‘Bisikan Desa Gringsing’ Brings Mystery-Driven Horror to Indonesian Cinema

Indonesian horror is getting a new mystery at its center with “Bisikan Desa Gringsing,” a film that asks audiences to unravel why a remote village has been sealed off by a vengeful spirit.

The film, produced by Mandela Pictures, Oceanus Media Global and Legacy Pictures, follows Hesti, played by Aghniny Haque, as she traces the whereabouts of her father. Her search leads to Desa Gringsing, an unfamiliar settlement whose residents cannot leave. The village is under the grip of Fatimah, a resentful spirit whose curse hangs over every corner.

Hesti must survive the supernatural threat while trying to find a way to break the curse. Haque said the film’s riddles are designed to keep viewers guessing from the opening minutes and to make them investigate the source of Fatimah’s anger alongside the characters.

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This is a frightening horror film with a lot of mystery. We invite the audience to find out together what made Fatimah so angry that she trapped the village.

“Bisikan Desa Gringsing” was directed and written by Ivander Tedjasukmana. For Haque, playing Hesti required more than a surface-level performance. The character carries trauma from her past, and Haque said the cast prepared through group readings, script analysis, film references and discussions with people who had experienced trauma. She described the challenge as portraying a character with more than one layer.

The film is scheduled to open in cinemas on Sept. 24.

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The challenge is how to portray a character who is not just one layer.