Oddly enough, then I actually watched "Mata Batin 2" (from 2019) before I watched this 2017 movie. Not that it really mattered much for the storyline actually, as luck would have it.
I must say that this 2017 Indonesian horror movie is somewhat better then its sequel, but not much actually. The movie starts out well enough and keeps a good pacing, but the air starts to seep out towards the ending, and it seems a little bit too chaotic and random what happens on the screen.
The acting in the movie was good, and it is always nice to see a movie where I am not familiar with the performers - well, I sort of was slightly familiar with them from the sequel.
As for the special effects, well they worked in favor of the movie, let's just say that. It is not something that will blow you away or anything, but the special effects and CGI team managed well enough.
Now, for a horror movie, then "Mata Batin" (aka "The Third Eye") wasn't really all that scary. Maybe it is for a native Indonesian, I have no idea, but for a seasoned horror veteran as myself, this was a stroll in the park.
I was very amazed with the sheer amount of thunder and lightning that seemed to take place whenever evening would fall upon the place. It was just insane. Sure, I get it that thunder and lightning helps build atmosphere and set the mood, but it was so heavily overdone in "Mata Batin" that it was just downright annoying.
The storyline is adequate. And I must say that writers Riheam Junianti, Rocky Soraya and Fajar Umbara actually managed to sidetrack me and surprise me with the ending of the movie, so that was interesting.
One thing amused me though, for some reason in "Mata Batin", then all perceived lingering spirits (or ghosts) were vengeful and angry, there wasn't a single neutral, helpful or scared spirit around - all were insane with rage and set out to do harm. Well, aside from one single girl, but hey, whatever works to build atmosphere, right?
All in all, an entertaining enough movie for what it was, however, this is hardly a movie that you'll watch more than once. Sadly, it wasn't particularly scary, but there was a good atmosphere throughout the movie.
While the 2017 "Mata Batin" movie is better than its sequel, my rating for this movie lands on a mediocre five out of ten stars.
