Ris Low's 12-year wait for debut movie to be screened

The 35-year-old may have fallen off the radar since then. But Low, who now goes by the name May, has found herself in the spotlight again.

- Joanne Soh Lifestyle Correspondent

She headlined the local Chinese-language indie slasher flick Justice Devil in 2013. After a 12-year delay, it finally saw the light of day, when homegrown writer-director Harva Raj submitted his passion project to various independent film circuits at the start of 2025.

It went on to win best feature film accolades at several international film festivals, including the World Film Festival in Cannes, Miami International Gold Awards and Champs-Elysees Film Awards.

Justice Devil is also nominated for best original score at the International Sound & Film Music Festival, which will take place in Croatia from Oct 3 to 6.

Low, who plays an avenging mother named Ellen whose five-year-old daughter is brutally murdered by drug kingpins, received best actress honours at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival in Los Angeles in January and Chile's South Film and Arts Academy Festival in February.

The acting novice tells The Straits Times that her wins were “a shock”.

“I would have given my performance an ‘F’,” Low says. She adds that she did not know what she was doing on set and relied heavily on her costars, local actors Ernest Seah, Michael Chua and Daniel Chen.

“I had no acting experience, didn't take any acting classes and I found the filming process very tiring.”

She adds that while the recognition is rewarding, the job was a one and done.

Raj, 39, says the role was written with Low in mind, and the script was developed to parallel her life.

The daughter Ellen lost symbolises Low's pageant crown, while the villains are a metaphor for the criticism hurled at her. In addition, Ellen's quest for justice represents Low's fight against public judgment and adversity.

According to the first-time director, Low brought “an emotional honesty to the character that many seasoned actors might struggle to capture”.