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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 28.Oct.26

Ghost in the Cell
Review by Rich Cline | 3/5

dir-scr Joko Anwar
prd Tia Hasibuan
with Abimana Aryasatya, Endy Arfian, Bront Palarae, Danang Suryonegoro, Yoga Pratama, Magistus Miftah, Aming, Arswendy Bening Swara, Kiki Narendra, Morgan Oey, Lukman Sardi, Dewa Dayana
release Ina 16.Apr.26,
US/UK 30.Oct.26
26/Indonesia 1h46

BERLIN FILM FEST

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With a huge cast of characters, this gleefully violent prison movie from Indonesia comes with a freaky supernatural twist. Writer-director Joko Anwar maintains a nutty sense of humour all the way through the story, adding a snappy edge to the grisly ghostly horror, which features outrageously hideous makeup effects. And the inventive premise, as a spirit echoes the enraged person they're about to kill, gets under the skin.

At a brutal prison in Jakarta, swaggering head guard Jefry (Palarae) accepts no excuse for disobeying his strict rules, enforcing his power with a big-buckled belt. Among the prisoners, Anggoro (Aryasatya) longs to get home to his young sons, but he's continually punished for defending other inmates like recent arrival Dimas (Arfian), a timid journalist who is quickly targeted by unhinged killer Tokek (Sugandhi). Then after a horrific murder, Jefry cracks down, cutting off food, electricity and water until the killer is found. But the ghastly carnage continues, and these deaths are clearly not manmade.

Left on their own, the prisoners must solve the mystery themselves, and ghostly apparitions of the victims provide clues about who might be next, based on their angry energy. So they turn to religion and dance to calm themselves down. Shower time is a perilous place for negotiations as well as the site of one of the astonishingly gruesome murders. Disagreements lead to some enjoyably whizzy fight action, always accompanied by hilariously silly flourishes.

Performances throughout are fairly arch, playing up the comical angles even as the violence escalates. Aryasatya holds things together as a voice of reason in a sea of hotheads. Arfian's hapless Dimas rather enjoys being the key to all of this. Palarae's smirking Jefry is amusingly thuggish with his paper-thin machismo. And then there's Swara's privileged wealthy prisoner, visited by three ghosts one night.

There's a darkly playful thread relating to art running through the plot, from singing and dancing to how this malevolent spirit leaves bodies looking like macabre sculptures. But corrupt officials are the main running theme, taking knowing jabs at the nation's dodgy prison bosses and political parties. Sso these inmates believe there is no justice on the horizon, and it's in the guards' interest that the prison is divided into two warring factions. But maybe a few good people can change the course of a bad society.

themes, language, violence 28.Oct.26

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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL