'Jelangkung' a guilty pleasure<\/p>\n
Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When American movie director Sam Raimi made his breakthrough
\nin 1982 with Evil Dead, critics and audiences alike raved about
\nhis ability to create an extremely entertaining horror film on a
\nshoestring budget.<\/p>\n
Nobody seemed to care that he stole bits and pieces from
\nnumerous other horror films, because Evil Dead was very inventive
\nat the same time.<\/p>\n
With bigger budgets, the director proved his talents with such
\nmemorable movies as The Gift and hopes are high for his upcoming
\nfilm Spider-Man. Meanwhile, his debut movie still serves as an
\ninspiration for aspiring filmmakers around the world.<\/p>\n
Indonesian horror movie Jelangkung, which has been playing to
\nfull houses at the Studio 21 theater in Pondok Indah Mall, is not
\nas impressive as Evil Dead, but it is arguably as entertaining.<\/p>\n
With most Indonesian filmmakers today seemingly trying to
\nsatisfy their own egos by making arthouse films, it is refreshing
\nto see a movie that was actually made with the enjoyment of the
\naudience in mind.<\/p>\n
Made with tongue firmly in cheek, Jelangkung offers almost two
\nhours of enjoyable viewing. The movie never takes itself too
\nseriously, so even though there are numerous holes in the plot,
\nthe audience is willing to forget about them and go along for the
\nride.<\/p>\n
Jelangkung will remind you of numerous films that it seems to
\nbe trying to imitate. The story about three students
\ninvestigating the legend about a ghost in a small village will
\nquickly remind you of The Blair Witch Project.<\/p>\n
However, while that 1999 indie hit was able to frighten
\naudiences with unseen terror, Jelangkung succeeds in creating
\nscary ghostly images.<\/p>\n
The story begins with the three students investigating
\nbuildings in the city that are reportedly haunted. After failing
\nto find anything, they decide to go to a village where, sometime
\nin the 1940s, villagers killed a five year-old boy in a gruesome
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Why did they kill the boy? Who was he? Who knows.<\/p>\n
According to legend, the ghost of the child haunts the area.
\nAnd this time the legend turns out to be true and the three
\nstudents summon his spirit.<\/p>\n
Technically, the movie is clearly a debut effort. Shot on
\ndigital video, the camera never stops dollying, giving it the
\nlook of one of co-director Mantovani's music videos. The two
\ndirectors also make ample use of cheesy digital effects.<\/p>\n
And the acting in the film ranges from good to hilariously
\nbad. However, in the fine tradition of popcorn films, Jelangkung
\nsucceeds in making the audience scream at key moments.<\/p>\n
Some people may object to the less than satisfying quality of
\nthe picture, since even in the theater the movie is played
\ndirectly from a video projector, rather than being transferred to
\nfilm.<\/p>\n
However, the less than sharp images actually help create an
\natmosphere of fear.<\/p>\n
The movie is clearly more appealing to younger audiences,
\nwhich it seems to be targeting. They will be less critical of the
\nmovie's shortcomings as long as it gives them a few good scares.<\/p>\n
As for adults, the movie can be seen as enjoyable, mindless
\nentertainment. A truly sinful pleasure.<\/p>\n
Jelangkung **1\/2 (out of ****);
\nHorror, 102 minutes;
\nStarring Winky Wiryawan, Melanie Ariyanto, Rony Dozer, Harry
\nPantja;
\nDirected by Jose Purnomo and Rizal Mantovani;
\nA Rexinema Presentation;
\nIn Bahasa Indonesia.<\/p>",
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