Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel

Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel dives into Indonesian folklore with a dark, layered horror story about the vengeful spirit Wewe Gombel. Directed by Billy Christian, the film starts by recounting the tragic tale of Marni, a woman unjustly killed by her village, and transitions to modern times, where a single mother, Rahayu (Hannah Al Rashid), and her children move to a rural village with a dark past. As her son Aan mysteriously disappears, Rahayu is forced to confront both the village's secrets and her own turbulent emotions as a parent.

Christian's work goes beyond conventional horror by addressing complex issues, including the challenges of single parenthood, neglect, and the impact of poor parental choices, especially with children who have special needs. The narrative intertwines themes of guilt, resentment, and family dysfunction, adding emotional depth alongside supernatural elements

Though well-received for its acting-particularly Ismi Melinda as Marni and Shareefa Daanish in a haunting supporting role-the film's length and some repetitive sequences drew mixed reactions. However, the action scenes, choreographed by the Uwais Team, bring a fresh, kinetic energy to the horror genre, making the movie visually dynamic and suspenseful.

There were three key reasons I decided to give Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel a try. First, it stars Hannah Al Rashid (The Queen of Black Magic, The Night Comes for Us) and Shareefa Daanish (Macabre, Asih, The Night Comes for Us), both of whom are standout actresses in Indonesian horror. Second, it's directed by Billy Christian (Motel Melati). Amanda Rigby, who plays the lead character Anissa, truly stole the show. This was my first time seeing her in a film. I also enjoyed Frisly Herlind's portrayal of Poppy, which added depth to the story.

If you're unfamiliar, Wewe Gombel is a vengeful ghost or supernatural entity from Javanese mythology. This film felt like the darker, more adult-oriented Kuntilanak-type story I've been waiting for. The possession scenes were unsettling, and while the creature design was a bit strange, I suspect it was in line with the mythology's traditional depictions. There were a few moments of gore that worked well, and the film did a solid job building tension. It also appears to be setting up a sequel, which I hope comes to fruition as I'd like to see how the story continues to unfold.

Overall, Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel is a well-done supernatural horror. It gets a 7.5/10 from me.