Indonesian horror

Indonesian horror are the films of the horror genre produced by the Indonesian film industry. Often inspired by local folklore and religious elements,^[1]^[2] Indonesian horror films have been produced in the country since the 1960s. After a hiatus during the Suharto era in the 1990s, when censorship affected production, Indonesian horror films continued being produced following Reformasi in 1998.^[3]^[4]

History

Ghosts and magical folklore have long been part of Indonesian culture. These later influenced the development of horror films.^[5] Kuntilanak are particularly prominent in local horror films.^[1]

During the authoritarian New Order regime under President Suharto, many horror films included religious symbolism and heroes to adhere to strict guidelines from censors. The Ministry Information under Ali Murtopo required that Indonesian films at the time had to follow strict moral and ethical guidelines, meaning many horror films juxtaposed violence and sexuality with religious heroes and themes.^[6] Thomas Barker has argued that films produced after 1998 in Indonesia have been particularly shaped by what he described as the residual "trauma" of violence under the preceding New Order era under President Suharto.^[1]

Suzzanna was a major film star in the 1970s and 1980s for her work in horror films. She appeared in 42 films before her death in 2008, including Bernafas dalam Lumpur [id], Beranak dalam Kubur [id] and Sundel Bolong.^[7]

Indonesian horror films, particularly the work of Joko Anwar, attracted heightened international attention in the late 2010s, aided by streaming services. Some outlets declared films like Impetigore (2019) as part of a new wave of folk horror films from Southeast Asia.^[2]^[5] Impetigore was Indonesia's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in its year of release and attracted international recognition, but was not nominated.^[2]^[8]

HBO Asia also released Indonesian-developed horror television series Halfworlds.^[5]

Themes

Themes approached in Indonesian horror include haunted forests as in Alas Pati: Hutan Mati (2018)^[9] and ghost stories (as in Itim), for example.

Notable films

Badai-Selatan (1962)
Beranak dalam Kubur [id] (1971)
Itim (1976)
Mystics in Bali (1981)
Sundelbolong
- Sundelbolong (1981)
- Suzzanna: Buried Alive (2018) Remake of Sundelbolong (1981)
Satan's Slave or (Pengabdi Setan) Series
- Satan's Slave (1981)
- Satan's Slaves (2017)
- Satan's Slaves 2: Communion (2022)
Lady Terminator (1988)
Pancasona (1989)
Jelangkung (2001)
Kafir (film) (2002)
Kuntilanak Series based on Kuntilanak
- Kuntilanak 1 (2006)
- Kuntilanak 2 (2007)
- Kuntilanak 3 (2008)
- Kuntilanak 1 (2018)
- Kuntilanak 2 (2019)
- Kuntilanak 3 (2020)
Dara\Macabre by The Mo Brothers
- Dara (2007)
- Takut: Faces of Fear (2008) Segment: 'Dara'
- Macabre (2009)
based on Pintu Terlarang (2004) by Sekar Ayu Asmara
- The Forbidden Door (2009)
Shackled (2012)
Ritual (2012)
Hi5teria (2012)
Killers (2014)
Firegate (2016)
Danur Series
- Danur: I Can See Ghosts (2017)
- Danur 2: Maddah (2018)
- Danur 3: Sunyaruri (2019)
- Asih 1 (2018)
- Asih 2 (2020)
- Silam (2018)
- Ivanna (2022)
The 3rd Eye Series
- The 3rd Eye 1 (2017)
- The 3rd Eye 2 (2019)
Gasing Tengkorak (2017)
Bayi Gaib: Bayi Tumbal Bayi Mati (2018)
DreadOut based on DreadOut series by. Digital Happiness
- DreadOut (2018)
Sabrina (2018)
Rasuk (2018)
May the Devil Take You or (Sebelum Iblis Menjemput) Series
- May the Devil Take You: Chapter 1 (2018)
- May the Devil Take You: Chapter 2 (2020)
- May the Devil Take You: Chapter 3 (TBA)
Sakral (2018)
Alas Pati: Hutan Mati (2018)
Perjanjian dengan Iblis (2019)
Impetigore (2019)
MatiAnak (2019)
Tembang Lingsir (2019)
Ratu Ilmu Hitam by Subagio Samtani
- The Queen of Black Magic (2019)
Kutuk (2019)
Lukisan Ratu Kidul (2019)
Makmum (2019)
Affliction (2021)
Desa Penari Series
- KKN di Desa Penari (2022)
- Badarawuhi di Desa Penari (2024)
Qodrat (2022)
Hidayah (2023)
Sewu Dino (2023)
Grave Torture (2024)
Do You See What I See (2024)
Respati by Ragiel JP
- Malam Pencabut Nyawa (2024)
Kereta Berdarah (2024)
Menjelang Ajal (2024)

Notable directors

Sisworo Gautama Putra
Tjut Djalil
The Mo Brothers (Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto)
Joko Anwar
Awi Suryadi

Highest-grossing horror film

Rank	Title	Admissions	Year	Director
1	KKN di Desa Penari	10.061.033	2022	Awi Suryadi
2	Satan's Slaves 2: Communion	6.391.982	2022	Joko Anwar
3	Vina: Sebelum 7 Hari	5.815.945	2024	Anggy Umbara
4	Sewu Dino	4.891.609	2023	Kimo Stamboel
5	Satan's Slaves	4.206.103	2017	Joko Anwar
6	Dancing Village: The Curse Begins	4.013.558	2024	Kimo Stamboel
7	Grave Torture	4.000.826	2024	Joko Anwar
8	Suzzanna: Buried Alive	3.346.185	2018	Anggy Umbara, Rocky Soraya
9	Di Ambang Kematian	3.302.047	2023	Azhar Kinoi Lubis
10	Ivanna	2.951.204	2022	Kimo Stamboel