Jalan Pulang

I don't know what film these people who give this movie more than 4 stars, we must've watched a different movie. Because this thing, this is the ultimate dumpster level of a film. This movie is nothing more but a slugfest of jump scare. And there is not a single good jump scare too, awful awful execution. It was extremely dark as well, God I cannot stressed enough how dark the film is. I get that it is a horror movie but Jesus... a little more darker and we would have total darkness in the studio. There is not a single thing good from this movie. The only thing stood up is the acting, top notch acting from the casts, shout out to Saskia Chadwick, great performance. But overall shallow unfinished mess of a film.

I would write a longer review but why bother, even remembering I took a time to watch this trainwreck just infuriating.

Jalan Pulang tells the story of a mother's struggle to cure her child from an illness that brings her closer to 'death' every time her birthday comes. Personally, I'm really intrigued by how Jalan Pulang explores various traditional rituals from different regions to fight off the terror of the ghost, Marsinah. Four different rituals crazy. The 3 Raru Horror label feels totally justified. Luna Maya delivers a solid performance as Lastini, and so does Taskya Namya. Meanwhile, Shareefa Daanish successfully comes off as truly creepy. The jump scares aren't excessive, but they're intense. What hits the hardest, though, is the mother's feeling of desperation it makes the horror feel much more human.

The plot of the film is easy to guess. Too many jumpskare. Not so interesting in my personal opinion who has watched many films of the same genre. The ending is also too annoying, especially in the main character, really boring. Luna maya as a mother actually looks very selfish and does not care about her other children. Many scenes look too forced to be done when they are not necessary. Many parts of the shooting are also not right, so it doesn't look natural. From the beginning to the end all I saw was crying and crying, instead of looking for a solution they were just making drama. In the future maybe it can be better.

Jalan Pulang is a culturally rich horror debut that lowkey surprised me ig. Jeropoint, known for his storytelling online, proves he's got a solid grip on narrative structure and emotional layering. The character arum hits deep, no cap, n the decision to cast Taskya in a non-lead role paid off big time. Saskia literally ate and left no crumbs, especially with strong support from three a list actors that carried the emotional weight like pros.

What makes this film stand out is its unique fusion of Indonesian rituals and folklore, some of which I had zero clue existed. It adds a layer of authenticity that's super refreshing in a genre often dominated by western tropes. Some scenes are full on disturbing like, make u queasy level, and visually it kind of channels the medium.

In my opinion, Jalan Pulang deserves a solid 9/10 because it has a distinct horror style that goes beyond cheap jump scares or typical ghost stories. From the very beginning, the eerie atmosphere is palpable especially when the story leads into the home of a Balinese shaman, which radiates a deeply haunting vibe. One of the film's biggest strengths lies in its bold use of GORE elements, like a severed finger or a chilling scene of a Balinese dancer dying in a gruesome state. These moments are graphic yet still hold a sense of artistry. The story isn't shallow either; beneath the terror and brutal visuals lies a deeper message about old wounds, guilt, and the journey to return both physically and emotionally. The film dares to blend cultural horror with emotional conflict, making the audience not just scared, but also reflective. There's a slight downside in the lighting some scenes are too dark, which can make it hard to catch important details. But beyond that, this is easily one of the most solid and memorable local horror films I've ever seen. Definitely worth watching in theaters, especially if you're into horror that dares to be different and carries meaning beneath the fear.