Sumala

This is by far the most disturbing use of minors in a horror film (no one was really harmed). The intro alone was creepy and downright wrong. Directed by Rizal Mantovani, with 5cm (2012), Adagium (2023), and Kuldesak (1999) in his resume, among others. It’s currently sitting at #1 on Netflix Philippines at the time of writing, and very rightfully so.

The premise was very unique, the reason being is that Sumala was inspired by a real urban legend in Semarang Regency, Indonesia. Until this day, people from the village still implement the rule of no people outside when the sun goes down. Though there have been no concrete proof that she’s real, it wouldn’t hurt to follow the rules and live another day.

By far, one of the best horror performances from a child star. Kumala, played by Makayla Rose Hilli, was able to portray both the “pretty human child” and the “ugly devil’s child”, twin sisters that came out of a deal their mother made with the devil—more on this later. It’s hard for a 12 year old girl to act like she did in this movie. While playing as the human child, she acts like a cripple, 1 arm bent, and one leg crippled, while having a mental disorder. When she’s playing the devil’s child however, she would constantly put up a sinister grin and do those heinous acts.

So going back to the deal the mother made. The mother had difficulty giving an heir to her husband, and the husband gave her a deadline, if she cannot produce and heir by then, he will re-marry. So the mother overheard the locals talking about a witch that might help her.

Fast forward—now she’s talking to the said witch and agreed to make a deal with the devil. She will have twins, one born of a pretty human but mentally and physically disabled, the other an ugly child of the devil. The condition is:
They both have to raise them equally and normally with no bias. On their 10th birthday, the devil will claim its child and the family will live on happily with the human child of their own. If this is not met, days would turn to nights and nights turn to morning and horrible things will befall on their family.

The first few minutes (present day) we already know that Sumala is alive and still haunts the village. We then go back years before and we see how Sumala came to be. At first I didn’t like the direction it was going because I already know that Sumala will live, but they handled the backstory very well that it still makes me wonder about a few things.

Not all horror films are as daring as Sumala. 3 triggering scenes that will remain with me for a very long time:

• The opening scene we see Sumala basing a boy’s head in with a rock while grinning wide.
• The father slowly impaling and killing the newborn (like 5 minutes into the world), Sumala, with a Kris (Indonesian silat weapon).
• Sumala, possessing Kumala, went on a killing spree and killed 7 boys around 15 years old.
• How they portrayed bullying was on point and very authentic, may be triggering to some audience.

For a horror genre that came out just last year, the originality is there. The effects could be improved on but for an Indonesian film, I’ll take it. Another Indonesian film that I recently viewed and liked was Siksa Neraka (2023). Definitely recommended to watch but be aware, the film have a very sensitive subject matter.