The Maid (2005), directed by Kelvin Tong, is Singapore’s first full-fledged horror film — a haunting story that blends local folklore, superstition, and ghostly vengeance. Released during the height of the Asian horror boom, it stands alongside classics like Ringu (Japan), Ju-On: The Grudge (Japan), Shutter (Thailand), and The Eye (Hong Kong).

In this video, we explore the film’s eerie atmosphere, its cultural roots in the Hungry Ghost Festival, and how it carved out a unique identity within the J-horror and pan-Asian horror craze of the early 2000s. If you’re fascinated by supernatural horror and want to see how Singapore contributed to the genre, this breakdown is for you.