Spotlight on Indonesian Horror

Flying heads, vengeful ghosts, sex magic and crocodile men – Indonesian horror of the 1980s is like no other, producing many ‘bad taste’ classics.

Exploring the superstitions and spirituality of Indonesia, this spotlight program dives into a cinematic genre where ancient traditions collide with modern life.

Taking inspiration from Hollywood B movies, Indonesian cinema made during the New Order era spoke to both the everyday villager and the urban businessman, attracting audiences in droves to theatres. For the first time, Indonesian audiences were seeing their own spiritual beliefs and worldviews reflected back to them from the big screen, snuck into genre films filled with sexual innuendo, violence and a whole lot of gore.

This program showcases the ingenuity of the filmmakers, highlighting imaginative special effects, striking costumes and outlandish stunts. A common theme across these films is justice served: from the Queen of the South Sea to the vampire-like Leak creature, revenge is a dish best served by a beautiful yet terrifying woman.