Jelangkung

Lifting on the succes of others seems to be an easy thing. It can lead to succes or failure. Jelangkung is about a group of 4 young people, setting of to seek for a ghost believed to be somewhere in the forest. The ghost was living in the body of a young boy, which got killed ritualy but who's spirit seems still alive. The four young people, encounter many frightning moments, and set the spirit free which starts to haunt them. Finally they want to bring back the spirit to his grave, but it is too late.... Filmed with a handy-cam (?) the images make your eyes feel tired after the first minute, and the chosen music is not the best choice I can say. There are some exiting moments however, and the audience screams at certain times even though not much is happening. At least it is a local succes, the audience in Indonesia does NOT like Indonesian movies, but this one is a blockbuster and theaters are sold out. Playing at the same opening days like Harry Potter it may come as a surprise. My advice, if you like the Blair Witch project, go and see it, if you did not like that one, don't see this one ether.

Four college students, apparently that's what they are, share the same hobby of looking for urban ghosts, the purpose of which is never made clear throughout the film. During one of their quests, they tampers with a really mean evil spirit which in turn terrorises them. They spend the remaining length of the movie trying to get the p***ed-off demon off their back.

I had the misfortune of watching this movie on a vcd, sometime around midnight and alone..big mistake. the directors have the knack at reliving local ghosts and spooky legends, i.e. the murdered child, the handicapped nurse and they were portrayed so real that i found myself glancing to the window of my room several times, half expecting those frightening apparitions to appear. Spooky.

However, i'd have to say that's just about it. Despite some cool MTVish camerawork (the scene in which they walk into the dark abandoned building with their flashlight on and the music that goes with it), the storyline is pretty lame and the acting is even worse. the actors cannot really convey emotion and the lines were badly written..and delivered. i cant identify, let alone, root for the supposed antagonists.

There's a strong smell of 'Blair Witch Project' (the scariest horror film of all time)..especially the scenes on the wood. unfortunately the woods and the tomb in 'Jelangkung' lack the horror credibility. the tomb looks as if it was made a couple days before the shooting begin.

Nonetheless, it's scary allright. but nothing more...

This movie is surprisingly entertaining and gives a breather of fresh air from the constant cliche jumpscares. I can say its not for everybody, but definitely worth watching at least once

This is a breakthrough for Indonesia movie industry. Though it is not a very good movie in general standard, but for what it worth compare to all others Indonesia movie Jelangkung was able to breath a new life into movie making in indonesia. Looks like somebody finally realise that it take more than a knowledge of how to operate a camera to make a movie. But i have to say that the acting is trully awful,its just no excuse for casting such a unexperience (and untalented if i can say)young actors. plenty of boring and lame line. great cinematography and set design though. some of the shoot looks like it have been rip off (or inspire maybe?)from Blair witch project. It is a movie make by a combination of really talented people with people who clearly dont belong to the industry.

What ever happened if we mess with the dead? Death! That's what happening with this four young people which have a bizarre hobby to hunt these urban legend ghost . They still never met with the ghosts that they looking for, until they went to a remote village to unlock the dark secret of that village, with playing Jelangkung, a traditional ghost calling game with a medium. They think they not succeed to raised the dead, so they decided to went back home. They should do the "think again"! The evil manage to catch them up, and the terror begins!

If Japan has `Ringu' and Hong Kong has `The Eye', Indonesia has `Jelangkung'. Jelangkung is the most successful horror movies ever made in Indonesia and haunting the theaters for months.

In my point of view, `Jelangkung' is a so-so horror film. Even it manage to scare the peoples who's watched it, but technically I think the directors (Rizal Mantovani & Jose Purnomo) should need to return the movie to editing room once again. They often trapped in unneeded situations and boring conversation (that looks hard to looks scientific!). The movie even can be shorter! The audio department needs to re-record. But I must raise my hat for the cinematography by Jose Purnomo, because it looks so slick and hip and spoiling our eyes. The acting is not award worthy, but considering this is their pictorial debut, they do well to integral their self with the movie's construction.

Considering the tight budget that it had, "Jelangkung" is really a well-done film feature. Now we gain other talented directors to make the Indonesian movies more colorful. The sequel (`Tusuk Jelangkung') is going to out this year. I hope the new director (Dimas Djayadiningrat) could make it even better than this one.

5/10