Tag: Scary movies

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.

Horror Movie Spotlight: Diés Iraé

Dies Irae Movie Poster

Like many, I found the movie’s name, Diés Iraé, tricky to pronounce. I’m quite sure I’m still saying it wrong. But the offbeat name adds to its charm. For those who don’t know, Diés Iraé is Latin for “Day of Wrath.” It’s a term from Christian theology referring to the day when souls are judged.

The first time I heard about Diés Iraé was when I went to watch Lokah. The trailer of the movie immediately captured my attention. The execution looked stylish, and Pranav Mohanlal looked good. I knew then that I had to watch this movie in a theatre.

What’s It About?

A young, wealthy man who lives life to the fullest begins experiencing strange supernatural events in his home after visiting the house of an ex-fling who was found dead in a well. The restless spirit haunting him seems furious for unknown reasons and determined to destroy his life.

Thoughts

Since Diés Iraé is a horror film, only adults were allowed inside the theatre. An ID card was required. The theatre I went to was almost empty, which I actually didn’t mind. It meant no one was around to make unwanted comments or jokes. This has become a real problem in many Kerala theatres. I faced this issue when I went to watch Bramayugam. I hope the film industry or theatre authorities take strict action against such behavior. If they want to attract more viewers, they must ensure a respectful environment. Otherwise, serious movie lovers will simply wait for the OTT release and enjoy the film peacefully at home.

Getting back to Diés Iraé, I wouldn’t call it mind-blowing. The special effects were impressive, though. Nothing looked fake or unintentionally funny. Pranav Mohanlal delivered a decent performance, and he looked great on screen, which helped balance out a few of his less convincing moments.

There are a few jump scares, so be prepared for that.

Overall, the story felt average. If you’ve seen a lot of horror films, this one might not surprise or scare you much. Still, the execution was solid, and the fact that a film of this scale and quality came from Kerala is definitely something to be proud of.

The creepiest part was seeing the line “inspired by true events.” I didn’t dare look up what those events were. Some things are better left unresearched if you want to sleep peacefully at night.

I would say Diés Iraé is a good one-time watch. At under two hours, it’s a quick and engaging film that keeps you entertained throughout.