The Forbidden Door

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.

While the climactic twist delivers its intended impact, I find that the film, in its entirety, lacks the depth I desired, ended up providing me a rather bland experience, that is too vanilla for my taste.

And this sentiment specifically stems from its conflicting writing choices. Themes explored are undoubtedly serious and carry significant weight, yet the film's somewhat incongruous lightheartedness diminishes the potency of its thematic substances.

Not only that, the element of shock & surprise is less, and the emotional connection seemed nearly absent.

I feel, a more darker, melancholic approach would have been beneficial for the narrative.

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.

Like I say in my title above, this isn't really quite my type of film. I DO though very much like the David Lynch touches and mood which are created very well throughout. Technically, everything is expertly executed, and all the acting is excellent.

If you happen to like the intensity of movies like 'HOSTEL' or others of this nature, this will probably be right up your alley. For me personally, those kinds of films I just don't find entertaining, it's just not my thing. But, as I've stated in many of my reviews, just because I don't happen to find the story fully enjoyable, I can honestly say that for people that do like these kinds of movies, they will likely find it entertaining. It is made very well, AND truthfully, it is extremely effective in what the filmmakers are trying to do. There is absolutely NO doubt about that 😊

So, this is one of those very rare cases where, even though I didn't exactly 'enjoy' all aspects of it, I felt the film was conceived and made really well and most definitely created a very foreboding and disturbing atmosphere. For example, without giving anything away, when the main protagonist is feeling anguish and disgust, you most definitely will feel it too, which means the movie is accomplishing precisely what it is supposed to do. Just for me personally, I found it a tad too dark and disturbing in some areas and it just doesn't quite fit my idea of a 'Fun' movie. But, the film is so effectively made, for those who do like their intensity levels quite high, this will probably be the kind of movie for you.