Trinil – Netflix Review (2/5)

TRINIL on Netflix is an Indonesian ghost horror movie with the full title of Trinil: Kembalikan Tubuhku. Some CGI is used, but a lot of practical effects also come into play. I definitely prefer the latter for this one. Read our full Trinil movie review here!

TRINIL is a new Netflix horror movie addition. This one is an Indonesian horror movie and the full original title is Trinil: Kembalikan Tubuhku. This can be translated to “Give Me Back My Body” which is something a ghost head keeps saying. Yes, ghost head, as in a ghost that consists only of its head and wants to find its body.

The actual story is based on a 1980s radio play which was popular in the 80s. However, this film is set in the 70s. With a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes, it’s too long. Not in any extreme way, but it could’ve improved with some scenes cut and better pacing.

Continue reading our Trinil movie review below. Find it on Netflix from May 9, 2024.

From honeymoon to home horror

In Trinill, we meet Rara and Sutan as they arrive back home after their honeymoon. Now, Rara and Sutan are clearly ready to start a new life, and they have plenty going for them. Rara is the sole heir of the largest tea plantation in Central Java. Not a bad thing for a young woman in the 1970s.

Her new husband, Sutan, returns to being a nurse at the hospital. And yes, obviously, this is one heck of a role reversal compared to what most would expect. Usually, the man is the sole heir of an empire and the woman would be a nurse. Well, not in Trinil, where Rara’s dad loved and trusted her.

While Rara feels certain that they’ll be happy in their new life together, something seems to be off.

Sleep paralysis and a ghost head

Sutan suddenly feels very anxious as Rara starts having nightmares. Or rather, it appears that she’s awake but simply cannot move. A brutal case of sleep paralysis, it would appear, but maybe something more sinister is going on.

For Rara’s safety, Sutan asks Yusof to help them. Yusof is an old school friend who is a man of faith and known to be capable of handling various mystical cases. Initially, Rara is not interested in getting help, but once a ghost with no body appears, she goes along with the plan.

The constant terror from a disembodied ghost, who keeps saying “Trinil, give me back my body” would be enough to convince most people that help is needed. But who is the ghost of a head without a body? And who is Trinil?

Well, you’ll have to watch Trinil on Netflix to find out.

On a side note, I love that it plays out mostly in the 1970s which means groovy outfits and lots of colors. It’s just the opposite of many dark and grey-toned horror movies, we see constantly.

Watch Trinil on Netflix now!

The director of Trinil is Hanung Bramantyo. This is actually Hanung Bramantyo’s comeback as a horror genre film director. For quite some time, Hanung Bramantyo has been known as a director of drama, family, or romance genre films.

However, Hanung Bramantyo has previously made horror genre movies, including Lentera Merah (2006) and Legenda Sundel Bolong (2007).

For me, this Indonesian horror movie isn’t great, but it certainly isn’t one of the worst either. The CGI and too-slow pacing is what make it a less-than-impressive horror movie experience. On the other hand, there are some classic exorcism-like elements and a gorgeous overall look, so it’s worth a look now that it’s on Netflix.

Trinil is on Netflix from May 9, 2024.

Details

Director: Hanung Bramantyo
Writers: Haqi Achmad, Hanung Bramantyo
Cast: Carmela van der Kruk, Rangga Nattra, Fattah Amin, Wulan Guritno, Shalom Razade, Willem Bevers, Alexzander Wlan, Goetheng Iku Ahkin, Elly D. Luthan, W.N. Naufal, Gendhis Maharany, Bambang Paningron