Danur (translated to “I Can See Ghosts”), the Indonesian horror film that managed to spook its way into becoming the highest-grossing horror movie in the country, has officially earned a place in the ranks of horror cinema. And let me tell you, this movie’s got it all—ghosts, creepy kids, a tree that seems to be involved in far too many rituals, and a level of spookiness that will make you question whether it’s the supernatural that’s unsettling or just the overwhelming weirdness of Danur itself. But hey, sometimes it’s the weirdness that makes the ride worthwhile, right?
Plot: A Friendly Ghost Story with the Family
So, the movie opens on the ever-charming life of Risa Saraswati, who as a child seems to be the poster child for “broken home” isolation. It’s not just that her parents are absentee—nope, it’s also her inability to make human friends. Enter the world of the supernatural, where Risa—like any sane eight-year-old—begins to make pals with a bunch of ghosts, including a group of Dutch-speaking children who tragically died during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. These aren’t your typical I-see-dead-people ghosts, no sir. These little ghost kids, who mostly just hang around singing Sundanese songs and causing Risa some serious psychological distress, come with the kind of baggage that’d make The Sixth Sense kid look like he’s on vacation in a theme park.
Risa’s first reaction to this new gaggle of ghostly buddies? “What’s the worst that could happen?” And by the way, if you think “kids being haunted by ghosts” is some kind of cliche… well, you’re right, but somehow it still works. The “Boneka Abdi” (Sundanese for “My Doll”) song becomes the ultimate ghost call—a little like a ringtone, but for spirits with questionable taste in music.
Years later, Risa—now all grown up and played by the equally charming Prilly Latuconsina—returns to her childhood home. No big deal, right? I mean, the house has been practically empty for nearly a decade, and hey, it’s just a house with a creepy tree and a bunch of unresolved ghost issues. What could go wrong? Well, just a mild haunting involving a supernatural kidnapper, a vengeful ghost, and an overbearing, maleficent spirit with a penchant for bathtub drownings. So totally normal.
The creepiness level amps up when Risa’s little sister, Riri, decides to play near the cursed ficus tree (because, of course, there’s a tree), and all hell breaks loose. Risa soon finds herself locked in an epic battle against Asih, a vengeful spirit who has somehow mastered the art of kidnapping children—well, isn’t that charming? Asih’s backstory involves a tragic suicide after murdering her own baby. You’d think this would lead to some serious emotional reflection, but nope—she’s more interested in filling that maternal void by hunting down other children.
Risa’s gotta save her sister from this ghostly maternal chaos, and by doing so, she delves deeper into the “spiritual realm.” No spoilers here, but let’s just say things get weird. Think The Conjuring meets Midsommar meets… your weird aunt’s house—filled with both love and just an uncomfortable amount of creepy energy.
The Cast: Ghost Friends and Unwanted Drama
First of all, can we talk about the children ghosts for a minute? These little spirits may be creepy as all get-out, but Peter, Jantje, and William manage to add some much-needed levity. And by levity, I mean they pretty much just stand there with that expression that says, “We’re here to help… or destroy you.” Honestly, it’s a toss-up.
Prilly Latuconsina’s portrayal of Risa is convincing, though if she were a real kid, I’d probably ask her if she was okay—just… you know, checking. She’s good, don’t get me wrong, but her journey from scared to empowered happens with so many ghost-induced breaks from reality that you wonder if she has time to actually reflect on anything at all. I mean, after several ghostly incidents and dealing with her extremely meddlesome, not-at-all-trustworthy family, the girl deserves a vacation.
And then there’s Asih, played by Shareefa Daanish, who’s the sort of ghost who would put The Grudge on a dinner plate and call it a snack. The performance works in the sense that Asih feels unsettling enough, but the backstory—while tragic—feels like it’s giving a lot of weight to a character who spends most of her time terrifying children in bathtubs. I can’t decide if it’s tragic or just a weirdly convoluted revenge plot. Either way, someone in this family needs to call child protective services… or at least, ghost protective services.
Scares: Ghosts with a Side of Bad Parenting
There’s no shortage of spooky moments here, let’s be clear about that. The best way to describe the horror in Danur is “hauntingly atmospheric” with a healthy dose of pure dread and a sprinkling of existential questions about whether or not you should buy a cursed house with a haunted ficus tree. There’s one point in the movie where you’ll find yourself wondering, “Am I scared, or am I just regretting the idea of ever coming to this family reunion?” The movie delivers on that.
But let’s talk about the really scary thing here: the parents. Risa’s mother Elly may be physically absent but spiritually (or lack thereof), she’s a ghost of another kind, constantly making you wish you could have the ghosts in this movie raise your child. After all, the ghosts have more time for their kids and maybe fewer issues with avoiding their parenting responsibilities. Talk about a dark twist.
Ending: Is It Over Yet?
Without giving too much away (you know, because we don’t want to ruin the twists in a movie like this), let’s just say that the ending, like all good horror, leaves you with more questions than answers. Is it a happy ending? Well, as happy as it gets when your kid has nearly been drowned by a ghost mother, you’ve had an emotional breakdown, and your whole family is, well… deeply involved in supernatural mayhem.
And the cherry on top of the eerie sundae? The final shot, which hints that the haunting may not be over yet. (Because who doesn’t love a good to be continued when you least expect it?)
Final Thoughts: A Spooky Family Affair
In the end, Danur is as much a creepy family drama as it is a supernatural horror movie. It combines just the right amount of creepy kids, ghostly revenge, and dysfunctional family dynamics to make you wonder if ghosts might actually be the better option. Despite the long-running history of the genre and some oddball moments, this movie gets under your skin in all the right ways. It’s not revolutionary, but for fans of Indonesian horror, it’s a solid ride. So sit back, relax (if you can), and enjoy the ride—just don’t get too attached to the ficus tree.
