Movies
Stamboel certainly didn't take the easy way out by combining horror and fantasy elements, but the risk paid off. DreadOut reminded me a little of The Pang's Re-Cycle, a film with a similar setup that also had a tougher time finding an appreciative audience. While Stamboel's film doesn't reach quite the same heights, fans of the more fantastical horror films should give this one a go. There are some creepy designs, imaginative setups, interesting lore and some inspired horror moments. The cast can be a little iffy and the film's just a smidgen too long, but people looking for horror that doesn't necessarily serve familiar scares will find at least something with the potential to surprise. Another good effort by Stamboel. Read all
The Mo Brothers are back in full force, except they're both doing their own thing now. Kimo Stamboel released no less than two horror films in 2019, this loose remake of an Indonesian cult classic (by the same name) being one of them. I haven't seen the original, but this remake was a pretty fun ride. The story is nothing special. Three families gather at their old orphanage as their caretaker is about to die. It doesn't take long before strange things start happening, which are of course tied to some tragic events that happened in the past. Once the story is set up, Kimo's focus shifts to delivering some actual horror. Performances are somewhat mediocre and the first half is a bit slow, the drama in particular isn't all that interesting. Luckily the horror bits are pretty tasty. The gore isn't over the top, but the haunts and kills are surprisingly nasty. When it comes to more overt horror there's been a bit of a drought recently, so it was nice to see blood, guts and creepy crawlers returning to the forefront again. Good fun.Read all
Stamboel sticking to his guns. Ivanna is a pretty standard Indonesian horror flick, the kind Stamboel has been involved with since the very beginning of his career. While there are some interesting moments and memorable details (especially for people with a Dutch background), it was maybe a bit too expected to make a real impact. The build-up is a little slow and the scares aren't all that original. If you've seen a few of these Indonesian horror films, you probably know what to expect. The horror bits are properly executed though, and once the haunt starts things do pick up. Not Stamboel's best, but a pleasant horror film nonetheless.Read all
