BLOOD BROTHERS: BARA NAGA (2025)

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Syafiq Yusof, Abhilash Chandra
Cast: Sharnaaz Ahmad, Syafiq Kyle, Shukri Yahaya, Amelia Henderson, Syazwan Zulkifli, Wan Hanafi Su, Zamarul Hisham, Irfan Zaini, Andy Teh, Hushairi Husain, Dini Schatzmann, Tracie Sinidol, Ray DapDap, Mikael Noah, Amir Nafis
Runtime: 2 hr 10 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence)
Released By: GV
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 10 April 2025

Synopsis: When fiercely loyal bodyguard Ariff, is framed for betraying his Mafia family, he is forced to prove his innocence with the help of his estranged brother, Jaki, while being hunted by his best friend Ghaz, who leads the elite bodyguards he once called his brothers.

Movie Review:

If you’ve never seen a Malaysian action film, ‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’ is as good a place to start.

For the initiated, the tale of brotherhood and betrayal hails from ‘Sheriff: Narko Integriti’ director Syafiq Yusof; and if that sends a frisson of excitement down your spine, you’re right to be excited. Indeed, we will say that Yusof’s latest is not only his best to date, but also among one of the very best in Malaysian cinema.

As the title implies, the story revolves around two sworn brothers Ghaz (Sharnaaz Ahmad) and Ariff (Syafiq Kyle) whose loyalty to each other is sorely tested when the latter is suspected of murdering the former’s bride on her wedding night. It so happens that Ghaz’s wife Sheila (Amelia Henderson) is the daughter of mafia boss Dato Zul (Wan Hanafi Su), the fearsome leader of the Naga crime organisation which both brothers work for.

At over two hours, it does take a while for the movie to set up the key turning point in their relationship, but for what it demands in patience recounting how Ghaz and Ariff had met as teenagers staying within the same dilapidated public housing estate, it does reward in poignancy later on when Ghaz is so overcome by grief and vengeance that he goes on a one-on-one vendetta against Ariff.

Besides Ghaz and Ariff, the plotting also establishes the infighting within the Naga organisation, especially as Dato Zul is diagnosed with stage four cancer and due to anoint a successor. Though predictable, it is to Yusof’s credit, as well as that of his co-director and screenwriter Abhilash Chandra, that the twists and turns within are well paced and choreographed, especially with the duplicitous presence of Dato Zul’s son Fadlan (Shukri Yahaya).

It is also to their credit that the narrative doesn’t come across as an afterthought, notwithstanding the fact that the highlight here is no doubt the excellent action set-pieces throughout the film. Oh yes, from gunfights to explosions, there is no shortage of spectacle here; that said, the emphasis is clearly on the hand-to-hand, bare-knuckled fighting, which is as intense and brutal as it gets. It is truly a relief that both directors deliberately avoid the sort of shaky camera work that some examples of the action genre feel oft to follow; instead, with steady and dynamic framing and movement, they place the audience right up close within the action, and the results are downright thrilling.

Kudos too to Ahmad and Kyle, both of whom do their own stunts from start to finish; they are joined by an equally adept ensemble of supporting actors, including Andy Teh, Irfan Zaini and Razib Salimin. It is a suave team of ‘elite bodyguards’ all right, and more than looking cool, they each hold their own in their respective parts amidst the unfolding mayhem. For good measure, Yusof throws in Ariff’s older brother Jaki (Syazman Zulkifly) to lighten the mood from time to time, and works him into the story thoughtfully and deliberately.

So like we said at the start, if you’ve never watched a Malaysian action movie, ‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’ is truly as good a place to start as any. The action is propulsive; the story is engaging; and the characters as well as the actors are charismatic. It doesn’t break new ground in the genre for sure, but a genre piece as accomplished as this from our neighbour deserves our support through and through.

Movie Rating:

(Engaging, propulsive and satisfying, this well-mounted action thriller counts as one of the best in Malaysian cinema and a great entry into the genre)

Review by Gabriel Chong