New wave of horror flicks puts Indonesian cinema on map

After years in the shadows, the genre makes a monstrous breakthrough in Southeast Asia

A still image from 2019 Indonesian horror film "Perempuan Tanah Jahanam." Directed by Joko Anwar, it was released internationally as "Impetigore." (Courtesy of Joko Anwar)

MARCO FERRARESE, Contributing writer

March 24, 2021 09:00 JST

JAKARTA -- You know that the nightmare is not over when the Queen of Black Magic picks up her severed head and slots it back onto her neck as if nothing has happened.

"The Queen of Black Magic" (original title "Ratu Ilmu Hitam," 2019) is the latest Indonesian horror film to debut internationally on Shudder, a popular American horror streaming provider owned by AMC Networks. The film, available since Jan. 28, is the only Asian title among 11 international horror films that Shudder is premiering during the first quarter of 2021.