Depth of Character and Social Reflection: A Creative Analysis of Joko Anwar's 'Ghost in the Cell'

Director Joko Anwar is making waves in the film industry once again with his 12th film, ‘Ghost in the Cell’, produced in collaboration with Come And See Pictures.

During a press conference for the trailer launch in Jakarta on Monday (February 23rd), Joko explained that this film is more than just a typical horror film; it’s an exploration of deeply developed characters.

One of the most notable aspects of this production process is Joko’s dedication to building the background of each character. He revealed that he wrote very detailed life stories for each actor, even though there are dozens of them.

“In our film, if there are 40 characters, then I create something like this for all 40 of them. From when they were born, when they were educated… their lives are all complete. Their internal fears, everything. I even wrote letters that they would write to their mothers. Even though it’s not in the film, it helps them understand their characters,” said Joko.

This method has proven effective in humanizing characters that are often seen as one-dimensional.

Joko cited the character of Tokek, played by Aming, as an example. Although viewers might label him as a villain, the character has strong roots in trauma.

“Even though he is considered an evil character, he is a complete character. He has experienced trauma, for example. So when he does something like that, he doesn’t have the intention to be evil,” he explained.

Another unique aspect of the production of ‘Ghost in the Cell’ is the involvement of the technical crew in front of the camera.

For example, renowned cinematographer Ical Tanjung was cast as a high-ranking official. In addition, Tony Merle, the person behind the song ‘The Rising Man’ which is featured in the film’s soundtrack, also participated as an actor.

This habit of involving the crew is also reflected in the creation of the video storyboard. Joko produced two versions of the preview video: one starring the main actors, and another starring the crew, who had already memorized all the dialogue in the script.

Regarding the choice of the horror-comedy genre, Joko has an interesting sociological perspective. He believes that laughter is often a defense mechanism for Indonesian society when facing pressure.

“Comedy here actually sharpens the tension. Because in Indonesia, tension and laughter are actually one package. We often, when we are having a hard time, laugh first. We laugh a lot when we are nervous. For example, when we are reprimanded, when the police stop us during a raid, we smile. So here it shows that comedy sharpens the tension,” Joko explained.

For Joko, horror is a universal language that can unite Indonesia’s diverse ethnic groups. He believes that this genre is very effective in conveying important messages, including reflections on social conditions and injustice, without seeming preachy.

After ‘Ghost in the Cell’ is scheduled to be released on April 16th, Joko Anwar revealed that he is developing a future project in the romance genre titled ‘The Charms of Broken Things’. (Ant/Z-1)