KUALA LUMPUR: Syafiq Yusof’s horror Misteri Dilaila has been likened to the American film Vanishing Act, but the director says he “looked East” for inspiration.
“Two South Korean films inspired Misteri Dilaila, they are The Forgotten and Challenging. I enjoy watching Korean movies, especially horrors,” said Syafiq, 26, in a news report yesterday.
Since Misteri Dilaila opened in cinemas last Feb 21, viewers have claimed that its story bore an uncanny resemblance to two international films — Vanishing Act and 1964 Tamil film Puthiya Paravai.
Vanishing Act, screened in 1986, was directed by David Green and starred Mike Farrel, Elliott Gould and Margot Kidder. It was about a businessman who went on a honeymoon with his wife, but learnt that she might not be the woman he married.
Some Netizens have even claimed that Misteri Dilaila is “80 per cent similar” to Vanishing Act.
One key difference is the use of a cat in the Malaysian film instead of a dog in the American film.
“I’ve neither heard of nor watched the Tamil film,” said Syafiq.
Misteri Dilaila, which has collected more than RM4 million to date, stars Zul Ariffin, Sasqia Dahuri, Elizabeth Tan, Datuk Rosyam Nor and Nam Ron.
Produced by Astro Shaw and Skop Productions, it is about a married couple, Jefri and Dilaila who go on holiday and stay at a bungalow in Fraser’s Hill.
On the first night, Jefri experiences strange encounters, but things take a turn for the worse when he discovers that Dilaila has gone missing.
When she returns, Jefri is convinced that the woman is not his wife despite her claiming that she is.