Sumala

The movie "Sumala" presents a fairly conventional storyline, but is still able to keep the audience's interest. Unfortunately, this storyline lacks significant surprises or plot twists, so it feels a bit flat. Perhaps because this movie is trying to explain a myth that is still prevalent in an area in Indonesia, the execution of the movie is in a flashback model. The beginning, the conflict, the climax, and the denouement are just like that.

In terms of acting, the cast actually performed quite well. Darius and Luna, as the leads, are able to bring their characters to life well. However, there is a feeling that they have not fully immersed themselves in the role, so the emotions conveyed are not maximized.

The pacing of the movie is relatively fast, following the standard of Indonesian horror movies in general. However, for viewers who like slow-burn horror like me, this pacing may feel unsatisfying.

The cinematography of this film is fairly good, although the color grading used still follows the trend of Indonesian horror films, which I don't like. However, a thumbs up for the totality of the properties used, which adds a convincing impression to the movie.

One thing that is quite annoying is the inconsistent use of language. The movie mixes Javanese and Indonesian, which I find less effective. If the goal is to be understood by all audiences in Indonesia, the movie should have used Indonesian throughout.

Overall, the movie presents a fairly predictable ending. Sumala takes revenge on everyone who has hurt her. Nonetheless, it's a satisfying ending to the story.

Just caught this in the bioskop near me... BTC cinema in pasteur. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I thoroughly enjoyed it very very much. Having been disappointed by recent movies like Siksa Kubur and Susanna, Sumala executive produced by Luna Maya was a breath of fresh air. I saw the trailer before hand and I didn't really want to go watch it. But my wife dragged me and I reluctantly comply. Boy was I entertained. Full marks for all acting and Maykala the little girl stole the thunder. Solid performance all around 👏.

While I would have preferred to see more of Satan, she was the devil's child by the way, I suspect some scenes was not included to keep the running time short. I am a fan of slasher gore films like Friday 13th and Elm Street and this movie lived up to my expectations.

So kudos to the director 👏 and producers I really enjoyed this one.

One final note, this film just lack cinematic artistic shot... such as drone establishing scenes, close ups of feets and faces. And too much music where silence is much preferred.

MORE please what is next??

This movie is a horror film inspired by a real urban legend from a village in Semarang, Indonesia. The story of Sumala has been widely discussed in local podcasts, and the village is known for its strict rule prohibiting people from going outside after Maghrib. According to witnesses, a boy was killed by Sumala while retrieving a lost ball, and his body was later found in a river. These chilling accounts have contributed to the legend's eerie reputation.

However, the film takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on the firsthand ghostly encounters reported by multiple visitors to the village, it chooses to dive into the backstory of Sumala, a narrative that may or may not be true. This decision weakens the horror aspect, as the film leans more into action-gore territory, resembling movies like *Chucky* and *Saw*, rather than delivering the eerie suspense expected from a ghost story.

One of the biggest letdowns is the acting. Darius Sinathrya, who plays the father, gives an unconvincing very poor performance, while Luna Maya, playing the mother, delivers a passable but uninspired role. The supporting cast is a mixed bag, some performances are solid, but others fall flat. Despite its tense atmosphere, the weak acting and misplaced focus on gore over mystery make the film less compelling than it could have been.

Overall, Sumala had the potential to be a gripping horror film, especially with the terrifying real-life accounts behind it. But instead of exploring the unsettling experiences of those who have visited the village of Sumala, it prioritizes an exaggerated origin story, making it feel more like an action-gore thriller than a true horror mystery.

Gave this movie a go since it was on Netflix. I had no problem with the movie if it didn't rely too much on the over-the-top gore (what is this, the Saw franchise?).

The jumpscares (if I could even call them that) weren't even that good and the overall plot progression was too straightforward, you could already tell how the story would end in the first few minutes of the gore.

The characters had nothing to offer emotionally (I couldn't even sympathize with Kumala) and were forgettable except for the titular antagonist.

The movie relied itself too much on how it was based off an urban legend and failed to expand or provide even a tidbit of twist. It tried to pass itself off as a supernatural horror but ended up becoming just a meh slasher film with a dash of demon possession.

Sumala may not bring a completely new or groundbreaking concept to the table, but it's still a very engaging watch. From the start, it knows exactly how to pull the audience in and keep the tension steady throughout. Lately, there's been a wave of Indonesian horror movies diving into the origins of different ghosts and spirits, and while that trend is getting a bit crowded, Sumala manages to stand out. It doesn't feel repetitive or dull like some others. The storytelling is tight, the atmosphere is creepy in the best way, and the emotional side of the story gives it more depth. It's clear that the filmmakers cared about the details, and that makes a big difference.