Indonesian Supernatural Slasher Respati (FANTASTIC) Delivers Sufficient Thrills and Chills
Title: Respati
First Non-Festival Release: May 22, 2024 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Sidharta Tata
Writer: Ragiel JP, Ambaridzki Ramadhantyo, Sidharta Tata
Runtime: 112 Minutes
Starring: Devano Danendra, Keisya Levronka, Mikha Hernan
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2024.
After losing his parents in a car accident, Respati (Devano Danendra) struggles to sleep through his nightmares, where he watches strangers get murdered by an unseen force. When new girl Wulan (Keisya Levronka) moves into town, Respati learns from his cousin Tirta (Mikha Hernan) that she left her old school due to constant possessions. Tirta’s research also digs up that the people in Respati’s dreams are murder victims all from the same town. The trio go on a journey to stop the entity from harming another person and save themselves from its grasp too.
Stylishly directed Indonesian horror Respati brings competent supernatural scares to a familiar tale.
Indonesian horror has been hot for the last decade or so, and Respati adds to an ever-growing line of exciting titles from the country. Taking viewers on a familiar journey through the supernatural, Respati weaves a competent tale of witches and curses through a coming-of-age lens. Troubling dreams and the appearance of a similarly supernaturally gifted classmate thrusts Respati into a world where he must stop a curse that is connected to his family. From there, the story takes viewers on a spiritual quest to stop the witch from killing more people, with Respati as the chosen one to do it. Playing out like any supernatural slasher that came before it, Respati takes its time hitting the necessary beats to set up its impressive horror set pieces and sweet character moments. At no point does Respati step outside the box, but when its horror is as well-executed as it is, it gets by on charm alone.
Doubling as a coming-of-age horror, Respati leans into its sentimentality without invoking too many eye rolls. The loss of his parents hits Respati hard, leaving him vulnerable to supernatural attack as he grows into his powers. While learning to adapt to this strange new world and reality, Respati finds himself smitten with Wulan. Like many coming-of-age films, Respati must navigate challenges he feels ill-prepared for, fight for the people he loves, and finding himself along the way. Respati accomplishes this with ease, even if the film primarily uses his parent’s death as the vehicle for his sole internal challenge intertwined with the present danger of the witch.
The young performers do solid work in bringing their characters to life, even if there isn’t much support behind them. Devano Danendra is center stage with the titular role, carrying the emotional core of the film on his shoulders. The young actor is clearly capable, giving the appropriate gravity and vulnerability to Respati’s troubled character. Keisya Levronka and Mikha Hernan add enough depth to Wulan and Tirta to round out the crew nicely. The friendship dynamic feels genuine and their collective care for each other shines through in the darkest moments, complementing the film’s messaging on supporting others through trauma.
While its story is mostly fine, Respati more than makes up for it with nightmarish visuals and Hollywood caliber production elements. On brand for the type of supernatural horror Indonesia is known for, Respati has some seriously exciting nightmare sequences. When transported into the dream world, Respati is left to wander the dark forests of his mind alone while witnessing terror. With self-inflicted death being the only way to guarantee a return to the waking world, Respati gets creative with the ways in which its young warrior gets in and out of danger. The special effects work and cinematography feels straight out of Hollywood, giving Respati a polished, sleek look in all aspects.
Sure, Respati is nothing new but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a solidly entertaining jaunt into the world of nightmares. This Indonesian riff on A Nightmare on Elm Street has plenty going for it, especially for genre fans interested in international horror. Beautiful and haunting dream sequences allow the technical aspects of Respati to shine. It has enough scares to offset the familiar story beats and shallow characters making it an enjoyable enough popcorn horror film. If it sounds even remotely up your alley, plan to take a trip with Respati into the dream world once it lands a U.S. release date.
Overall Score? 7/10
