Tembuni Berdarah [Movie Review]

Tembuni Berdarah [Movie Review] | All thanks to Lindo Production Sdn Bhd for inviting me to the premiere of Tembuni Berdarah.

Directed by Dr Ahmad Idham, there should be something interesting in the movie right? And to have Sophia and Khatijah Tan starring in the movie? I was actually a bit excited to watch it.

Dr. Ahmad Idham’s Tembuni Berdarah hits cinemas nationwide on 25 September 2025.

The Premiere

Prior to watching the movie, the director and the cast met with fellow attendees. There was something that Dr Ahmad Idham said that stays inside my mind.

Why did I choose to do this? Because this film reflects the reality of today’s world, especially when it comes to the beauty and aesthetics industry. If we look around, more and more people are turning to aesthetic treatments—not just to heal or care for themselves, but to enhance their appearance, to look beautiful, and to preserve their youth.

While doing PRP facial or Vampire Facial, we only see blood coming out. Have we ever think about the blood coming in? Is it good? How sure are we?

Although I'm sure that the treatment are clean, his statement actually got me thinking quite a bit. 

TEMBUNI BERDARAH carries the same chilling aura as my previous films, but with a different approach. It explores the clash between old and new ideologies on the practice of superstition, while reducing heavy dialogue to heighten the element of surprise. If Indonesian horror is tied to the kuntilanak, Malay horror often revolves around the legacy of the saka,” he said at the Gala Night and Press Conference of TEMBUNI BERDARAH at GSC MyTown Cheras.

With regards to Sophia as the leading actress, here's what Dr Ahmad Idham has to say. 

As the lead, I challenged Sophia Albarakbah to take on a grittier role that pushed her far beyond her comfort zone. She embraced it fully—willing to handle blood, shoot haunting graveyard scenes at night, and break free from just looking glamorous on screen.

What many may not know is that Sophia has a medical background and once worked in a hospital. That’s why she appears so natural handling needles, medical tools, and even interacting with patients in her role.

 

SYNOPSIS

Tembuni Berdarah (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Sofea Albarahbah, Niezam Zaidi, Khatijah Tan, Sharifah Shahora & Riezman Khuzaimi
• Director: Dr. Ahmad Idham
• Producer: Sayed Amirul
• Production Company: Lindo Production

• Distributed by: 10 Star Cinema
• Release date: September 25, 2025
• Running time: 87 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: Malaysia
• Language: Malay
• IMDb: NA
• Tomatometer: NA
• Metascore: NA
• Filmed in just 20 days across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor during Ramadan. 
• Sophia has a medical background and once worked in a hospital. 
• The bath tub scene? Sophia wears a shirt, it was not shirtless/ nude.

Dr Izara is an ambitious woman determined to expand her beauty business. For her, success comes only through perseverance, sacrifice, and hard work. She doesn't believe in shortcuts. She holds firmly to the belief that every dream must be earned.

But her grandmother, Bok Miah, has a very different view. A practitioner of dark rituals, Bok Miah believes her knowledge of the occult is meant to be used—especially if it can secure wealth and ease for her family. To her, refusing such power is a waste, especially when it could change their lives overnight. Also, refusing the gifts could be fatal. Thus, she wants Dr Izara to continue her work. Her daughter, Izara's mother refused to let her mother pass in the practice to Izara.

Dr Izara started from a humble beginning, hustling while trying to save her failing marriage when she first started. When her husband left her, somehow, her business flourished, until she managed to have her own thriving aesthetic clinic. 

Now Bok Miah  is on her death bed. She wanted to pass down her practice to Izara, but Izara’s mother did not allow it. Moreover, Izara herself did not believe in such practices.

When Bok Miah's saka keeps on appearing and disturbs her life, Dr Izara is now caught between her principles and her grandmother’s persuasion. 

Will Izara reject the dark legacy, or be consumed by it?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• I was actually pleasantly surprised by the movie. 
• That was quite a powerful cast.
• Not too dependant on jumpscare but still carry the horror genre well.    

What I Don't Like:

• Some of the CGI was too cartoonish. Was it AI-done? 

Will I Watch It Again: I actually don't mind watching it again.

Overall: 4.4/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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