Horror Maestro Alejandro Hidalgo Takes on Malaysian Folklore with 'The Hungry One'

Alejandro Hidalgo, the acclaimed director behind the successful film 'The Exorcism of God', is embarking on a new cinematic venture: 'The Hungry One'. This upcoming supernatural horror movie is inspired by the captivating traditions of Malaysia's Hungry Ghost Festival. The project is currently being presented to international buyers by Kuala Lumpur-based Abnormal Studios at the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market, with Singapore's Clover Films already having secured distribution for Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The narrative of 'The Hungry One' centers on Emily, an American woman, who travels to her Chinese-Malaysian husband Simon's ancestral home with their son Louis for a summer stay. Their visit unsettlingly coincides with the 15-day Hungry Ghost Festival, a period steeped in belief that the boundary between the living and the deceased dissolves, allowing spirits to roam the earthly realm. Emily soon finds herself tormented by an escalating series of encounters with a malevolent entity determined to cross over. To protect her family, she must unravel the dark secrets embedded within the house's past.

Justin Leong, a filmmaker and entrepreneur leading the project through Los Angeles-based Lightning Pictures, shared his deep connection to the film's cultural roots. He emphasized the visual and mythological richness of the Hungry Ghost Festival, drawing on his own Malaysian-Chinese heritage to infuse authenticity into the story. Leong believes that this unique cultural backdrop offers an unexplored cinematic world that is inherently atmospheric, mysterious, and perfectly suited for the horror genre.

Hidalgo's previous works have established his reputation in the horror world. His debut feature, 'The House at the End of Time', became Venezuela's highest-grossing horror film, praised for its blend of supernatural elements and science fiction, and has garnered a significant cult following. His 2021 film, 'The Exorcism of God', premiered at Fantastic Fest and achieved global distribution in over 150 countries, becoming the highest-grossing Latin American film worldwide in 2022 after its U.S. theatrical release by Saban Films.

The production team also boasts impressive talent. Harrison Allen, an Oscar-winning producer for the live-action short 'The Singers', is contributing to the project, fresh off his feature 'Anima' screening at SXSW. Thomas Percy Kim, a Sundance and Toronto fellow, whose debut feature 'Isle Child' (based on an HBO Max-acquired short) premiered in Toronto, is also involved. Screenwriter Justin Parker, known for his work on HBO's Emmy-nominated series 'Station Eleven' and the docuseries 'Religion of Sports', is also part of the creative team. 'The Hungry One' is currently in its pre-production phase, with producers actively finalizing the remaining financing. Abnormal Studios, a division of Westec Media Limited, has been an active player in film acquisition and distribution since 2020, bringing over 400 titles to audiences and currently distributing approximately 100 films annually across Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Nepal. Their recent releases include 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' and 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In'.

This upcoming project promises a compelling exploration of supernatural terror rooted in rich Malaysian folklore, brought to life by an experienced and acclaimed team of filmmakers, further cementing Hidalgo's standing as a master of the horror genre.