Director: Kimo Stamboel
Year: 2019
Country: Indonesia
Alternate Titles: DreadOut: Tower of Hell
Genre: Supernatural
Plot:
Attempting to attract more followers, a group of friends decides to break into a supposedly haunted local apartment to live stream them searching a haunted building, but when they realize they've inadvertently opened a doorway to guardians from another dimension they try to fight the deadly beings.
Review:
This one ended up being a spectacular overall effort. One of the film's best aspects is the strong storyline setup that's in play here. The idea of the game that's played here, indeed one supposedly utilized in real life, and the rules that are featured here in regards to what they have to play with. The scene in the room where they initially come into contact with it that generates the rules of what they've unleashed where they've accessed the spirit world without their intent. Following up their return trip where they learn they've unleashed the portal and brought them into the world, this being combatted by their social media provides a solid twist that keeps this one quite enjoyable. On top of that, the film's focus on the teens who are absolutely obsessed with such social media, constantly worrying about followers and being at the top of the class in terms of popularity with their feeds strikes a fine topical cord. That their need to be perceived as popular or even just using their devices to stay up-to-date on the news around them is a great touch and manages to make it believable that they would eventually feel the need to get involved with the game in the first place.
As well as the supernatural action, the film manages a lot to like with the absolutely stellar supernatural work at play. This starts off with a vengeance featuring the group in their apartment trying to use the game to help their possessed friend who's vomiting black bile all over the others before a shocking finish that gets this one started strongly. Likewise, the film really works with the few modernized touches that integrate the ghostly action into that setting, from the freaky occurrences during the live stream before it turns sideways or their attempts to investigate the building that results in some jump-scares by being shown through the camera of their phones. Once they leave the building, the various battles with the supernatural creatures that have been unleashed offer up some gripping sequences featuring the team coming into contact with the various spirits in both the real world and the spiritual dimension. Filled with frenzied action, tons of jump-scares and brutal encounters between the spirits controlling the group and the beings on their own, it offers up plenty of fun.
From there, the film scores so well with the unleashed supernatural beings coming for them. The scenes in the abandoned building where they investigate the history of the artifacts in the room, from the designs on the floor to the mystical parchment that no one else can read but the one who finds it. The mysteriousness of their surroundings, the supernatural influence on the actions of the group and the terrifying actions that arise that signal the group has unleashed something in the scene is a fantastic viewpoint of their ordeal to come and really showcases that something's going on. Their trip to the supernatural world and being tormented by the otherworldly beings is exceptionally chilling and the eventual escape is a stellar sequence while the one loner left in the spiritual dimension confronts the murderous spirit in one of the creepiest scenes in the film as she walks through the various trinkets and objects left around where she finally sees the creature. Combined with the stellar make-up work on the possessed individuals and some shocking gore, there's quite a lot to like here.
There are a few issues with this one though. The film's main problem is the absolutely confusing and discordant storyline that really makes very little sense as to what's going on. The idea of taking the provisions down and entering has to be done in order for the film to work, yet there's little rationale for why they would continue to investigate the ruins after they've already encountered the various writings and mysticism that's apparent throughout the area. As well, the major factor of how they're able to interact with the spirits using the camera on their phones which is the only manner of how they're hurt momentarily is never explained which is quite big considering it's a huge part of the story and is discovered by sheer accident. Likewise, how the main girl is able to continually move between realms and interact with the spirits and her friends is an issue, much like the group itself as they're pretty bland and nondescript as for what they're doing or why they're together. It's the general issue with the film as nothing makes sense at all, but that's really all that holds this one back.
Overview: ****.5/5
Featuring a lot of really enjoyable and chilling aspects that are undone slightly by a general lack of comprehension as to what's going on, this is another fun and frenetic Indonesian genre effort. Give this one a chance if you're a fan of these supernatural genre efforts or a follower of the creative team, while those that demand more logic and coherence in a film should heed caution with this one.
This review ran as part of our coverage of the 2019 edition of Fantasia International Film Festival.
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