Badarawuhi di Desa Penari

I found this movie to be mostly decent for the most part. The story feels complicated, and i didn't know what was going on in this movie. So, the actual plot is this girl going to the village to find answers to her mother mysterious illness and learn about this traditional dance. It's interesting to learn about what the dance is about and how it's important to the village. She also encounters a supernatural called Badarawuhi, who gives an eerie vibe when she shows up and what she's doing here in the first place. The movie itself is pretty slow, with scenes that feel like it is dragging on too long and strange stuff happening throughout. Also, the movie isn't scary at all because nothing too extreme happens in the movie and is easily predictable when it shows up. The climax itself is something different, but it isn't that suspenseful at all. And the movie has a rushed ending.

I know this movie Made by kimo stamboel or kimo stambol? I don't know, i love he's movie, but im really confused with this movie. Are even this is a horror movie? Or drama? Or comedy movie? Something i love horror movie buat maybe this is the worst. Is just about a cursed village. For me it just did'nt make sense, if you are easy to scare but you want to try to watch one horror movie this is the perfect movie for you, BECAUSE THIS MOVIE IS NOT SCARY. I know maybe scary for some another people, but hey we are Indonesian duh.. we already get used with horror movie because Indonesian only can make horror and drama movie lol. But the point, is if you are easy to scare and you want to try to watch horror movie this movie is perfect for you (Spoiler alert but not really spoiler:)

Literally i was just shocked when i was shown a dead monkey covered with blood, bruh🗿

It's been a while I have written a review on here, since I do that on my own website. But this time I had to.

People have been calling this gripping and spine-chilling. There isn't a single event in this film that even came close to this. Director Kimo Stamboel is capable of building up tension and dread. Only in this film, this replaced with empty symbolism and boredom. Badarawuhi, a snake demon, clearly is intended to be scary and intimidating. She might be the latter because of her portrayal by Aulia Sarah. She tries her hardest. If only this was backed up by terror.

There is hardly any terror. The few events that are supposed to signify this are laughable at best. Sure, there are some gross and gory scenes, but they hardly have any effect. Then the finale is like one big joke. I think I was supposed to be creeped out by the menacing dancers. I mean, it could have been done, had these dances been backed up elements that actually made these dances unique and terrifying. But this is not the case one bit. It felt like a rip-off from Suspiria (2018) which also was a joke.

But the absolute part that made me lose interest quite fast is the pacing. There is very little story and substance in the first place. Maybe enough for a 5-minute short. But this is stretched out over 2 hours. You can imagine how slow this feels.

Overall, this is far from the opposite what the majority of the reviewers have been claiming. And don't get me wrong. I wished what they said was true. But to have me sit through this and make me waste my time in this fashion I find criminal. So yeah, don't believe the high rating, this is terrible!

Main character was so Beautiful but so cruel also, the story line was very detail in this prequel. Makes the audience more familiar with its origins. The timeline is different from the Dancer Village KKN. This time it is set in the 1980s. Where a dancer outwits Badarawuhi, making Nyai very angry.

With different actors and characters from the sequel, this film is fresh and interesting, although some scenes are somewhat similar to the sequel, they don't make you bored and are still fun to watch even with a duration of 122 minutes. At first glance it looks like a repetition but is described in more detail. Moreover, it is supported by the acting of the players, all of whom are good and really get into their characters. A little funny touch from Iqbal Sulaiman creates an ice breaker amidst the horrors of the Badarawuhi terror.

Some of the jumscares are quite surprising. Not only does it show many tense scenes. The emotional drama between mother and child was very touching

Be careful if you have a phobia of snakes, prepare yourself mentally to watch this film.

This movie unintentionally gives off a very strong sapphic vibe that is impossible to ignore. The way the characters interact, the dialogues they exchange, and the overall atmosphere of the film all hint at deeper feelings between the leads, Mila and Badarawuhi. The conversations between them often feel charged, as if every word is carefully chosen to hide more than it reveals. There are subtle glances and lingering looks that build a quiet tension, which keeps viewers guessing about what's really going on beneath the surface. Sometimes, I find myself feeling genuinely excited whenever they share a scene, even if I can't exactly explain why. It's that electric feeling of two characters sharing a connection that feels more than just friendship. Their relationship dynamic is complex, layered with unspoken emotions that add depth to the story. You can see it in how they interact-how Mila seems both hesitant and drawn to Badarawuhi, while Badarawuhi appears aware of the tension but doesn't quite address it. This chemistry is what makes the movie stand out for me, even with its flaws. It's the main reason I keep watching it and why I genuinely enjoy the film.

For fans of LGBTQ stories, this film offers a lot of what they enjoy. The subtle hints, the emotional tension, and the powerful performances speak directly to those who love seeing romantic or intimate themes portrayed on screen. If you're someone who appreciates stories about first love, hidden feelings, or characters navigating moments of closeness and distance, you will find this movie captivating. I believe it has a natural appeal for an audience that values queer representation, even if it's not explicitly labeled as a "LGBT film." The layers of tension suggest a deeper story that many viewers with an interest in queer themes will absolutely love. It's a movie that, even without explicit focus on sexuality, radiates a strong vibe that makes it clear these characters share a more meaningful connection.