{
  "id": 17559059,
  "title": "After ‘White’ grossed RM2.5m, Malaysian filmmaker JeRR returns with ‘Lunar July’, inspired by the Chinese ghost month",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/after-white-grossed-rm2-5m-malaysian-filmmaker-jerr-returns-with",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T08:02:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/11/01/after-white-grossed-rm25m-malaysian-filmmaker-jerr-returns-with-lunar-july-inspired-by-the-chinese-ghost-month/241589"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Malaysian filmmaker JeRR PS Rion has returned to the silver screen with Lunar July, a supernatural film inspired by the Chinese Ghost Month. Following the commercial success of his folk-horror movie White, which earned over RM2.5 million at the box office, JeRR drew upon his experience promoting White to create a new cinematic experience.\n\nThe director gained insight into the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, or Ghost Month, by visiting a backstage performance and hearing stories from festival organizers. This sparked his interest in exploring the festival's traditions and led to a complete reimagining of his screenplay.\n\nInitially intended as a comedy, the film's direction shifted as JeRR and his team delved deeper into Chinese Malaysian folk culture, customs, and religious beliefs. They aimed to rewrite the story, avoiding the reproduction of a single legend, and instead create a more comprehensive and uplifting narrative.\n\nRather than focusing solely on horror, Lunar July seeks to highlight the values behind the Hungry Ghost Festival's traditions, particularly the practice of honoring wandering spirits (the \"Good Brothers\") and offering tributes to the deity Da Shi Ye. The filmmaker emphasized that these practices symbolize generosity, compassion, and care for others, rather than simply seeking divine protection.\n\nLunar July stars He Jiahao, Mo Peiling, and Du Hailun and is currently playing in cinemas across Malaysia.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Following the success of his folk-horror film White (2025), which grossed more than RM2.5 mi...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian filmmaker JeRR returns with 'Lunar July' after 'White' success",
    "Film inspired by Chinese Ghost Month traditions and customs",
    "Stars He Jiahao, Mo Peiling, and Du Hailun in Malaysian release"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Shifting from pure horror to a narrative focused on cultural values demonstrates a filmmaker leveraging commercial success to deepen the representation of Chinese Malaysian folk traditions on screen.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}