grave torture (film, 2024) ↓

I have admired Joko Anwar's work for many years. His unique blend of psychological horror and social commentary has always kept me on the edge of my seat. However, despite my high expectations, I must say that the Grave Torture feature film rework (see the short) left me somewhat underwhelmed. While I enjoyed certain elements, such as the solid performances and atmospheric cinematography, overall, the film struggled to come together in a truly satisfying way.

The story follows Sita, a young lady who becomes obsessed with unraveling the mysteries surrounding "grave torture" - the belief that souls experience punishment in their graves as they await judgment day. After her parents' tragic death, Sita is on a mission as she questions religious authorities and digs into ancient texts to find answers. This set up her character as driven and intellectually curious. Widuri Puteri / Faradina Mufti portrayed Sita with admirable determination and focus.

I was instantly drawn in by Sita's journey of discovery and found myself eagerly awaiting where it might lead. However, that's where my praise for the film's narrative structure starts to waver. While Sita's backstory and motivation were compelling, the plot unraveling felt messy and disorienting. Key plot threads and character motivations were introduced and promptly forgotten about or left unfinished. A prime example is the character of Ismail; scenes involving Ismail serve only to confuse and distract rather than enhance the plot. I was left puzzled as to his true purpose or relevance.

Perhaps my greatest disappointment was how little time was actually spent exploring the concept of "grave torture" that the film's entire premise was built upon. Except for a brief, surreal sequence right at the climax, we learn little about what Sita and the other characters experience in their graves. Much of the build-up and middle section dealt with disparate plot lines that didn't cohesively come together. I wanted a more visceral, grounded examination of the eponymous grave torture rather than so many cryptic diversions. Additionally, while the cast delivered solid performances overall, the character development felt uneven.

On a technical level, Grave Torture excels in atmosphere through cinematography and sound design. The dark, lush visuals transport the viewer straight into the shadows of rural Indonesia. Unsettling audio flourishes keep the nerves on edge. However, as productive as the mood setting, these aesthetic achievements are not enough to carry a story that wants to tackle heady philosophical themes but struggles to tie everything neatly together.

In the end, despite strong direction and craft, Grave Torture never fully comes together in a totally cohesive or resonant way for me. It's an ambitious film that falls short of its lofty goals, struggling to do justice to its fascinating premise and ideas. While I'm sure diehard fans will find plenty to analyze and discuss, for this viewer, it remains an ultimately unsatisfying mixed bag.