I Almost Missed This Indonesian Horror Gem

Image of a scene from Wanita Ahli Neraka

I had this Indonesian horror movie on my watchlist for the longest time after seeing people on Reddit recommend it. Like many movie lovers, I often browse popular social media platforms for movie recommendations because that’s how I end up discovering hidden gems that I would probably never come across otherwise.

Wanita Ahli Neraka is an Indonesian horror movie that blends supernatural horror with themes of religion and women’s empowerment. One thing I appreciated was that the film does not disrespect religion in any way. Instead, it highlights how faith can be a source of strength in the fight against evil, while also showing how some people misuse religion as a tool for manipulation and control, which goes against the very values that religion stands for. At its core, the movie encourages women to stand up against injustice rather than silently accept it in the name of religion.

Interestingly, Wanita Ahli Neraka doesn’t have a high IMDb rating. I didn’t read the reviews because I generally avoid doing that before watching a movie. Over the years, I’ve realized that my taste often differs from both critics and general audiences. I’ve enjoyed plenty of movies with low ratings and disliked highly rated ones. Because of that, I prefer to watch a film first and form my own opinion instead of relying solely on reviews or ratings.

The lead performances by Febby Rastanty as Farah and Oka Antara as Wahab are excellent and add emotional depth to the story. The movie also has several effective jump scares along with a few disturbing scenes, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to horror.

If you’re looking for a horror movie with strong performances, nuanced themes, and genuine scares, Wanita Ahli Neraka is worth checking out.

Wanita Ahli Neraka is currently streaming on Netflix.

When People Forget You

Memory is such a weird thing. Some people remember the tiniest details about me from years ago, while others can’t recall spending time with me ever. They have forgotten entire moments. A day out, the day we talked, the laughs we shared.

I mean, how is that even possible? How can people erase entire days?

It also leaves you with a strange sense of self-doubt. Did you not make enough of an impression to be remembered?

A school friend, whom I reconnected with years later, couldn’t remember that we had spoken over the phone before. He was under the impression we had never talked. Another friend couldn’t recollect attending a wedding with me, which was actually the place where we first met. Even today, he acts as though we’ve never met. A few days ago, another friend, this time a woman, said she doesn’t remember going to a movie with me. It wasn’t just a quick outing. The entire day revolved around that one activity, so it was mind-boggling to realize that the memory had completely disappeared from her mind.

And then there are people like my niece, who can remember things from years ago with surprising clarity. Every time she brings up something I had completely forgotten, I’m both amazed and happy.

I guess this just proves that human memory is a fickle thing. It isn’t the perfect record of our lives that we often assume it is. So how can we depend on memory alone to define our current relationships or friendships and the moments that mattered?

Maybe someone, somewhere, did something incredibly kind for you, but you’ve completely forgotten it. Over time, you start believing they were never there for you because the memory no longer exists. You convince yourself there were no meaningful moments together, when in reality, they simply faded away.

Sometimes, forgotten memories say more about how the mind works than they do about the people involved.

It’s kind of scary, isn’t it? How hard do we have to try to hold on to the good memories? To make sure time doesn’t play the villain and quietly erases them for good.

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Photo by Baro

This Netflix Romance Took Me Back to the 90s

As a fan of 90s romance movies, I often feel that many modern love stories just don’t have the same warmth. They tend to focus more on physical attraction and glamour, while the emotional connection takes a back seat. After watching many newer English romantic movies, I usually find myself switching back to a Korean drama because that’s where I still find storytelling that caters to my old soul.

It’s exactly why I was skeptical before starting Voicemails for Isabelle on Netflix. I wasn’t sure if I would connect with the characters or the story. Thankfully, the movie proved me wrong within the first 15 minutes.

Watching it felt like stepping back into the 90s. The story unfolded naturally, the emotional moments felt genuine, and the chemistry between the characters never seemed forced. My favourite part was the relationship between the siblings. It reminded me so much of my own elder sister and the bond we share.

Zoey Deutch shines as Jill and easily becomes the heart of the film. Nick Robinson also delivers a wonderful performance as Wes. Together, they share the kind of chemistry that makes you forget you’re watching actors on screen.

If you’ve been searching for a heartwarming romantic movie that captures the charm of 90s love stories, Voicemails for Isabelle is well worth watching. It’s emotional, sincere, and beautifully acted. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tearing up more than once (but in a good way).

Voicemails for Isabelle is currently streaming on Netflix.

The Hidden Meaning Behind Beef Season 2’s Ending

A friend had recommended Beef Season 1 to me. But when I started watching, Beef Season 2 automatically played, and I didn’t realize it until much later. By then, I was already invested in the story, so I just continued watching.

And honestly, I liked it.

At its core, Beef Season 2 feels like a commentary on human greed and our constant desire for more. Almost every character is flawed, driven by personal ambition, self-interest, or the need to protect what they have. Nobody is entirely good or bad, which makes the series closer to life.

One of the standout moments for me was a powerful dialogue by Chairwoman Park about relationships in the age of capitalism. It was one of those scenes that makes you pause and think. The show is filled with similar thought-provoking conversations that explore status, wealth, ambition, and the choices people make in search of success.

