Introduction
‘Spirit Doll’ is an Indonesian horror film released in 2023. The film is directed by Azhar Kinoi Lubis and written by Alim Sudio. Starring in the movie is Anya Geraldine as the character of a horror actress Dara Lazuardi who gets embroiled in a supernatural nightmare surrounding a doll that not only haunts her, but also looks like her dead daughter. The film is 86 minutes long and indulges themes of grief, obsession, betrayal and the supernatural with the rich culture of Indonesia further accentuating the narrative.
Plot Summary
Dara Lazuardi, a renowned horror actress in Indonesia is trying to turn her life around after the divorce from her husband Darius, who was cheating on her. The couple also shares a daughter Embun, whose tragic demise in an accident turned everything into chaos for Dara.
Dara filmed her latest movie titled ‘Puppet Spirits’. In the movie, she works with a doll that looks exactly like her daughter who died. After she finished filming, the same doll is sent to her house mysteriously. At first, the doll is eerie but later, she becomes convinced that the doll contains the spirit of her daughter Embun. From that point onwards, she starts menering the ich doll by feeding, bathing and taking good care of her.
Dara’s obsession of the doll turns into a nightmare as people around her, like Mbok Rossi (Dara’s housekeeper) and Rafi (a film producer), are brutally murdered. The escalating death toll only underscores the fact that there are more sinister forces at play which renders the doll no longer a product of Dara’s sadness but a vessel of something much more evil.
Characters and Performances
Anya Geraldine as Dara Lazuardi: Geraldine gave quite the gripping performance as a mother who was still trying to cope with the death of he child and slowly losing her mind. She illustrated the struggles of a woman trying to navigate the thin line between sanity and madness beautifully.
Samuel Rizal as Darius: Wanan’s ex husband under constant scrutiny for having cheated on her in the past. Rizals performance wonderfully captured the tension of having to cope with the invite of a estranged spouse into the life of an already hurting family.
Elina Joerg as Jenny: A close friend and trusted ally of darna whose agenda switches halfway through the film revealing her participation in the indescribably horrifying dark magic rituals. Joerg’s performance brought dimension to the invasion of jenny and the shocking betrayal.
Anantya Rezky as Embun: The couple’s only daughter whose death sets off the chain of events revolving around the film. Despite limited screen time, it is Rezky who places the emotional anchor through the films heart.
Themes and Symbolism
“Spirit Doll” explores multiple profound themes:
Grief and Obsession – Dara’s enduring grief over Embun’s death forces her to find comfort in the doll, illustrating her struggle to cope with the loss.
Manipulation and Betrayal- The film shows how strings of trust can be manipulated as witnessed when Jenny’s treachery deepens Dara’s descent into madness.
Supernatural Beliefs – Incorporation of Indonesian folklore and black magic show culture’s attitude towards spirits, death, and the afterlife.
Mental Health – Dara’s descent into madness serves as a critical reminder for acute issues regarding trauma and loss.
Cinematography and Direction
Azhar Kinoi Lubis uses visual techniques that amplify the haunting aesthetic of the film. Low-lighting, dusky spaces, and disturbing imagery present throughout the film serve to build dread. From the lavish yet constrictive mood set in the Dara’s home to the unwelcoming spots where the paranormal takes place, Fahmy J. Saad, the cinematographer, captures the chilling charm of the settings beautifully.
The pacing is slow to build which enhances the film’s overall suspense. Lubis achieves the perfect blend of silence and absolute terror that captures the audience’s attention and keeps them on edge throughout the film.
Critical Reception
Cinema observers and critics alike have expressed divergent opinions on Spirit Doll. Some lauded the film for its atmospheric psychological tension while others have critiqued the film for lack of originality and poor storytelling.
Positive reviews focused on Anya Geraldine’s portrayal and the film’s integration of horror elements stemming from Indonesian folklore. However, the film’s critics cited a lack of depth in character development and the use of overly simplistic plot twists.
Conclusion
The film delves into the distortion of reality by grief and the danger of unheeded trauma, albeit failing to explore the concepts in depth. Spirit Doll does not pioneer a new path in the horror genre, but the culture-infused setting along with its psychological premise make the film stand out. Anya Geraldine’s performance as a mother succumbing to grief supports the narrative, thus the film cements itself as a remarkable piece of Indonesia’s horror cinema.
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