15 Best Indonesian Horror Movies of All Time

A family lives in an old house that once belonged to their grandmother, Rahma (Elly D. Luthan). The family includes the sickly mother, Mawarni (Ayu Laksmi), the father, Bahri (Bront Palarae), the eldest daughter, Rini (Tara Basro), and her three younger brothers, Tony (Endy Arfian), Bondi (Nasar Anuz), and Ian (Muhammad Adhiyat).

Mawarni's illness has put a financial strain on the family due to the high cost of her medical care. This has forced Bahri to work extra hard and Rini to drop out of college. Previously, the family had been well-off because Mawarni was a legendary singer known for her hit song "Kelam Malam."

At one point, Mawarni, who could only communicate by ringing bells, began acting oddly and eventually passed away. After her funeral, strange events started occurring in Grandma Rahma's house. Mawarni's spirit seemed to return, and other terrifying incidents began to haunt the family.

The situation reached its peak when Bahri, Rini, and their siblings witnessed undead creatures approaching their home. Upon further investigation, they discovered that Mawarni had been involved in a heretical cult and that Ian was a crucial member desired by the cult. Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Rini tried to find a logical solution to these mysteries and wanted to resolve the situation at any cost.

Inspired by a true story, this movie follows a group of students engaged in a field study and community service, or KKN, in a remote village with strict rules. It's believed that breaking these rules could endanger the rule-breaker.

The students, Nur (Tissa Biani), Widya (Adinda Thomas), Ayu (Aghniny Haque), Bima (Achmad Megantara), Anton (Calvin Jeremy), and Wahyu (M. Fajar Nugraha), participate in their KKN at a place called Desa Penari. This village is far from ordinary.

The community leader warns them about the local norms and rules. Despite this, six of them deliberately break the rules. As a result, Nur and Widya find themselves haunted by a mysterious figure. Feeling unsafe, some of them decide to leave the village early. Tragically, Ayu and Bima can't leave as their souls are captured by the village's guardian.

This guardian is known as Badarawuhi, a stunning snake demon dancer. Nur, Widya, Anton, and Wahyu seek help from the villagers and the village leader. They also try to rescue Ayu and Bima with the help of a local saint. However, due to their actions, Badarawuhi refuses to release Ayu and Bima. Forever.

Sri (Mikha Tambayong) is a young girl living only with her ailing father. Facing financial struggles, she accepts a high-paying job as a household helper for the Atmodjo family.

She's not the only one hired; two other women, Erna and Dini, are also employed. Interestingly, all three were born on the same day, Friday Kliwon.

The job takes Sri, Erna, and Dini to an old hut in the forest. Their task is to bathe Della Atmodjo (Gisellma Firmansyah), the granddaughter of Karsa Atmodjo (Karina Suwandi), who suffers from the Sewu Dino curse.

It's only later that the girls realize they were tricked into coming there. They can't leave due to a mystical agreement that endangers their lives. So, can the three Kliwon girls survive this ordeal?

The film is based on a story that became popular on social media by SimpleMan. It was brought to the big screen by director Kimo Stamboel and scriptwriter Agasyah Karim.

"Menari di Atas Angin," a movie currently in its pre-shooting phase, sees its director Miea (Miea Kusuma), assistant director Sadha (Sadha Triyudha), production manager Dimas (Dimas Projosujadi), and main actors Diaz (Diaz Ardiawan) and Migi (Migi Parahita) heading to Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Joining them is a behind-the-scenes team, including Poppy (Poppy Sovia) and her cameraman, Cungkring (Monty Tiwa). In Yogyakarta, as they start the reading process, a heated argument among the crew results in Migi falling ill unexpectedly, causing frustration for Miea due to the delay it causes.

Following Migi's illness, the production team experiences a series of strange and frightening events, particularly after Migi appears to be possessed.

