The Puppetmaker Awaits at Sunway Lagoon’s Nights of Fright 11

By Danial Martinus • 26 Sep 2025 in Events

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Sunway Lagoon has once again thrown open the gates to terror, unleashing the 11th edition of Nights of Fright, and this year it promises to be bigger, darker, and scarier than ever.

From 26 September to 2 November 2025, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, Malaysia’s longest-running Halloween festival takes over Sunway City Kuala Lumpur with a new master of fear at its helm: the Puppetmaker.

What began back in 2013 as the country’s first large-scale Halloween celebration has now evolved into a bona fide cultural phenomenon.

Over a million thrill-seekers have braved its haunted houses and scare zones over the past decade, cementing Nights of Fright’s reputation as Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-running fright festival.

A launch to remember

This year’s opening night set the tone with a macabre spectacle. The Puppetmaker arrived in a flamboyant pink hearse, joined by his equally sinister companions: Hantutu (the tutu-wearing hantu), Hantu Kum Kum, and Poh Kong.

They were flanked by Ms Michelle Soong, Assistant General Manager of Marketing & Business Development at Sunway Theme Parks, and Mr Lynton V Harris, Creative Director of Nights of Fright and Founder of The Sudden Impact Entertainment Company.

The night kicked off with a chilling ballerina performance before the ceremonial turning of the “Puppetmaker’s Key”. That act unlocked a giant music box, unleashing eerie pink fireworks across the sky. Guests were then treated to the unveiling of the world’s first life-sized Blind Box haunted attraction, starring the terrifying yet oddly adorable Hantutu.

“Nights of Fright has grown into so much more than just a Halloween festival; it has become a stage where Malaysia’s culture meets global horror, creating experiences that are both unique and unforgettable,” says Soong.

“What makes us proud is knowing that the festival doesn’t just deliver thrills, it also drives tourism, nurtures local talent, and strengthens Sunway City Kuala Lumpur’s position as one of Asia’s most exciting destinations.”

Harris echoed the statement, saying that Nights of Fright was designed from the ground up to be about more than just jump scares.

“It’s about storytelling, atmosphere, and creating worlds where folklore and imagination collide,” he says.

“11 years later, we have the most haunted attractions in Southeast Asia, and it’s amazing to see how this vision has grown into a festival that not only thrills audiences but also stands as the undisputed benchmark for live scare entertainment in the region.”

What awaits visitors inside?

This year’s line-up is stacked with fresh horrors and returning favourites.

Visitors can test their nerves across eight haunted houses, including Karak—The Kampong Killers, Tiki Terror, The Puppetmaker, The Blind Box, Fortunes and Freaks, Horrorwood Studios, Legends of Horror, and The Freezer 2: High Voltage!

There’s also a haunted theatre, Scary Tales, starring Malaysian actress Nadia Brian as the fearsome ‘PontianAxe’.

Three sprawling scare zones—Hantu Hell, Pontianak X Pocong, and Horrorwood Boulevard: Slashers & Dolls—keep the frights going between attractions, alongside 11 thrill rides and three live show stages.

But if that’s not enough for you, Nights of Fright 11 spices things up with unique collaborations. Guests can try escaping from Libresse’s Escape of Hantu Kum Kum, experience Poh Kong’s reimagined Villain Hitting ritual, or snap eerie shots at Pop Mart’s first-ever theme park collab.

Add in spooky street food, themed merch, and carnival-style entertainment, and you’ve got a night that blends culture with pure nightmare fuel.