworksstudios.film on its Instagram page, the movie is ranked top 10 in Malaysia and according to the same Instagram page, it had a million views from audiences in just four days after its release.
This is certainly a remarkable feat, and the movie features experienced and popular actors and actresses in Malaysia such as Daiyan Trisha, Uqasha Senrose, Tony Eussoff, Syafie Naswip, Amerul Affendi, and Bront Palarae, a popular presence in Southeast Asia. Not forgetting also young and upcoming star, Yuyun Hikmah.
If you have yet to watch this movie. This movie will leave you jumping out of your seat, it has all you need in a movie as it provides historical lessons, romance, thriller, horror and suspense.
The movie will also be shown in Cambodian cinemas from Sept 11.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed the cast recently and it was certainly an exciting experience to get up close and personal with the stars of ‘Sumpahan Jerunei’.
Uqasha Senrose
Uqasha Senrose is no stranger to the Malaysian film industry. Her natural beauty precedes her. She is gentle in nature, polite and certainly gave a friendly demeanour to the media, crew as well as her fans who wanted to take selfies with her.
Sharing with the media her on-set experience filming the scenes, Uqasha recalled her time jumping into the river.
“One of the challenges was certainly the drowning scene. All the cast had to do their own stunts. Myself, Bront, Daiyan, Yuyun.
“Bee,(Uqasha’s role) as the actress in the movie, had to jump into the dirty river. I accidentally swallowed water too,” she added.
Uqasha further explained the scene where she jumped into the river, a place where faeces and waste were disposed of from the toilets at the village.
“It was done as if I was pulled underwater, and that was also done on my own.”
Uqasha also shared that nearly every scene was a challenge. One of them was braving through the thoughts of fear.
“There was a slight fear because we spent the majority of the time in the jungle. When we were filming that river scene, all sorts of thoughts came up, because Sarawak is known for crocodiles, and there were snakes and monitor lizards around. I just had to be brave and do it.
“Whether I wanted to do it or not, it was my responsibility as an actress to fulfil my role.”
Yuyun Hikmah
As the interview went on, Uqasha pointed out that Yuyun, who sat next to her, was an up and coming actress.
This led to a following question of her age, which Yuyun later revealed when the filming of the movie occurred in 2019, she was only 14 years old.
Four years later, the Negeri Sembilan lass has defied odds, by being able to read the script in the Melanau language within just two months of training.
“At the time, I just entered Form 2, the character that I played was a character that needed impact. I had to speak the Melanau language.
“This proved several difficulties. However, there was someone who is an expert in the Melanau language. The person helped me, and it took me about one to two months to memorise.”
Yuyun elaborated that it was not easy to speak a language that was foreign to her and the originality of what was said had to be precise and accurate and this was only possible with the support of the cast, the production crew and those around her.
She plans to further her studies. However, she is still open if the right acting offer becomes available.
Bront Palarae
Anyone who has been in touch with the Southeast Asian film industry will have probably heard of Bront Palarae; he has acted in several films and TV series.
Some may have seen him or heard of Bront from ‘Ombak Rindu’, others may have seen him in the movie ‘Fly by Night’, and also the Malaysian-Singaporean crime drama television series, ‘The Bridge’, which featured Indonesian actor, Ario Bayu and Singaporean actress, Rebecca Lim.
However, in ‘Sumpahan Jerunei’, Bront plays Dr Sani, the head researcher working for the museum. He was approached by Bee (played by Uqasha), and things went crazy when the group went on an expedition to discover the Jerunei.
Bront describes the entire movie as a ‘popcorn movie’, as it leverages on long-lost culture.
“A lot of Sarawakians (and) a lot of locals have sort of been disconnected with tradition. I am more intrigued by the idea of coming here to embrace or immerse myself with the local culture.”
He hopes the people outside Sarawak are able to see the beauty of the people of Sarawak.
“There’s a lot of things that even myself, during the shooting, fell in love with Kuching.
“If we inspire people to visit Sarawak, that will be the best outcome of this and reconnect the locals with traditions, especially long-lost traditions, then we can write that off as a job well done.”
He added that as long as people were entertained, then he, the cast and the entire production crew had done well.
Tony Eusoff
Tony Eusoff, a Bidayuh from Siburan, is Sarawak’s well-loved and well-known actor. As a Sarawakian, Tony spoke highly of ‘Sumpahan Jerunei’, a film which represents Sarawak,
He highlighted that one of his main reasons for choosing to act in the film was because it was shot in Sarawak.
Tony opined that the movie was the best historically filmed movie to date.
He said the storyline of the movie was interesting as it highlighted the Melanau culture and the opportunity to be involved was an interesting one as it allowed him to also learn about such culture.
“The first scenes were shot in Mukah, and then it was shot in Siburan which was near where my kampung (village) is, and then we did shootings in Santubong and also the jungle near DBKU, but the main factor for me to be a part of this film was because it was shot in Sarawak.”
Tony shared that the movie had been entertaining to watch, and he is proud of the quality of the film.
“The film is not boring, the story is effective. It highlights the customs, rituals and burial ceremonies of the Melanau community.
“From the production process, everything was smooth. Jason (the director of the movie) has done an incredible job. This was worth it.”
Tony pointed out that culture and history were important elements for movies to highlight, especially to the current generations, to create awareness and remember their past..
Syafie Naswip
Syafie Naswip, who visited Sarawak when he was in Form 5 and fell in love with it then, described the state as a place for ‘healing’.
When he came back for the second time in 2019, to film the movie, everyday on set felt like a ‘family moment’ because it was an enjoyable period despite taking a toll on him physically.
“It was challenging, some scenes were quite hard. I had my right leg tied to portray the scene where my leg was broken after the Jerunei fell on me.
“I also had to run a lot, so things like these were tiring physically, I had to refer a lot to the director to look at some of my momentum on set.”
Syafie shared that on set, it was an interesting period too as much as it was enjoyable.
“We had to create a scary and emotional atmosphere surrounding Jerunei. Since the storyline was based on tradition, and horror, we first had to be afraid and scared. So I am very honoured and privileged to be able to be a part of this team.
“The whole cast were able to create that sort of vibe and because we were able to do it, it became fun. It was like family.”
Ruminah Sidek
Legendary Malaysian actress Ruminah Sidek has been in the business for decades and is also known as Mak Mah by many, including the cast of ‘Sumpahan Jerunei’.
Mak Mah plays a supporting role of ‘Nula’, a mysterious and hunched-back old woman.
During the interview, Mak Mah, just like Yuyun and Uqasha, had to also learn to speak the Melanau language.
She had some words of wisdom to give to the audience.
“I had to speak the Melanau language. This was something that had to be done, whatever it is, when a responsibility is given to us, we must do it with excellence.”
She said during the production process, any form of fun and games or childish behaviour were not entertained.
“Despite some hiccups, the moment everyone got into character, everyone became unrecognisable.”
She stressed that because the movie was based on true events, she had to prepare herself for the role, and there had to be a desire to create a wonderful masterpiece, and hopefully she said, the team had.
Mak Mah was asked if she would consider future acting roles.
She replied that as an actress, “we are paid based on the worth and value that we put in.
“Because we are paid, therefore, we must do what is worth on that value.”