A "knowledgeable" individual there confirms that Migi is possessed by a subtle spirit named Nyi Pramodawerdani, who is native to the area. Migi is revealed to be a descendant of this spirit from when she was alive. The production team is trying to restore Migi's soul, but their efforts lead to significant sacrifices, including being trapped in the spirit world forever.

Directed by Monty Tiwa, this 80-minute film was shot in various famous tourist spots in Yogyakarta, like Borobudur Temple and Parangtritis Beach. Released in 2009, this movie remains a thrilling choice for weekend viewing!

Kanti (Asmara Abigail) is pregnant but faces harsh treatment from her villagers, who believe her pregnancy is a curse. Because of this, the king's servant Brotoseno (Sujiwo Tejo) rescues her, intending to use Kanti as a sacrifice in black magic rituals and to seek revenge against his enemy Cokrokusumo.

Brotoseno and Cokrokusumo have a longstanding feud, both desiring to possess a mystical mirror, an heirloom with powerful abilities.

19 years later, Uma (Yasamin Jasem), Kanti's daughter, has grown up. Brotoseno has secretly trained Uma to be a weapon against Cokrokusumo. Uma possesses a unique ability: she can kill anyone who harms her simply by humming a darmo.

One day, Uma faces danger from Pulungkusumo, Cokrokusumo's son, who tries to rape her. In this moment, Uma becomes possessed and kills Pulungkusumo, further entangling the web of vengeance. The story then picks up the unfolding of Brotoseno and Cokrokusumo's revenge, and how Uma is drawn into this conflict.

In 1998, Semedi (Rizky Hanggono), father to Rahayu (Yasamin Jasem), tragically becomes a victim in the Banyuwangi massacre of witchcraft shamans, carried out by unknown people. Rahayu even witnesses the horrific beheading of her father.

Despite the brutality of Semedi's murder, his family is still shunned by their community, labeled as a witch doctor's family. Wanting to escape this stigma, Rahayu and her family move to Jetis, Jogjakarta, to start anew. But soon after, their mother passes away suddenly. Rahayu who is still reeling from these events, seeks solace in prayer.

Yet, her prayers are anything but peaceful. Rahayu finds herself continuously disturbed, unable to complete her prayers due to unsettling interruptions. She discovers that these disturbances are caused by Khanzab, a jinn known for troubling humans during their prayers. Why is Khanzab relentlessly haunting Rahayu, and what can she do to free herself from this torment?

This spin-off from the popular horror film "Makmum" features a cast including Yasamin Jasem, Tika Bravani, Arswendy Bening Swara, Munggaran, Vonny Anggraini, Rizky Hanggono, and Fuad Idris. If you're curious to see just how scary this movie is, remember not to watch it alone!

Ferdi (Winky Wiryawan), Gita (Melanie Ariyanto), Gembol (Rony Dozer), and Soni (Harry Pantja) are four friends with a shared interest in exploring mystical places and experiencing spooky adventures. One day, they were bored with their usual activities. So, they decide to seek out a new challenge: a haunted location in a village known as Angkerbatu.

Their search leads them to a mysterious, unmarked grave, set apart from the village's regular burial sites. However, they find nothing unusual about it initially.

In a daring move, Soni, eager to have supernatural powers, decides to use a jelangkung, a doll used as a medium to communicate with spirits. When their ritual yields no results, a frustrated Soni suddenly sticks the doll into the mysterious grave, unaware of the terrifying consequences this act would bring upon them.

Soon after, Ferdi, Gita, Gembol, and Soni find themselves plagued and terrorized by a string of horrifying incidents. Seeking a solution, they talk to a shaman, who advises them to return to Angkerbatu village and remove the doll Soni had placed in the grave. But the journey back is fraught with chilling supernatural challenges.

Samantha, often called Sam (Julie Estelle), moves into a haunted boarding house to escape her toxic family. In her new room, she finds a mysterious mirror. Initially, everything seems normal until the boarding house mother, Yanti (Lita Soewardi), visits her.

