Are you tired of watching horror movies with lame cinematography and nonexistent aesthetics? Ah, but horror movies aren't exactly a place for aesthetics, right? I suppose so. Still, in Kerasukan (2024), you at least get some noir-like elegance: the captivating femme fatale, the well-groomed and successful husband losing his mind over his wife, the men who lust after the female lead, and the poor kid caught in the middle of the adults' chaotic fiasco.
The movie starts off promising (at least, that's how I saw it in the first few minutes). You're left wondering what kind of ghost this movie is going to use. The set, the mood, the costume design- (almost) impeccable. Until the husband starts investigating why his wife is acting all cold and suddenly wants a divorce. From there, it all starts to muddle through your usual "folks-ghost" appearance, more of your usual black-magic tropes, sexual obsession, and some vague, unclear message about female dominance (is it? I'm not really sure). See what I mean? That's why it "muddles through" everything. Because the director and screenwriter seem completely lost on how to make this fit into Indonesian cinema. The background story is a mess, and it feels like it's trying to present some social issues--though maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Either way, no message comes through, and honestly, it's like the movie doesn't even bother to have any substance.
The movie tries to build a sense of mystery, but sinks beneath a script of pure inconsistency. It also tries to deliver suspense, but it drowns in empty pretense. By the time the credits rolled, I was left confused and, honestly, a little traumatized by what I'd just watched. All these visually pleasing sets, costumes, makeup, and editing are just a facade. A facade covering up the weak script and direction. If there's anything remotely redeeming about the direction, it's probably the actors' performances. At least they got some skilled actors who made this mess bearable to watch. Last, I also want to appreciate the singer who performed the main OST of this movie. She sang really well.
P. S. I haven't seen the original Possession (1981), so this review is based entirely on my personal thoughts after watching Kerasukan (2024).