It’s worth a watch. Streaming on Netflix.

SPOILER ALERT: Stop reading here if you plan to watch the series.

The ending featured a wheel, which immediately caught my attention. Curious, I looked it up and discovered that it represents the Buddhist Wheel of Life, or Samsara.

In Buddhism, the wheel symbolizes the endless cycle of human existence, where desires, attachments, and actions keep people trapped in repeating patterns.

The wheel depicts how the younger generation eventually slips into the same status-driven lifestyle they once criticized. Despite judging the choices of those before them, they end up chasing many of the same things. It reinforces the idea that while the players may change, the cycle of ambition, compromise, and betrayal continues.

In that sense, the ending of Beef Season 2 suggests that human nature remains remarkably consistent, no matter how much the world changes around it.

When Missing Someone Hits Out of Nowhere

One of the most romantic delusions I have ever come across is the idea that when you suddenly feel overwhelmed with emotions because you miss someone, it’s because they are missing you too. Some people even extend this belief to loved ones who have passed away, saying their energy is reaching out because they miss you.

It goes against every scientific explanation I know, yet there is something comforting about believing it. Sometimes, when a wave of grief or longing hits without warning, you are not looking for logic. You are simply looking for a reason that helps your heart make sense of what it is feeling.

Over the past few years, there have been many moments when I have found myself unexpectedly emotional while thinking about my father. It often happens out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s triggered by a quote about a father’s love. Sometimes it’s just a random thought that appears during an ordinary day. The strange thing is that it isn’t consistent. There are days when I can think about him and smile. Then there are days when the emotions become too much, and tears arrive before I can stop them.

In those moments, I find myself wondering: is this his way of letting me know that he misses me too?

I like to believe it is.

I treat dreams about him the same way. Whenever he appears in a dream, I see it as a small sign, a quiet reminder that the bond we shared still exists somewhere beyond memory.

It sometimes happens while thinking about friends who are no longer part of your life as well.

Maybe these are just coping mechanisms. Maybe they are the natural ways our minds process grief and emotional loss. Maybe hormones, memories, and nostalgia are working together to create meaning where none exists. But if a belief brings comfort without harming anyone, why rush to take it apart?

When you are grieving or missing someone you love, facts are not always enough. Science may explain what is happening in your mind, but comfort speaks to the heart. And sometimes, comfort is all you need.

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Photo by Andrew Neel

Off Campus: The Friendship Was the Real Love Story

I started watching Off Campus because of all the social media hype surrounding the series. It took me almost two weeks to finish it, but honestly, that is how I watch almost every show these days.

In fact, it is not limited to web series alone. I often break movies into 30-minute sessions and watch them over several days like a series. I used to think it was because my attention span had become shorter. But then I watched both parts of Dhurandhar, which were over three hours each, in the theatre without feeling bored for a second. That made me realize the issue probably is not my attention span. The story simply has to hook me enough.

Anyway, back to Off Campus.

One thing I appreciated about this Amazon Prime series is that it fully embraces the campus drama setting and focuses on the lives of young adults. That said, I found it a little difficult to relate to the “college student” aspect because most of the cast looked quite grown-up and remarkably sorted out for their age.

As someone who belongs firmly to the K-drama enthusiast camp, I also struggled a bit with how physical the relationships felt compared to the emotional depth I am used to seeing in Korean dramas. The show does explore trauma, vulnerability, and personal growth, but it never quite reaches the level of empathy and layered storytelling that many K-dramas excel at. Because of that, the series did not emotionally move me as much as I expected.

At the same time, I completely understand why Off Campus has resonated with younger audiences. Beneath the romance, it talks about important themes like dealing with complicated feelings, open communication, consent, emotional support, and empathy. These may sound basic, but they are often easier said than done.

Personally, I enjoyed the friendship between Hannah and Allie even more than some of the main romantic storylines. The scene where Hannah finally chooses to share her story with Allie was an absolute tearjerker for me. Truly, blessed are those who have a friend like that in their lives.

I also found Allie’s romantic arc far more nuanced and interesting. She desperately wants to prove she can be alone without using relationships as a crutch and, in the process, makes some questionable decisions. Honestly, that felt very relatable because most of us have done our fair share of nonsense while trying to convince ourselves we have everything figured out.

Her confusion is what makes the storyline compelling. She has a partner who is not a bad person by any measure, but he is not quite the right person for her either. That grey area, where nobody is necessarily wrong yet things still do not feel right, makes for a much more engaging relationship story. Mika Abdalla aces the role. Her resemblance to the Indian actress, Mahima Chaudhry, is also uncanny.

For me, the overall vibe of Off Campus felt like a blend of 13 Reasons Why and Beartown. Because of that, it did not feel particularly fresh or groundbreaking. A quick Google search tells me that the Off Campus books were published around the same period as Beartown, and some even earlier. Still, my point is simply that the storyline felt familiar to me.

Overall, I think Off Campus is a decent one-time watch if you enjoy young adult romance. It may not have offered anything entirely new, but it was engaging enough to keep me watching.

Off Campus is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.