Fans of ghosts, ghouls and all things supernatural, get buzzed. Local auteur Eric Khoo – known for Mee Pok Man, 12 Storeys and Ramen Teh – is crossing over from the silver screen to your gogglebox with a six-part horror anthology Folklore that takes you on a hellish ride across six Asian countries. But before you settle in for a night of terror, get to know the Cultural Medallion recipient and why you should brave up for this TV thriller.
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Hi Eric! What draws you towards filmmaking?
I’ve always enjoyed storytelling whether through writing school essays or drawing comic books! I caught the filmmaking bug when I discovered my mother’s Super 8 Canon Camera and started making stop-motion shorts with my action figures as a child. It was a new medium of storytelling and it’s a wonderful way of expression that I enjoy.
Tell us about Folklore.
It's a horror series that features the superstitions and myths across six Asian countries. Many of the stories have been passed down hundreds of years but given an update – so there's something familiar but yet something new in each episode. Each episode is filmed in a different country and is based on the country’s superstitions – and since there are a plethora of superstitions running around (especially in Southeast Asia), I allowed the directors that I roped into the series to decide which stories they want to tell.
Do you have a favourite episode?
Actually, to be honest, I love them all, but for different reasons as they’re varied in form, tone and pacing. Our directors are visionary filmmakers and have a solid stamp on their episodes. It’s fabulous to see them tackle my favourite genre with such diversity.
Do you believe in these superstitions?
I respect the spirit world and I have a vivid imagination. I’m a true believer.
Is Folklore one for the faint-hearted?
We avoided the conventional jump scares with Folklore and on a narrative level they are more in the vein of the older chilling classics like Rosemary’s Baby.
Folklore is available to catch on HBO GO and HBO.
