Motif

Name: Motif
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Released: 2019-09-26
Duration: 1 h 26 min
Cast: Sharifah Amani, Rosyam Nor, Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, Taqim Zaki, Redza Minhat

2019·Movie

·1h 26min·

DecentGoodWatch score

Your score for Motif

Pick a score from 1 to 10

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5.7

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Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Motif fingerprint

Strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

Tension7
Adrenaline5
Fast Pace5

Heart

Emotionally reserved

Melancholy6
Pathos5
Catharsis5

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

Wit & Wordplay3
Cringe Humor3
Dark Humor3

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and mystery

World Immersion7
Dialogue Centrality7
Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout characters

Character Depth8
Intrigue8
Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

Cinematography7
Editing6
Visual Stylization6

Energy

Medium

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

Motif is tense. The story builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

More movies with medium energy Suspense movies

All energy traits

Tension7Edge-of-your-seat suspense and pressure.
Adrenaline5High-energy, pulse-pounding intensity.
Fast Pace5Quick tempo and momentum.

Violence4Physical conflict and intensity.
Scare3Frightening moments and scares.
Spectacle3Scale and set-piece grandeur.

Related traits

Slow Burn7Gradual build with payoff.

Bleakness7Grim, stark outlooks.

Heart

Low

Emotionally reserved

It keeps its emotions at a distance.

All heart traits

Melancholy6Bittersweet, reflective sadness.
Pathos5Deeply moving, empathetic emotion.
Catharsis5Emotional release and payoff.
Family Dynamics5Relationships and generational ties.
Hopefulness4Optimism and uplifting resolve.

Wonder3Awe, discovery, and amazement.
Romance2Love stories and emotional connections.
Wholesome2Heartwarming, uplifting feelings.
Nostalgia1Warmth of memory and retro vibes.
Coming of Age1Personal growth and self-discovery.

Related traits

Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.

Bleakness7Grim, stark outlooks.

Humor

Low

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

Expect a little humor.

All humor traits

Wit & Wordplay3Clever dialogue and verbal humor.
Cringe Humor3Awkward, uncomfortable laughs.
Dark Humor3Humor from taboo or grim topics.
Satire & Parody2Sharp critique and playful imitation.

Situational Comedy1Humor from everyday scenarios and setups.
Physical Comedy1Slapstick and visual gags.
Absurdist Humor1Surreal, nonsensical comedy.

World

Medium

Everyday modern life, crime, and mystery

Its world is built around everyday modern life, crime, and mystery.

More movies with medium world

All world traits

World Immersion7Depth and sensory richness of setting.
Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.
Rewatchability6Invites repeat viewing.

Ambiguity5Open-endedness and uncertainty.
Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.

Related traits

Contemporary Realism9Modern, grounded storytelling.
Crime8Heists, investigation, and underworld.
Mystery8Whodunnits and unraveling secrets.

Psychological7Inner worlds and mind games.
Social Commentary7Perspectives on society and norms.
Class & Capitalism6Wealth, power, and inequality.

Craft

High

Standout characters

The characters stand out.

More movies with high craft Suspense movies

All craft traits

Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
Intrigue8Curiosity and investigative pull.
Direction7Vision and command behind the camera.
Acting7Performance craft and presence.
Narrative Structure7Story architecture and form.

Complexity7Layered plots and ideas.
Dialogue Quality6Sharp writing and memorable lines.
Non-linear Narrative3Time-shifts and structure play.
Meta Narrative1Stories about storytelling.

Related traits

Slow Burn7Gradual build with payoff.
Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.

Fast Pace5Quick tempo and momentum.

Style

Medium

Functional look and sound

The look and sound stay functional.

More movies with medium style

All style traits

Cinematography7Visual composition and camera work.
Editing6Pacing and structure through cuts.
Visual Stylization6Distinctive aesthetic signature.

Sound Centrality6Sound design as core element.
Music Composition5Score and musical identity.
Music Centrality4Songs central to storytelling.

Related traits

Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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About

Motif focuses on a police investigation and its most obvious innovation is the female perspective that the director imposes. Protagonist Dewi (Sharifah Amani) is a police officer who is sent from the capital of Kuala Lumpur to a provincial area, Tanah Merah (lit. “Red Earth”), to investigate the disappearance of the young daughter of the local community’s richest family. From the beginning, her arrival is greeted with distrust by her male colleagues, who are doubly annoyed by the fact of having an outsider who is also a woman intrude in the community.

Malaysian Crime ThrillerFemale DetectiveSmall Town MysterySocial CommentaryPsychological InvestigationAtmospheric NoirCultural DistrustCharacter-DrivenProvincial Setting

Actors

Sharifah Amani

Dewi

Rosyam Nor

Hussein

Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin

Faisal

Taqim Zaki

Inspector Rizal

Redza Minhat

Ilham (voice)

Azhan Rani

Kamal

Sherie Merlis

Suri

Fadhli Masoot

Azlan

Nadia Aqilah

Lena (voice)

Azman Hassan

Shukor

Khalid Salleh

Yasmin Father

Crew

Directed by:

Nadiah Hamzah

Written by:

Nadiah Hamzah

Produced by:

Mo Bahir

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Motif

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Motif legally?

Cineverse

Motif is included with a subscription to Cineverse in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.