Summary
“Ronggeng kematian” or in English “Dance of Death”, is an Indonesian supernatural horror-thriller film expected to be released in 2024. It is deeply rooted in supernatural folklore fused with mystery and psychological elements. The film portrays a haunting tale of retribution, culture, tradition, and the guilt human beings bear. Directed by Verdi Solaiman in his directorial debut, the film is based off the novel Ronggeng Pembalasan Sulastri by Arumi E and Sukhdev Singh.
The plot revolves around four former university students; Adit, Ricky and Akhsan, who twelve years ago participated in community service (KKN) at an isolated village called Mangunsari. They are, however, mysteriously summoned by the village elders seven years later under the assumption that they are coming back to honor their past efforts. But what starts as a heartwarming nostalgic summons gradually turns into a nightmare.
The village conceals an unspeakable past. During a KKN service, one of the most respected ronggeng dancers, Sulastri, vanished under dubious circumstances. What they do not know is Sulastri’s spirit has been waiting fueled by banishment, unjust treatment, and despair. Betrayal fuels the woman’s rage. She unravels her vengeance by the men beginning to experience terrifying fears and visions of the ghostly realms, childlike silence, and dreadful dread which climaxes in a chilling supernatural showdown.
As the story moves forward, it becomes apparent that the past is never easy to get rid of, and Mangunsari is a location where custom and reprisal coexist. The men must absolve not only the sight of Sulastri but the blackness that lies deep within themselves through flashbacks and phantom reminiscences.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast:
Cindy Nirmala as Sulastri: The ronggeng dancer whose poignant tale is the center of the movie.
Claresta Taufan as Larasati: The villager who helps to bring the truth to light.
Chicco Kurniawan as Hadi: A sterile character whose indifference brings him to the center of the enigma.
Revaldo as Adit: One of KKN’s pioneer students. Now, a successful man, but his past still troubles him.
Krisjiana Baharudin as Ricky
Dito Darmawan as Yudi
Allan Dastan as Akhsan
Nungki Kusumastuti as Menur: A village elder bound to traditional values.
Agus Wibowo, Patty Angelica sandya, Gabriella Desta, Elang El Gibran, and Hans de Kraker complete the impressive supporting cast.
Crew:
Director: Verdi Solaiman
Writers: Sukhdev Singh, Alim Sudio
Cinematography: Adrian Sugiono
Music: Yuyun Arfah and Aghi Narottama
Editors: Muhammad Rizal and Firdauzi Trizkiyanto
Production Companies: Clock Work Films, MD Pictures
Like many horror films, this one depends on a bleak atmosphere, silence or near-silence, and horror restraint techniques to facilitate building tension. The cinematography of Adrian Sugiono captures the natural and supernatural wonders of Mangunsari village in rural Java, where the beauty of Mangunsari is nostalgic yet horrifying, and the village itself is nostalgic yet nightmarish.
Critical Reception
In the case of Indonesian horror cinema, “Ronggeng Kematian” has had a mixed-to-positive reception, both from audiences and critics. Viewers praise atmospheric storytelling and cultural appreciation where, in this case, the ronggeng—a female performed Javanese traditional dance mostly associated with spiritual and ritualistic themes—adds significant value to the plot.
It is noted that the filmmakers make good use of the absence of jump scares and rely on psychological horror instead, which is much more effective. As the story unfolds at a slow burn pace, the characters tend to be more developed which makes the horror moments much more impactful. The incorporation of traditional dance and music as a storytelling medium enriches the blend of cultural suspense and authenticity.
Defendants of the film claimed that the pacing could be improved. While some individuals praised the film for its contemplative nature, some viewers pointed out that the film needed faster pacing in order to gain traction. Although the final act was performed strongly, many felt the “climenatic” release was lacking.
“Ronggeng Kematian” is not simply a horror film; it is a careful exploration of Sulastri’s supernatural battles with the ghosts of her memories, depicting the potent violence of misremembered histories and the haunting revelries of nostalgia’s painful stranglehold on the present. Ghosts of wrongs that cannot be forgiven grievously shape one’s existence. The harmonic embodiment of this violence is Sulastri’s ghost. Transforming into a ghost enables the oppressed to embrace the unshackling freedom devoided s from the bindings of social expectation. Her position as a ronggeng is crucial: it is this role that put women in the junction of authority, sexuality, and culture.
This film start a number of silent much broader issues about how societies cope with secrets and feelings of shame, especially when hidden figures are women. There are unmasking truths for the sake of social peace devoid of expression or disguise. The film seeks to show the beauty of Sulastri’s dance and the inappropriate admixture of sacredness and vengeance that shatters femininity’s pristine world.
The supernatural focus Mangunsari has is set against the backdrop of traditional, spiritually charged, and isolated villages. The villagers struggle with their history, torn between the need to preserve customs and bearing the weight of wrongdoing. While critical, the supernatural features do not eclipse the poignant human story of the film.
The film reignited unanswered questions around the Indonesia tragedy and revenge arc, as well as grief and cultural identity. This speaks to the uniquely philosophical turbulence of society young filmmakers are now more willing to address through genre films.
Conclusion
“Ronggeng Kematian,” primary horror focus challenge, slows its pacing to dissect moral issues plunged as ghosts bound to remember. Creates space riddled with symbolism while exploring culture, unearths morality slips when justice is absent, and suffocates with violence.
Inhabitants of the world merry mingling towards basal thrills of shallow terror and neoteric jumps and indulgent violence may walk in the wrong “Ronggeng Kematian” the simply put horror box . But, if one maunders willingly with a heart laden, and mind capsuled with grief and lore, a journey through the whispers of bygone holders of indelible memories always awaits.
Within the expanding collection of Southeast Asian horror, this film is particularly distinctive for its intricate weave of folklore, tension, and psychological complexity, giving a promising first directorial outing to Verdi Solaiman and marking Indonesia’s emergence as a powerhouse in the world of horror cinema.
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