thestoryoflight

Are you tired of watching horror movies with lame cinematography and nonexistent aesthetics? Ah, but horror movies aren't exactly a place for aesthetics, right? I suppose so. Still, in Kerasukan (2024), you at least get some noir-like elegance: the captivating femme fatale, the well-groomed and successful husband losing his mind over his wife, the men who lust after the female lead, and the poor kid caught in the middle of the adults' chaotic fiasco.

The movie starts off promising (at least, that's how I saw it in the first few minutes). You're left wondering what kind of ghost this movie is going to use. The set, the mood, the costume design- (almost) impeccable. Until the husband starts investigating why his wife is acting all cold and suddenly wants a divorce. From there, it all starts to muddle through your usual "folks-ghost" appearance, more of your usual black-magic tropes, sexual obsession, and some vague, unclear message about female dominance (is it? I'm not really sure). See what I mean? That's why it "muddles through" everything. Because the director and screenwriter seem completely lost on how to make this fit into Indonesian cinema. The background story is a mess, and it feels like it's trying to present some social issues--though maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Either way, no message comes through, and honestly, it's like the movie doesn't even bother to have any substance.

The movie tries to build a sense of mystery, but sinks beneath a script of pure inconsistency. It also tries to deliver suspense, but it drowns in empty pretense. By the time the credits rolled, I was left confused and, honestly, a little traumatized by what I'd just watched. All these visually pleasing sets, costumes, makeup, and editing are just a facade. A facade covering up the weak script and direction. If there's anything remotely redeeming about the direction, it's probably the actors' performances. At least they got some skilled actors who made this mess bearable to watch. Last, I also want to appreciate the singer who performed the main OST of this movie. She sang really well.

P. S. I haven't seen the original Possession (1981), so this review is based entirely on my personal thoughts after watching Kerasukan (2024).

Looking at the lead actors, I already knew I had to lower my expectations. It's not that their performances were terrible; they just weren't impressive enough. That said, watching this won't be too painful thanks to some of the supporting actors, who are well-known in the horror scene and definitely deliver. So yeah, I'd say the supporting roles made this movie at least a little watchable.

But as the title suggests, it is hardly impressive, easily forgettable. Is it the script? The directing? The editing? Or just a mix of everything. Maybe worth a one-time watch if you're just looking to kill some time.

I'd say this movie is pretty bold in exploring the theme of religious heresy. It's definitely controversial, but it reflects a real social phenomenon. Is it cliché? Definitely. Is it stuff we already know? Yep. But somehow, even with all the clichés, it still works. Though, admittedly, it gets a bit overdramatic.

The movie gives a clear and simple explanation of what Thaghut is through its scenes. It's a horror film that makes an important point: even in a Muslim-majority country like Indonesia, there are still many deviating and heretical sects, without copying Western-style cult horror tropes.

Lele Laila is a regular in horror movie screenwriting these days. Her writing skills are quite solid, and it shows in this film as well as in her previous horror scripts. Bobby Prasetyo is also a familiar name in horror directing-his movies are usually a hit or a miss. Sometimes they're passable, other times... totally unbearable.

This time, Thaghut's script and direction are actually passable. So... yay?

Now, if you're thinking of watching this: brace yourself. The scary scenes are intense. There's a lot of gore. I'm talking blood, severed heads, full-on close-ups, people getting stabbed... on purpose. I honestly wonder why it's rated R13+ in Indonesia.

So, as the title says-do you have the gut to watch Thaghut?