Temurun – Movie Review | Netflix (3/5)

TEMURUN on Netflix is an Indonesian horror movie. And it’s a good one! So, if you’re interested in or intrigued by Asian horror productions, you should check it out. Read our full Temurun horror movie review here!

TEMURUN (2024) is a new horror movie on Netflix from Indonesia. Even if you don’t normally go for Indonesian horror movies, I would recommend giving this one a shot. Actually, I’d also recommend watching pretty much anything by Joko Anwar.

Still, this new Netflix addition features one of the most universal horror stories, I’ve experienced when watching horror from Indonesia. Also, the runtime is just 1 hour and 25 minutes, so it’s not a slow-burn experience or anything that drags out.

Continue reading our Temrun movie review below. Find it on Netflix from October 10, 2024.

Sorrow, confusion, and a devious plan

In Temurun, we meet a brother and sister just before their mother dies. We get to experience how their mother appears to be sick and paranoid but otherwise seems in good physical shape.

Some very brutal thugs break in and end up killing the mother. Once this happens, the estranged father of the siblings shows up. He hasn’t been in their lives for a long time, but clearly loves his children.

They follow him to the house of their paternal grandmother where they are invited to live. Or, well, “house” is an understatement. It’s an actual mansion and Grandma is in charge of a big business, which she wants her granddaughter to take over.

In this family, the matriarch is always in charge of the business. However, they will soon learn that the family’s heritage has a sinister edge.

An Indonesian horror movie without religion

What I enjoyed most about this Indonesian horror movie was how it never mentioned religion. If you’ve watched a few horror movies from Indonesia, you’ll realize there’s often an element of religion. Not that this makes them bad.

I mean, one of my favorite horror movies from Indonesia is Joko Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves. Actually, that movie is high on my list of all horror movies, regardless of origin.

Anyway, it’s just that it seems like virtually every single horror movie has some religious element. Even the latest Joko Anwar horror movie Grave Torture had a heavy religious plot. More than any of his previous ones as it was about one element from one religious book.

Temurun still has a supernatural element, but we’re more into a universal kind of paranormal element. One that could be described as a cult maybe, but not of any specific religious origin.

Watch Temurun on Netflix

The director of Temurun is Inarah Syarafina and the screenplay comes from writer Vontian Suwandi. Just like I’m always keeping my eye out for anything by Joko Anwar, I will definitely be checking out whatever either of these two do next.

I like the style and pace choice by Inarah Syarafine, and the overall story and character from Vontian Suwandi worked wonderfully for this story.

The casting was spot-on for this horror movie. Yasamin Jasem was strong as the main protagonist, Dewi, with Bryan Domani and Karina Suwandhi as her brother and mother, respectively. Also, Kiki Narendra (Borderless Fog) played a key role with Jajang C. Noer, Banyu Bening, and Mian Tiara rounding out the core cast.

I have to highlight Mian Tiara because you might have seen her in Grave Torture or Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams. She always reminds me of Regina King. A lot! Maybe even more so in Temurun, where she plays a key part in how the plot evolves.

Temurun is out on Netflix from October 10, 2024.

Details

Director: Inarah Syarafina
Writer: Vontian Suwandi
Stars: Yasamin Jasem, Bryan Domani, Karina Suwandhi, Kiki Narendra, Jajang C. Noer, Mian Tiara, Banyu Bening