The Haunted Apartment: Miss K

Uh huh, "Haunted Apartment: Miss K" - more like "Haunted My Brain with Regret." Seriously, this movie is a train wreck from start to finish. The character development? Non-existent. Everyone felt like a cardboard cutout, and I couldn't care less about their fates. The synopsis promised some spooky thrills, but what I got was a confusing mess of bad decisions and even worse execution. The production and direction looked like they were done by someone's nephew with a camcorder - cheap, sloppy, and just plain ugly.

And don't even get me started on that "plot twist." It wasn't a twist; it was a slap in the face with a crafted mask made in the middle of nowhere with non-historical myth to be curious about. Completely nonsensical and ruined any shred of coherence the story *might* have had. As for the casting, yikes. It felt like they just pulled names out of a hat. No chemistry, no believable performances, just a collection of people trying to act scared and failing miserably. Save yourself the headache and skip this one. Seriously, it's not even "so bad it's good," it's just bad.

Panggonan Wingit 2: Miss K, directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, attempts to blend traditional Indonesian horror with action and local cultural elements, resulting in a film that is at once intriguing and uneven. The movie follows Alma and her sister Mia, who move to Surabaya after their mother's death, only to discover that the sixth floor of their apartment building is ominously sealed off. When forced to enter unit 610, they awaken a deadly curse that promises death within four days at sunset. This premise offers a solid foundation for suspense, yet the film struggles to maintain consistent tension.

Cinta Laura Kiehl's performance stands out, especially in the action sequences where her fighting skills inject energy and a fresh dynamic into the narrative. The integration of traditional cultural elements, such as the Malangan Mask Dance, enriches the atmosphere and grounds the supernatural aspects in local folklore, which is a welcome touch that adds depth beyond typical horror tropes. However, the pacing is uneven; the story unfolds slowly, which may frustrate viewers eager for more immediate scares. The horror itself occasionally veers into unintentionally humorous territory, particularly with the repeated invocation of "Miss K," which undercuts the menace the film tries to build.

Visually, the film boasts impressive cinematography, capturing the eerie ambiance of the haunted apartment and the surrounding locales like Surabaya and Mount Bromo. Yet, some technical aspects, like makeup effects during violent scenes, fall short of realism, with characters appearing too pristine after accidents, which diminishes the impact of the gore. The narrative focus is narrow, centering mainly on Alma and Mia, while other characters like Rayyan, Alma's boyfriend and a police officer, receive less attention and are oddly exempt from the haunting, leaving some plot threads underdeveloped.

Ultimately, Panggonan Wingit 2: Miss K is a mixed bag. It offers moments of genuine fright and cultural intrigue but is hindered by predictability, inconsistent scares, and occasional lapses in production quality. Fans of Indonesian horror and those intrigued by folklore-infused thrillers may find it worth a watch, but it falls short of being a standout in the genre.

I have indeed watched the 2023 movie "Panggonan Wingit", but have to admit that it was a bland Indonesian horror movie, yet I still opted to sit down and watch the 2024 sequel titled "Panggonan Wingit 2: Miss K" (aka "The Haunted Apartment: Miss K"), as I had the opportunity to do so here n 2025.

Writer Riheam Junianti, who also write the script for the 2023 movie "Panggonan Wingit", started the movie off quite nicely. Not even ten minutes into the movie, and the audience are treated to a very visceral mutilation. That certainly set the bar of expectation to the movie right up there. The storyline in this sequel was definitely more enjoyable and entertaining than it was in the first movie, so thumbs up to writer Riheam Junianti for that improvement. The reveal of what had actually transpired at the apartment was definitely interesting and nice writing by Riheam Junianti.

Of the entire cast ensemble, I was only familiar with actor Arifin Putra. The acting performances in the movie were good, no doubt about that.

The special effects in the movie were surprisingly good. There is some pretty visceral, bloody and gory scenes in the movie, which definitely helped to add to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

"Panggonan Wingit 2: Miss K" is definitely one of the more outstanding, enjoyable and entertaining of Indonesian horror movies in recent years.

My rating of director Guntur Soeharjanto, who also directed the 2023 movie "Panggonan Wingit", lands on a six out of ten stars.