GRAVE TORTURE (2024) on Netflix is an Indonesian Horror Movie by Joko Anwar (org. title: Siksa Kubur). It’s deeper than most of his other movies, but also very much his style. Read our full Grave Torture movie review here!
GRAVE TORTURE (2024) is new on Netflix and is an Indonesian Horror Movie (org. title: Siksa Kubur). It comes from Joko Anwar, who is the horror master of Indonesia. Recently, he made a horror anthology for Netflix.
MORE JOKO ANWAR ON NETFLIX
With a runtime just shy of two hours (1 hour and 57 minutes), the character-driven plot is slow-burn storytelling. Yet, it’s never too slow. The ending, however, is somewhat up for interpretation, though some definitive answers are given.
Continue reading our Grave Torture movie review below. On Netflix from September 16, 2024.
The power and danger of religion
With a previous hit movie titled Satan’s Slaves, it’s fair to say that Joko Anwar does not shy away from religion. He does question how much of human nature is affected by religious beliefs though. Religion of any kind.
In Grave Torture, we meet a young girl, Sita, who questions everything. Or rather, she doesn’t question the love of family, but she has a disdain for the feat incited by religion.
This is very much based on the fact that Sita was a young teenager when she witnessed her parents die. They died of a suicide bombing in the name of religion.
A man feared the concept of “grave torture” so much that he had to become a martyr.
A mission in life
When she’s sent to an Islamic boarding school by her uncle (as is her brother), a teacher speaks of grave torture and Sita makes her opinion of it known.
Soon after this, there’s a time jump, and Sita now works as a caretaker for elderly people. She is spending her life finding the most evil person, she can. She plans to bury herself with that person when they die.
Her goal: To prove that grave torture punishment mentioned by religion does not exist.
Of course, this being a horror movie, nothing much goes according to Sita’s plan. Or rather, maybe it does but not in the way she expected.
Famous last words…
In Grave Torture there are several scenes that will likely stick with you. Some due to the brutality shown, others for the questions (and answers) given in the story. And then there’s a scene where someone utters the last words “Good luck!”
Not often are the words “Good luck” as ominous as they are in that scene.
And without spoiling anything for you, I feel it’s fair to disclose that this scene leads into the final act, which is brutal.
It may not seem too bad at first, but the final ten minutes or so are relentless. Constantly attacking your senses with violence of a diabolic nature. It reminded me of a scene in the French horror movie Pandemonium. Do check it out!
Watch Grave Torture on Netflix now!
As mentioned several times, this Indonesian psychological horror movie comes from Joko Anwar. He wrote and directed the movie and this has his fingerprints all over it. In the very best way.
The film is based on Joko Anwar’s 2012 short film of the same name. We’ve included the short film below the trailer for this feature film version.
WATCH THE SHORT FILM
Click here to watch Joko Anwar’s 2012 Grave Torture short film >
This movie stars Faradina Mufti, Reza Rahadian, Christine Hakim, and Slamet Rahardjo. Every single actor (no matter how small the role) delivers fierce performances.
You’ll even recognize some actors from previous Joko Anwar productions.
For me, the first two-thirds of it felt more like a horror drama. He clearly has a lot he wants to say about religion and the way it’s used to create fear. It’s not that he’s against religion, but he loathes when it’s used to control people.
In Siksa Kubur (the original title of this movie), I do feel Joko Anwar’s message gets a little muddled. To put it mildly. There is room for interpretation, but he does almost end up weaponizing religion – all while also criticizing this act!
What Joko Anwar usually focuses on is the fact that love can overcome and win over evil and darkness. And also horror of a supernatural kind. When we love people and fight to protect them, we can do incredible things.
Even when faced with supernatural darkness and religious oppression. And, trust me, in this movie, the characters will need something to believe in!
Grave Torture is out on Netflix from September 16, 2024.
Details
Director: Joko Anwar
Writer: Joko Anwar
Cast: Faradina Mufti, Reza Rahadian, Christine Hakim, Slamet Rahardjo, Fachry Albar, Happy Salma
Plot
When a violent act kills her parents, Sita vows to debunk the idea of supernatural torment after death — a fixation that leads her on a dark quest.
Watch the Grave Torture short film here
This short film from 2012 (which we’ve embedded below from Joko Anwar’s own YouTube channel) is a very short take on the same concept.
- World’s Most Notorious Killers – Review | Peacock - September 17, 2024
- The Shade – Movie Review (4/5) - September 17, 2024
- Grave Torture – Review | Netflix (3/5) - September 16, 2024
