'I'm a big fan of horror films, but not Indonesian horror,' Zaskia says. 'Indonesian horror is more like pornography.' Most importantly, not horror,' the 19-year-old said. 'I sometimes like watching Indonesian films, but only certain genres. Rani, an economics student from Yogyakarta expressed a similar sentiment. 'There are just too many bad horror films.' 'I don't really like Indonesian movies,' Dewi, a 25-year-old master's degree student from Jakarta, said. But for young Indonesians, local horror movies are tarnishing the reputation of the nation's cinema. Historical films such as Tenggalamnya Kapal van Der Wyck (The Sinking of the Van Der Wyck) and Habibie & Ainun may be box office hits. In contrast to feelings on horror movies, many young Indonesians have an idealistic notion of what constitutes âqualityâ national cinema.Īccording to Rani, films should be âeducative, inspiring, motivationalâ and filled with âpositive messagesâ. While the number of horror films has been decreasing in recent years, with dramas comprising most of the films shot between 20, perceptions that local cinemas have been flooded by sexually explicit horror films persist when discussing national cinema. These attitudes are widespread throughout the archipelago, as young people lament the vulgarity of current Indonesian horror films and wax nostalgic for horror films of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly those that portrayed regional myths and local urban legends. ÂYou know what they are like: thigh, breast, thigh, breast,â the 20-year-old says. âIndonesian horror is far too open and uses sexual aspects to attract audiences.âĪndri, a politics student from Jakarta, references comedian Raditya Dika by jokingly referring to Indonesian horror films as âKFC filmsâ. ÂIâm a big fan of horror films, but not Indonesian horror,â Zaskia says. âIndonesian horror is more like pornography.âĮven horror fans, such as Zaskia, an 18-year-old literature student from Makassar, make an exception for local films. Most importantly, not horror,â the 19-year-old said. âI sometimes like watching Indonesian films, but only certain genres.

âThere are just too many bad horror films.â ÂI donât really like Indonesian movies,â Dewi, a 25-year-old masterâs degree student from Jakarta, said. But for young Indonesians, local horror movies are tarnishing the reputation of the nationâs cinema. (Courtesy of Maxima Pictures)' border='0' height='499' width='341'> (Courtesy of Maxima Pictures)

Indonesian horror movies 2014