THE highly-anticipated action thriller by popular Malaysian filmmaker Adrian Teh, The Assistant, opens in cinemas today.
The 38-year-old director who is well known for his hit action movies such as PASKAL: The Movie and Wira, says that his latest offering is an action vehicle with a different kick.
Cinemagoers can look forward to the unexpected with The Assistant, which is produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Malaysia in partnership with Act 2 Pictures.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
"This time, we've tried to create an exciting story with a plot twist. Several unexpected ones to surprise audiences.
"It's different as well from the aspect of the action and the violence which has made it a rated 18 movie," says Teh, who also produced and wrote the story for The Assistant.
The fresh-faced director adds: "I wanted to do something different compared to my previous films."
"I also felt that there had to be solid action scenes and a certain amount of violence in order to effectively create something with impact in this genre.
"This film has been a big challenge and the whole team had to step up and take the risk to make it happen," he says.
The Assistant tells the story of Zafik (played by Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin), who is wrongfully imprisoned for his mistakes.
After he loses everything, he meets Feroz (Hairul Azreen) who always seems to appear at the right time.
But as time goes on in line with escalating conflicts and violence, will Zafik discover Feroz's true motives?
The Assistant, which costs RM6 million to produce, also stars Henley Hii, Coby Chong and Farali Khan.
KEEPING IT SPOILER FREE
Talking about the snaky plot twists in his new movie, Teh hopes that those who have seen it will not spoil it for the rest by revealing too much about the details.
"I hope that the audience will enjoy The Assistant but I also hope that those who have caught it will not reveal specific twists in the film so that those who have yet to watch it will be able to experience the excitement first hand.
"This is the type of film that people have to go in fresh without knowing too much," he says of the movie which also begins screening in Singapore today.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE
The Assistant has already been making waves overseas with the movie premiering last month at the 24th Udine Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Italy, where it was screened during The Competition Section of the festival.
Teh explains that the movie will also be screened in a few other international film festivals.
"This film would not have been a success without the hard work and solid effort put in by the team. It was a very memorable and humbling experience for us when we attended the FEFF.
"They really appreciated the film over there. After the screening of the film, the audience got up and gave it a standing ovation.
"The applause and feedback from them over there moved us and made us feel proud and appreciated as well.
"After FEFF, the film will be screened at the Neuchatel International Film Festival (NIFF) in Switzerland in July," he says.
Teh adds that The Assistant is also set to be screened at a film festival in Brussels, Belgium later in the year.
"The attention and recognition have certainly motivated me to do even better for my future projects," he says.