Gorylah Pictures, one of two production labels run by Singapore filmmaker and Asian Film Awards jury president Eric Khoo, is joining forces with Clover Films and MM2 Entertainment  to co-produce supernatural thriller Inside The Urn (working title), to be directed by Gilbert Chan.

The three companies previously collaborated on Chan’s hit horror film 23:59. His new project, scripted by Tan Fong Cheng, tells the story of a family haunted by a small child spirit, known in South-East Asia as a Toyol, which has been invoked by witch doctor from a dead human foetus.

“As a child I was always fascinated and intrigued by the concept of the Toyol,” said Khoo. “It has taken me years to develop this film and I just can’t wait to watch it now.”

Production is scheduled to start in June this year for year-end theatrical release in Singapore and Malaysia. Gorylah, a horror/fantasy label launched by Khoo and Mike Wiluan’s Infinite Frameworks in 2009, also produced the Mo Brothers’ Macabre.

Meanwhile, Khoo’s other Singapore-based production label Zhao Wei Films is developing Boo Junfeng’s Apprentice with Singapore’s Peanut Pictures and Akanga Film Asia.

The film, tentatively scheduled to start shooting from the end of the year, tells the story of a Malaysian prison officer who strikes up a friendship with the prison’s chief executioner. However his conscience is put to the test when the executioner starts planning to make him his apprentice. 

Khoo will executive produce with Raymond Phathanavirangoon, Fran Borgia and Zhao Wei’s Gary Goh as producers. Boo’s debut feature Sandcastle premiered in Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2010.