Netflix is doubling down on Southeast Asian genre content with two zombie horror films that promise to reinvent the subgenre with distinctive local flavors, the company revealed during the ongoing APAC film showcase in Tokyo.
Malobika Banerji, senior director of content for Southeast Asia at Netflix, unveiled first looks at “The Elixir” from Indonesia and “Ziam” from Thailand, both slated for 2025 releases.
“The Elixir,” directed by acclaimed Indonesian horror auteur Kimo Stamboel, centers on a fractured family fighting to escape a zombie outbreak triggered by a traditional Javanese herbal elixir. The film stars Mikha Tambayong, Eva Celia, and Donny Damara, with Stamboel bringing his signature immaculate visual style and penchant for gore to the project.
Stamboel comes with horror credentials, including his work as part of The Mo Brothers directing duo and his recent box office success “Dancing Village: The Curse Begins,” which attracted over four million theatrical viewers.
For “Ziam,” Netflix has partnered with Thai director Kulp “Tent” Kaljareuk, whose series “Master of the House” recently became the first Thai series to hit #1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV Non-English list. “Ziam” is set in a near-future Thailand ravaged by environmental collapse and features a former Muay Thai fighter battling zombies to save his girlfriend.
The production marks Netflix’s first use of 3D In-Camera VFX technology for Southeast Asian content, allowing cast and crew to interact with the post-apocalyptic world in real-time rather than against green screens.
“Horror is a proven audience favourite in Thailand and Indonesia. But when it comes to zombie horror, demand has been met by Korean, English, and foreign-language titles,” Banerji noted during the presentation. “With these two films, we wanted to take the thrill of zombies and fuse it with local storytelling, culture, and authenticity.”
These zombie projects follow Netflix’s recent Southeast Asian successes, including Indonesia’s female-led action film “The Shadow Strays,” Thailand’s “Hunger” which topped global charts, and the Philippines’ post-apocalyptic drama “Outside.”
“Our local zombie stories feel authentic, immersive, and uniquely ours,” Banerji said. “And we can’t wait for audiences to experience them.”
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