Zombiephoria

The 2025 Madani Film Festival proved to be the perfect opportunity for 'Zombiephoria' to make its public debut. This second B-Movie, after 'Darah Nyai', which was recently released on the big screen, demonstrates that B-Movies are slowly gaining traction among filmmakers with limited budgets who want to work in the film industry. Directed by Tengku Abdul, known as the vocalist of Abdul & The Coffee Theory, Abdul and Ferdy Kuntoro directed their debut film, and Abdul also stars in it. Four strangers, Abi (Tengku Abdul), Farry (Sigit Pradityo), his son Fino (Arya Fabryan), and Julie (Mila Jamila), are trapped in a deserted mall during a zombie outbreak, and only a mysterious book Abi finds can help them survive. Zombiephoria's narrative is simple, focusing on the four's survival from the zombie apocalypse. However, what's interesting about this film is how the main characters manage to create both fear and humor. Abi and Farry deliver solid performances, delivering slapstick jokes through their body language, as well as satirical political quips that aren't overly sarcastic but easily understood by the audience. As the film draws to a close, we're presented with absurd events brought to life by the mysterious book Abi finds, and the conclusion holds a surprise that viewers won't expect. The film's shortcomings may be limited to the unrealistic action scenes and the blood splatter that looks like cheap CGI. But remember, this is a B-Movie, made on a shoestring budget, where creativity is emphasized more by individuals through a strong narrative, excellent acting, and the use of practical effects rather than the digital effects typically favored by big-budget studios. Kudos to Abdul for his debut film, and I give it a 7.5/10 rating. Hopefully, it will see regular releases in the future.