Indonesian Horror

Indonesian horror are fictions and films of the horror genre produced by the Indonesian film industry. Often inspired by local folklore and religious elements, 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.

History

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

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. 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.

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 , and ''Sundel Bolong''.

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. ''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.

HBO Asia also released Indonesian-developed horror television series '' Halfworlds''.

Themes

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

Notable films

* '' Badai-Selatan'' (1962)
* (1971)
* ''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)
** ''Mangkujiwo'' (2020)
** ''Kuntilanak 3'' (2022)
** ''Mangkujiwo 2'' (2023)
* ''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)
** ''Tenung'' (2025)
* ''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 Series''
** '' Qodrat'' (2022)
** '' Qodrat 2'' (2025)
* ''Hidayah'' (2023)
* '' Sewu Dino'' (2023)
* ''Waktu Mahgrib Series''
** ''Waktu Mahgrib'' (2023)
** ''Waktu Mahgrib 2'' (2025)
* '' Grave Torture'' (2024)
* ''Do You See What I See'' (2024)
* '' Respati by Ragiel JP''
** ''Malam Pencabut Nyawa'' (2024)
* ''Kereta Berdarah'' (2024)
* ''Menjelang Ajal'' (2024)
* ''Pembantaian Dukun Santet'' (2025)
* ''Pabrik Gula'' (2025)

Notable directors

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

Highest-grossing horror film

Other media

Video games

Examples of Indonesian horror games based on folklore story, such as '' DreadOut'' and ''Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror''

See also

*Cinema of Indonesia
*Folk horror

References

{{Ghosts

Indonesian films by genre