‘Pemuja Syaitan’: Liyana Jasmay puts a Malaysian spin on ‘Fear Street’ for feature directing debut (VIDEO)

‘Pemuja Syaitan’ marks Malaysian actress Liyana Jasmay’s feature directorial debut after years in the industry as an actress, producer and screenwriter. — Picture courtesy of Primeworks Studios

By Ian Jeremiah Patrick

First Published: Wednesday, 16 Sep 2026 1:00 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Malaysian actress Liyana Jasmay needs little introduction, having appeared in numerous projects throughout the 2000s.

From starring in films such as Histeria (2008) and Papadom (2009) to the KAMI series and its 2008 feature film, Liyana established herself as a familiar face among a generation of Malaysian actors.

Nearly two decades later, Liyana is taking on a different role — this time behind the camera.

After venturing into screenwriting, co-producing and directing telefilms, the actress-turned-filmmaker is making her feature directorial debut with supernatural horror-thriller Pemuja Syaitan.

The film was officially launched yesterday at 10Star Cinemas, where its teaser, poster and full cast were unveiled, bringing together established names and a younger generation of actors.

Leading the cast are Zul Ariffin, Elizabeth Tan, Nadhir Nasar and Aila Azizul, alongside Rosdeen Subuh, Dee Al Hadi, Yusuf Amin, Atoi Tohet, Selena Jasmay, Marsha Biddulph, Hakim Khan, Nat Aaliyah, Aida Amron, Ellyza Azizi and Dhabita Auji.

At its heart, Pemuja Syaitan combines supernatural horror with mystery and thriller elements, revolving around friendship, betrayal and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

When nostalgia turns sinister

The story follows a group of former school friends who reunite on a remote island to reminisce about their younger days.

But nostalgia quickly gives way to unease when they rediscover a time capsule they buried years earlier.

The discovery brings long-hidden secrets back to the surface — and what begins as an innocent reunion soon descends into a terrifying ordeal as the group encounters a series of mysterious and inexplicable events.

As they search for answers, they begin to realise the island may be concealing something far more sinister than they imagined.

For Liyana, the horror is not simply about what lurks in the darkness.

“Pemuja Syaitan is not simply a horror film that relies solely on frightening elements.

“It also explores secrets, betrayal and the darker side of human nature when confronted with matters from the past.

“As a director, I wanted to ensure that every element of the story is conveyed effectively, particularly in building the tension and atmosphere that keeps audiences wondering what will happen next.”

Fear Street inspiration, with a Malaysian identity

Based on its premise, Pemuja Syaitan taps into the familiar appeal of youth horror — a genre that continues to evolve across Hollywood and Asian cinema.

The idea of young people confronting terrifying circumstances has been explored in films and series ranging from Japan’s Re/Member and Thailand’s Ghost Board to Hollywood’s Goosebumps franchise and the more recent Fear Street films.

The cast and team of ‘Pemuja Syaitan’ at the film’s launch at 10Star Cinemas yesterday. — Picture courtesy of Primeworks Studios

For Liyana, Fear Street was a particularly important reference point when developing Pemuja Syaitan.

Speaking to Malay Mail at the film’s press conference yesterday, she acknowledged the influence while stressing that she did not want to simply replicate the Hollywood formula.

“Fear Street is definitely one of my references and inspirations.

“However, Fear Street is very Hollywood in its approach, whereas I wanted something different.

“This film still has a distinctly Malay feel, with elements that are familiar and relatable to local audiences.”

Striking that balance between international genre influences and local sensibilities was one of the challenges Liyana faced while developing the project.

“This is one of my first films, so I’m still trying to understand how far Malaysian audiences are willing to embrace something more extreme within the horror-thriller genre.

“When I was writing the script, there were many things I wanted to experiment with.

“But I also had to stay grounded in reality and understand my audience.”

For Liyana, Pemuja Syaitan is therefore both a film and an experiment — an opportunity to test how far she can push the boundaries of Malaysian horror while keeping the story rooted in something audiences can recognise.

“I hope audiences will accept this film.

“If they do, perhaps I can go even further and be more daring with my next film,” she said.

Produced by Mermaid Studios together with Suraya Filem Production & Distribution, Pemuja Syaitan is distributed by SKOP Productions Sdn Bhd, with Primeworks Studios serving as its marketing partner.

The film opens in cinemas nationwide on October 15, 2026, landing squarely in horror month.