GHOST IN THE CELL
****
Directed by Joko Anwar.
Starring Abimana Aryasatya, Endy Arfian, Bront Palarae.
Indonesia, Horror, 106 Minutes.
Released by Blue Finch Pictures
Reviewed as part of Tubi FrightFest London 2026
Fans of Joko Anwar’s brand of atmospheric horror will no doubt be eager to see his latest entry which received its UK premiere in the late night slot on the Saturday night. This is mentioned here because not only does it mark the halfway point of the festival itself but the slot is usually reserved for the kind of late night shot in the arm that genre and midnight movie fans crave. With its mixture of extreme gore, socio-political comedy and unexpected dance numbers, GHOST IN THE CELL marks itself out as an ideal candidate for the slot but one of the most inventive films of the festival.
Set primarily in a prison, the film begins in the more genteel environment of a newspaper office where we meet Diman, a young journalist investigating a case of deforestation for unnecessary nickel mining. When his editor mocks his article then meets a swift and extremely bloody end, Diman finds himself imprisoned. The usual cast of ne-er do wells, warring gangs and corrupt, sadistic prison guards are all to be found here. Taken in by a gang led by the heroic Anggorro, Diman seems to have dragged the spectral presence that landed him in here when a spate of even gorier deaths begin to take place. In a race against time to save their lives, Anggorro and his friends race to uncover why exactly they are all being targeted by this vengeful spectre and the unconventional ways they must adopt to defeat it.
Despite the grisly tableaux of gore this is one of Anwar’s more light hearted films. He expertly handles the shifting tones of often absurdist comedy and extreme horror with a deft touch. At the same time there is a strain of not too subtle political commentary on offer here too, offering an effective state of the nation and rallying cry against the ruling class and corrupt and plundering politicians that have been using the country as their own personal piggy bank and playground. The unsubtle political messaging goes hand in hand with the film's blunt, over the top gore. While it is never hidden away it becomes louder and louder as the film goes on while the film leans more and more into its comedic side with a brace of purposefully terrible dance sequences designed to throw the ghost off the trail of its potential victims.
For all of its socio-political commentary on national corruption and uniting the people, Anwar never loses sight of the film's horror comedy stylings. The spectre in its various guises is often an unnerving and skin crawling sight while one fight scene looks like it is going head to head with the likes of THE FURIOUS and Timo Tjahjanto’s action extravaganzas before devolving into a fun and frantic piss take of those ultra-serious actioners. Fun and unnerving, this is also somehow Anwar’s bloodiest and most accessible film yet.
Iain MacLeod