Pintu Terlarang

I recently watched the Indonesian film 🇮🇩 The Forbidden Door (2009) on Shudder. The storyline follows a doctor who is drawn to visions of an abused child and something horrible happening to his family. As he delves into determining if his dreams might be reality, he discovers he may only be able to help one-the boy or his family.

This film is directed by Joko Anwar (Impetigore) and stars Ario Bayu (Java Heat), Tio Pakusadewo (The Raid 2), Verdi Solaiman (Shackled), Fachry Albar (Dead Time), and Marsha Timothy (The Raid 2).

This is a long, methodical slow burn, and just as you're wondering why you watched it, there's a perfect conclusion to close the picture. The acting is solid and feels authentic, especially from the child actor. The kid's backstory is sad but very well done. The horror elements are very good, with solid stabbing, throat slashing, and blood splatter sequences. As I previously mentioned, the journey is slow, but the end is rewarding.

In conclusion, The Forbidden Door is a movie you spend the entire time wondering why you watched it, but in the end, you're glad you did. I would score this a 6.5/10 and recommend it to horror genre enthusiasts only.

This movie is a perfectly executed thriller combining startling and grisly violence with mystery and a foreboding mood. A young artist finds himself drawn into a world of terror against his will and his life begins to unravel. This is a story of a cruel world and of living under the power of others.

The multi-part climax and ending could be described predictable, surprising, (Yes, both of those) as truly epic, and cryptic. I think I've figured what it was supposed to mean, though even had you left the theatre merely confused, you'll appreciate the craft and you will have been affected by the movie.

The acting and direction is top notch, and I can attest that the movie was foreboding even when interrupted by technical difficulties and projector problems as my theatre endured when the movie was screened. (Appropriately enough given the English title, our projector broke in two parts where the main character opened a door at a tense moment)

I would love to see more work by these people.

I have just recently had the opportunity to watch this movie even though I have noticed the surround positive reviews of the movie for some time. And after watching it just yesterday, it would be fair to say that this picture by far is the best modern picture made by Indonesian filmmaker.

It is a bold, horrifying, intense and mean noir psychological horror. The horrid surreal atmosphere and chilling gore very much remind me of Lynch's and Aronofsky's style which is outstanding. Watching this movie really gives you a more complex horrid feeling than any kind of Indonesian horror with excessive portion of demon and ghost appearance more than you beg for of which you can't help but to smirk. And fairly said, this movie has put back faith in me that indeed Indonesian filmmaker can so do much better than only of those sex exploit movies and series of ridicule horror.

Finally said, this movie is very recommended as an introductory to a fine piece of Indonesian modern cinema. And despite the plot may not be very original at all and at some point the gory scene may need a little extra stomach to bear, but to skip this modern horror experience would be a sin to every horror/thriller movie lover.

I cannot stand any movie which shows violence towards kids.

I saw this only cos of its director Joko Anwar but this one is a big disappointment.

There is no tension, no suspense n no atmosphere but just an annoying actor with his annoying hair.

It has some killings but that too towards the end.

Inspite of the movie being a bit dark, there is zero nudity n zero sex scene.

Revisiting John Cusack's Identity is a better option than this.

Big fan of Joko Anwar but now i think he is more of a hit n miss kinda director.

I didn't enjoy The Queen of Black Magic which Anwar didn't direct but he is the writer.

I was generous with his Impetigore which has unnecessary gore n squirmy stuff.

Loved his Gundala.

Enjoyed his Satan's Slaves n found it to be creepy, scary n very atmospheric.

Waiting for Satan's Slaves part 2.

Pintu Terlarang (aka the Forbidden Door) is a brilliant film, plain and simple. Joko Anwar, the director, did a fabulous job constructing the imagery of the psychological thriller with magnificent scoring, impressive casts and smart plot line. Though the film, itself came from the best-selling novel by Sekar Ayu, I found that it only took major plot from the novel. To be honest, I did not know about the ending until it was revealed. Quite a shock! Both Fachri Albar and Marsha Timothy gives one of the best performances of their career, the powerful performances with complex emotions. Some scene are quite disturbing but it helps the film to build intense in beautiful cinematography, the Joko Anwar's style. You may go and see this film again to realize why the end is such a surprise, or so many twists that you want to get them clearly…or you could rush out to watch it again purely because it's an almost perfect example of it's genre, as I did it three times. Brilliant.