Vietnamese horror hit ‘Phi Phong: The Blood Demon’ arrives in Malaysia after record-breaking box office run

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Vietnamese supernatural horror sensation Phi Phong: The Blood Demon opened in Malaysian cinemas today following a record-breaking run at the Vietnamese box office.

The film arrives as Vietnam’s horror industry undergoes a revival, shifting away from low-budget B-movies towards more polished productions inspired by local folklore, urban legends and spiritual traditions.

Directed by Do Quoc Trung, Phi Phong: The Blood Demon premiered in Vietnam on April 24, 2026, coinciding with Reunification Day, which commemorates the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1975.

The story is inspired by the legend of Phi Phong, a bloodthirsty shape-shifting entity rooted in the folklore of Vietnam’s northern highlands.

It follows sibling shamans Con and Duong as they travel to a remote village where their mother has fallen under the influence of a demonic force.

Along the way, they encounter a couple and their daughter, whose uncanny behaviour is linked to the terrifying legend.

The cast includes Kieu Minh Tuan, Diep Bao Ngoc, Doan Minh Anh, Nina Padovan and veteran actress Hanh Thuy.

A box office breakthrough

Phi Phong became the fastest Vietnamese film to surpass VND100 billion (RM15.5 million) at the box office, reaching the milestone in less than a week.

Strong audience response during preview screenings from April 16 to 19 saw the film collect VND69.44 billion (RM10.8 million), prompting distributors to extend its preview run until April 23.

It has since become Vietnam’s second highest-grossing local film of 2026, earning VND134 billion (RM20.8 million), behind only Trấn Thành’s Bunny!!, which grossed VND437 billion (RM69.9 million).

According to Screen Daily, Phong Duong, business director and executive producer at distributor Mockingbird Pictures and Bluebells Studios, attributed the film’s success to its gripping narrative, striking visuals, unexpected twists and layered storytelling beneath its eerie atmosphere.

Taking Vietnamese horror global

Bluebells Studios and Mockingbird Pictures chief executive Trang Doan said the film was created to help elevate Vietnamese horror onto the global stage.

As reported by Dread Central, the filmmakers wanted to produce a bold horror film that fully embraces Vietnam’s mythology, believing the legend of Phi Phong would resonate with international audiences increasingly drawn to Southeast Asian horror.

According to Deadline, Phi Phong: The Blood Demon has been sold to more than 10 territories, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Laos.

Produced by Bluebells Studios, the sister company of Mockingbird Pictures, the film has been described as “a large-scale horror production that blends regional mythology with visceral cinematic terror.”

Phi Phong: The Blood Demon is now screening in cinemas nationwide, distributed by GSC Cinemas.