Grave Torture

Have you ever been in a group project where everyone had a good idea, but no one could agree on which one to use? That's exactly how this movie feels. While it does deliver some genuine scares (hence the bump to a 5), the overall direction is completely scattered. It feels like a college movie project gone off the rails.

This is not a 6/7-star horror movie like The Night House, A Dark Song, Session 9, Tigers Are Not Afraid, Huesera: The Bone Woman, or Lake Mungo (which I personally think deserve higher ratings, but are likely dragged down by non-horror fans). I suspect this film's rating may be inflated, possibly due to being more catered to a religious Indonesian audience.

It's worth a watch, but don't make it the main event for movie night. It's the kind of film you put on when you don't mind your friends talking during it. Or maybe the one you watch before diving into something really good.

Honestly, this movie would've worked better as an anthology. The number of different directions it tries to go in ends up being almost comedic at times.

Joko Anwar has been known to make films with notable standards like great characters, interesting premise to follow, provoking dialogues, and doses of gore here and there. Grave Torture checks all of the items, but unfortunately, it also checks Anwar's notorious trademark: a weak third act.

Anwar has always been a good storyteller. This movie is no exception. It has a bubbling mystery in every corner, asking me to guess in every scene, unrolled with witty, almost absurd, characters, to keep me on my seat along with amazing technical aspects, especially the sound design. Then, the third act comes.

It reminds me of all of his previous horror works where the plot becomes chaotic and blurred. I don't know how, but it felt really exploitative. There's not much of a story, just series of audience-engaging scenes masquerading as a climax. How is that justify all of the buildups? How is that going to answer all of the questions? Those questions keep me on my seat until suddenly, it ends.

I realized that Anwar is not responsible to make a film that I can fully understand. Maybe I am not smart enough for that. Maybe it's a trick to anticipates for possible sequel (if any). Or maybe, it's time for me to accept that Anwar's style will never going to a direction that I like. But, I think most of his climax is an easy way out for such lucrative plot development that he makes.

Then again, the climax stays in my head for two days. It does impactful.

Grave Torture was a harrowing experience for me, standing out among the many horror films I've seen. As a fan of the genre, I was drawn into the film's immersive atmosphere, which I credit largely to Joko Anwar's impressive direction. While the storyline itself isn't particularly groundbreaking-reminiscent of other films that challenge common beliefs-the execution is what sets this movie apart.

The pacing and tension were masterfully handled, keeping me engaged even when familiar plot points emerged. What truly surprised me was the ending, which took an unexpected turn, adding depth to the otherwise conventional narrative.

Faradina Mufti's portrayal of Sita was both compelling and convincing, capturing the emotional weight of her character. Equally noteworthy is Widuri Puteri, who played 'Little Sita,' laying the groundwork for the character's development.

Overall, while the story may not be entirely unique, Grave Torture excels in its execution and atmosphere, offering a chilling experience that horror fans are sure to appreciate.

Watching films is not just entertainment, but there is value that we bring home. Joko Anwar offers psychological horror, which is the time for film lovers to move up from just bland exotic horror. The cinematography and tone are perfect, the acting of all the actors is seasoned, even though some actors are debutants, the scoring is great, and the plot twist at the ending is typical Joko Anwar. The film is only 1 hour 57 minutes long, but it would take perhaps a week to discuss it.

Watching the Joko Anwar film is like reading an interactive children's novel by R. A. Montgomery. We are stimulated to think, every scene contains a clue. In fact, the ending of the film is also up to each viewer's interpretation. Joko Anwar never forces his will in any of his films.

Life after death is not a new story that has emerged around us. From the animist era (kejawen) of Semar's disappearance to the realm of virtue to the concept of heaven and hell in the religion of Abraham, we are attached to the belief to do self-moral as a form of devotion to God. Interestingly, this movie does not try to reflect on moral boundaries, but instead challenges the general concept of each belief without offending any party. From the beginning, we are brought into the movie feeling various sides of emotions and the impression of injustice for deep wounds. Leading us to be unsure of the direction of this movie. I personally did not feel a deep impact when watching this movie the first time. But realized that there was a hidden message being carried. Creating various question marks about the direction of this film. Realizing that many feel this film is good, but for me personally this film is less able to describe an explicit picture or traumatic impression in death itself. Which is the soul of the movie itself. I realized that the director (from some media interviews) did not delve into that area, from the beginning he tried to open new doors to create a space for discussion. For me, this is unacceptable because it seems selfish and will exclude ordinary viewers who don't really dig the absurdity. If I reflect on this movie, it is more suitable to be juxtaposed with films like Shutter Island (2010) or Seven (1995). But I appreciate that Jokan (as fans call him) remains consistent in bringing his world. Given that quite a lot of people are fanatical about his work. Various theories are proposed and concluded, but not many are satisfying for me. I would personally recommend this movie for anyone who wants to explore further the psychological sides of humans rather than looking for trivial fears that are widely peddled in most Indonesian films.