Synopsis update:
“Ronggeng Kematian” (translated to “Dance of Death”) is an Indonesian horror film scheduled for release in 2024. The film’s plot combines supernatural elements with traditional folklore, drawing inspiration from the country’s culture. It follows four former medical interns—Adit, Ricky, Yudi, and Aksan—who receive an unanticipated invitation to relive their rural internship experience seven years later, with an eerie twist.
As they approach the village, they expect a heartwarming reunion and a nostalgic collective trip down memory lane. What they encounter is far from friendly. Their reminiscence takes a dark turn, and the all-too-pleasant meet-up rapidly spirals into a living nightmare.
Little do they know the village harbors a harrowing secret. The return reawakens the spirit of Sulastri, a stunning yet tragic character and Ronggeng—a Javanese dancer. Sulastri’s life is filled with betrayal, suffering, brutal death, and explosive rage. Wrath untamed seeks vengeance on those who have wronged her, and this relentless curse sets its sights on the group of returning friends.
As the supernatural occurrences grow more vivid, the men understand that they are not merely victims of unfortunate happenstance; there is a reckoning that has been waiting for them. One by one, each man of the group recalls the decisions they want to think they were able to leave behind, especially those which haunted them during their last moments in Magunsari. Their emotional turmoil, comprised of guilt, fear, and denial, does not stay so simple, and begins to transform into something more visceral as Sulastri’s ghost “carries out justice” in increasingly terrifying fashion.
The unfolding of the plot is an elaborate mix of a mystery story, psychological horror, and serves as a patriarchal whodunit with pieces of the puzzle to Sulastri’s destiny intertwined as clues to her tragic end. Along with flashbacks accompanied by ritualistic imagery, the narrative gradually builds a case for how a single act of cowardice combined with silence creates the possibility for circumstances that cannot be undone. To endure, they must expose the truth and, turn, subject themselves to their merciless reality, and their “forgiveness”, if contextualized within their deeds, have no bounds—and do it fast lest Sulastri finish the endeavor that death could not.
Cast & Crew
Verdi Solaiman, known to Indonesia as a multifaceted actor, is the director of “Ronggeng Kematian.” This film is one of his most intense pursuits as a director where he attempts to fuse traditional Indonesian culture with modern horror cinema. The screenplay is done by Alim Sudio and it is an adaptation of Arumi E’s novel which serves as the cultural and emotional framework for the film.
The main cast includes:
Cindy Nirmala as Sulastri, a ghost and Ronggeng dancer with a tragic past that serves as the mystery of the film.
Claresta Taufan Kusumarina as Larasati, the villager and haunting figure who has her own family history.
Chicco Kurniawan as Hadi, who plays the role of Larasati’s suitor and a passive witness to the horrifying events.
Revaldo as Adit, one of the returning friends haunted by guilt and fear.
Krisjiana Baharuddin as Ricky, a skeptic in the group who tries to rationalize the supernatural.
Dito Darmawan as Yudi, whose stillness conceals sinister intentions.
Allan Dastan as Aksan, presumably the most tormented of the group, literally and metaphorically.
Elang El Gibran as Imam, a villager who knows the old ways and superstitions.
Nungki Kusumastuti as Menur portrays an old woman that connects the very old world with the modern one.
The rural silence, the corridors dimly lit by lanterns, the flora that while beautiful hides dangers, and more are all captured by the Adrian Sugiono’s cinematography which forms the visual tone of the film. The score by Yuyun Arfah and Aghi Narottama provides tension with their uniquely crafted gamelan inspired music that is combined with dread that slowly creeps into the atmosphere.
The haunting and believable landscapes echoing buried sins and forgotten legacies are crafted with striking attention to detail by Edy Wibowo in production design. The blending of realism and mythological horror is brought to life by Fikri Dayak’s makeup effects in haunting scenes with Sulastri’s ghost.
Reception and IMDb Ratings
The modest score of 5.4 out of 10 for “Ronggeng kematian” on IMDb encapsulates the mixed reviews touching upon the cultural depth, characters, and emotional undertones while highlighting the heavy reliance on found footage and lack of pacing.
Cindy Nirmala and Claresta Taufan Kusumarina stood out as the most impressive actors. Nirmala’s interpretation of Sulastri, where she blends fragility with terror, breathes life into a ghost that otherwise would have been a mere specter. Claresta’s portrayal of Larasati functions as the emotional core of the film where she narrates with sincerity and compassion.
The integration of Javanese traditional dance along with their beliefs within the context of a contemporary ghost story is, in critics’ opinions, the strongest asset for the film. It does not rely purely on jump scares or gore; rather, its source of horror stems from suppressed guilt, cultural oppression, and trauma. This distinguishes it from mainstream horror and perhaps makes it more attractive to audiences drawn to psychological horror and cultural narratives.
Critique
“Ronggeng Kematian” tells the story of recollection, obligation, and the border between the world of the living and the dead. It is an expression filled with irony and anguish when the Ronggeng dance, formerly associated with celebration and courtship, is used as a symbol of tragedy and vengeance. It encourages the audience to question what they view as ceremonial beauty and what happens when painful truths are silenced.
Director Verdi Solaiman intertwines folklore with realism seamlessly, enabling audiences to experience the emotional arc of the characters’ journey breath alongside Indonesia’s little-known customs. The film also acts as a cautionary tale about the silence and complicity of society giving birth to ghosts that haunt for decades.
Despite its shortcomings—mostly in pacing and predictability—“Ronggeng Kematian” adds to the evolving catalog of Southeast Asian horror films. It dives into the culturally distinctive Indonesian narrative, honoring the roots of lasting guilt, remorse, and paying the price for erasure.
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