Yanti reveals that the boarding house was once a batik factory owned by the Mangkujiwo family and is surrounded by haunted banyan trees, believed to be dwellings for Kuntilanak, or female ghosts. Yanti, however, dismisses this as a local myth. While tidying Sam's room, Yanti hums a durmo, an ancient song, which makes Sam uncomfortable.

The durmo turns out to have the power to summon a kuntilanak who aims to take over Sam's soul. Anyone who wrongs Sam meets a tragic fate soon after she chants the durmo. In an unfortunate turn of events, Sam ends up humming the durmo in front of her lover, Agung (Evan Sanders).

This catches the attention of Sri Sukma (Alice Iskak), a descendant of the Mangkujiwo family. Sukma believes Sam can succeed her as a kuntilanak summoner, a role maintained by their family. Sam firmly refuses, but her refusal triggers a series of terrifying supernatural encounters.

Maya (Tara Basro) and Dini (Marissa Anita) were best friends who used to work as toll gate guards. After a terrifying incident that nearly cost Maya her life, they quit their jobs and started selling clothes at the market instead.

Facing financial struggles, Maya decides to visit her parents' hometown in Harjosari village with Dini, hoping to find something left by her parents that they could sell for some money to support themselves in Jakarta.

Upon arriving, they find the village weird and notice many children's graves. It turns out, the old house Maya inherited once belonged to Donowongso, a renowned puppeteer. Rumor has it he made a deal with the devil to heal his child, who was born without skin. Since then, all newborns in the village suffer from the same affliction.

Going to the village turns out to be a mistake. Maya unintentionally reopens the village's old wounds, making herself a target of the villagers' wrath. What really happened in the village, and what role does Maya play in it? Find out in "Perempuan Tanah Jahanam" (Impetigore)!

Vishnu faces a devastating tragedy when his father, mother, and younger sister are killed during a riot. Looters attack his family's shop, resulting in Vishnu being the sole survivor as his parents perish in a fire that engulfs the shop.

Haunted by severe trauma, Vishnu struggles with depression and starts seeing mysterious visions, including the ghostly figure of his sister resembling a Pocong, a type of Indonesian ghost. Each sighting of the pocong strengthens Vishnu's resolve to seek revenge for his family's deaths.

However, this horror film, directed by Monty Tiwa and Rudi Soedjarwo, does not make it to Indonesian theaters due to censorship by the LSF. The 90-minute movie is banned from screening because it dig deepers into sensitive political issues, particularly depicting the May 1998 riots.

Adjie (Ario Bayu) and Astrid (Sigi Wimala) are preparing to move to Sydney for a new beginning, with their first child on the way. Their friends Eko (Dendy Subangil), Alam (Mike Lucock), Jimmie (Daniel Mananta), and Ladya (Julie Estelle) accompany them from Bandung to Soetta Airport Jakarta.

During their journey, they encounter Maya (Imelda Therinne), a girl left stranded in the rain after being robbed. Feeling sympathetic, the group agrees to take Maya home. As they prepare to leave, Maya and her family invite them to dinner.

This dinner invitation turns out to be a sinister trap. Maya's family, including her mother Dara (Shareefa Daanish) and her older brothers Armand (Ruli Lubis) and Adam (Arifin Putra), are part of a heretical cult that practices cannibalism. After they manage to overpower Ladya's friends, it's Ladya's turn to face them.

Not wanting to become their next victim, Ladya fights back with all her might, seizing every chance to escape. She manages to rescue Astrid's baby that was forcibly taken by Dara, and confronts the entire family, including Dara. But the question lingers: Did Ladya truly succeed in defeating Dara?

Rini (Titi Kamal) faces another loss. After her husband's death, her aunt, who cared for her since childhood, also passes away. Rini and her son, Hafiz (Jason Bangun), travel to Suayan village to mourn and attend the funeral ceremony of her aunt, Bude.

