Horror-Action Film ‘Best Served Cold’ Poised for Singapore-Malaysia Co-Production Status

By Patrick Frater

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Singapore’s 108 Media has secured the support of the Malaysian authorities to develop horror-action film “Best Served Cold,” based on the short story “Don’t Eat The Rice” by Sabah-based author Jill Girardi and characters in her novel “Hantu Macabre.” The adaptation is by writer-director Aaron Cowan.

The film could be one of the first to make use of the new bilateral co-production treaty between Singapore and Malaysia. “We would like to congratulate Malaysia’s Siung Films and Singapore’s . Both Malaysia and Singapore are excited about this effort as we are planning for Malaysia-Singapore Treaty discussion starting in January 2020,” said Hans Isaac, chairman of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS). “FINAS Malaysia encourages and welcomes co-production treaties with not just Singapore but other countries to establish closer relationship that eases buying, distribution, content creating and collaboration.”

The film is a mix of supernatural action-noir, revolving around Suzanna Sim, an ex-MMA fighter turned private detective who uses her fists and her knowledge of Southeast Asian black magic, while working with a Malaysian mythical creature, to find a rich new client’s missing husband. The producers have secured Ann Osman (aka Athena), a top female MMA fighter from Malaysia, for the lead role.

The production will also involve Base FX in Kuala Lumpur, the newly launched Malaysian offshoot of the Beijing-based VFX firm that has worked on multiple Chinese and Hollywood films including “The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” and “Pacific Rim.”
Cowan has been a senior member of creative teams that have won four Oscars, including “Avatar” and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Development and production company, 108 Media has a slate of South East Asian features – many focused on horror – that includes: “The Curse” (aka “Uklub,” written by Atom Magadia and Anne Prado-Magadia of the Philippines; “In Th Name of Lucia,” written by Dodo Dayao and directed by Sheron Dayoc of The Philippines; family and sports film “Ten,” written by Bernice Low, based on the book “Ten” by Shamini Flint (Malaysia); crime-action film “Chandra,” written by Shern Chong and Justin Wong, and 108 president Justin Deimen’s own Indonesian crime film project “Lanun.”