Upon arrival, Rini learns that Bude died after venturing into a forbidden forest. Concerned, she warns Hafiz not to stray far, especially not to enter the forest. However, Hafiz gets lured into the forest by another boy with a limp (Zayen Aqilah) and his friends.

When they become lost in the forest, a search ensues. Hafiz and his friends are eventually found, but Hafiz seems to be possessed. Rini also starts experiencing disturbances from khanzab, a ghost that terrorizes her during prayer, instilling fear in her.

A joint investigation by the villagers and "Pak Ustadz", a religious teacher (Pritt Timothy) reveals that the ghost is Nyi Lawe. She is angered by plans to clear her forest home for a new village mosque. Nyi Lawe possesses Rini, using her to seek revenge. The movie explores what happens next to Rini. Watch the movie to find out Rini's fate!

As a child, Risa (Prilly Latuconsina) often found herself alone. Her father was frequently abroad, and her mother, a busy teacher, couldn't spend much time with her. Then, Risa, who possesses Indigo abilities, befriends three children, Peter, Jahnsen, and William, who surprisingly aren't human.

When Risa's mother notices her daughter's unusual behavior, she talks to a shaman to help Risa forget these supernatural friends. After succeeding, the family moves away.

Nine years later, Risa and her sister Riri (Sandrinna Michelle) return to their old home to stay with their grandmother. This visit awakens Asih (Shareefa Daanish), a malevolent ghost residing in the banyan tree behind the house.

Risa quickly realizes that Asih is a dangerous spirit. The ghost attacks her grandmother and pulls Riri into its realm. Feeling desperate, Risa tries to summon her three childhood friends for assistance.

Ki Rengga (Soendjoto Adibroto), a shaman with a thirst for magical power, believes he needs an 'adopted child' to maintain his abilities. He resurrects Suketi (Suzzanna), a woman who had recently died by suicide after a traumatic experience of rape and pregnancy, to become this 'adopted daughter'.

Brought back to life, Suketi roams the forest and unexpectedly encounters Bardo (Fendy Pradana), a hunter. Their meeting leads Bardo to fall in love with Suketi, and he proposes marriage. Seeking Ki Rengga's blessing as Suketi's adoptive father, Bardo is given approval under the condition that the wedding takes place on the night of Suro.

The marriage proceeds successfully, and Bardo's fortunes flourish. He and Suketi have two children they adore. However, Bardo's rival, Joni (Johnny Matakena), jealous of their happiness. Joni begins to sabotage Suketi's family, leading to Suketi's transformation into a vengeful ghost. She returns to haunt Joni and his accomplices, seeking retribution for the destruction of her beloved family.

This film, starring Suzzana, is one of her most successful. Produced by Soraya Intercine, the movie presents a unique storyline filled with suspense, captivating the audience with its thrilling ambiance.

Kohar (Alan Nuary) and Baedah's (Siska Widowati) wedding day turns into a nightmare when their reception is disrupted by a possession incident. Shamans are called in to address the situation. The shaman suggests that the possession is the work of someone with ill intentions. Kohar immediately suspects his ex-girlfriend, Murni (Suzzanna).

Following Kohar's lead, the villagers confront Murni at her home. They brutally attack her and leave her to die in a ravine. As she lies dying, Murni is discovered by Gendon (W.D. Mochtar), who is actually responsible for the chaos at Kohar and Baedah's wedding. Gendon heals Murni and convinces her to seek revenge.

Murni is endowed with black magic, granting her the sinister power to kill those who have wronged her. Her vengeance brings further turmoil to the village. During this time, a devout young man, Permana (Teddy Purba), arrives in search of his missing sister. His investigation leads to a shocking revelation: Murni is his sister.

As Murni succumbs to darkness, Permana strives to restore her to her former self and free her from the black magic bestowed by Gendon. Despite being an older film, this movie is regarded as one of the best horror films in Indonesia.