Pernikahan Arwah [Movie Review]

Pernikahan Arwah [Movie Review] | When I first saw the poster, it instantly caught my attention—I actually thought it was a Chinese film at first. But finding out it’s an Indonesian movie made me even more interested in watching it.

SYNOPSIS

Pernikahan Arwah (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Morgan Oey, Zulfa Maharani, Jourdy Pranata, Bridget Cynthia, Puty Sjahrul, Alam Setiawan, Verdi Solaiman & Bernadette Bonita
• Director: Paul Agusta
• Producer: Perlita Desiani, Patricia Gunadi & Feodora Sharlene Putihrai
• Production Company: Entelekey Media Indonesia & Relate Films

• Distributed by: MockingBird Pictures & Netflix

• Release date: February 27, 2025

• Running time: 101 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: Indonesia
• Language: Indonesian
• IMDb: 5.5/ 10
• Tomatometer: NA
• Metascore: NA
• The film dives into the lesser-known Tionghoa tradition of ghost weddings — a spiritual marriage for those who passed away before tying the knot. 
• The English title evokes the Chinese opera-style Butterfly Lovers folklore, subtly channeling themes of love, transformation, and lingering grief 
• The premiere was timed just after Cap Go Meh, believed to bring good luck according to Feng Shui.

The movie opens with what seems like a perfect Chinese wedding—elegant, traditional, and full of joy—until something eerie disrupts the ceremony. The scene then cuts to the present day, where we meet Salim and Tasya, a young couple excitedly preparing for their own big day. They’re in the midst of trying on makeup and traditional wedding attire, helped by their cheerful friends: Arin, a makeup artist, and Febri, a photographer who seems to quietly harbor feelings for Tasya.

At first, everything feels lighthearted and full of love. But their plans take a dark turn when Salim’s beloved aunt, the last living member of his family, suddenly dies. The loss hits hard. Out of respect, the couple cancels many of their wedding arrangements, including their much-anticipated pre-wedding photoshoot.

Instead, they choose to hold the shoot at Salim’s ancestral home, where preparations for the funeral are also underway. From the moment they arrive, something feels off. Tasya begins experiencing strange dreams, all centered around the old family house. The dreams grow more intense, more vivid—almost like memories she never lived.

As Salim grapples with his grief, he is also burdened with the responsibility of continuing a long-standing family ritual: burning incense at an old altar in the home. The rule is clear—this ritual must never be skipped, or it could cost him his life. It’s a heavy legacy, but one Salim takes seriously.

Tasya, concerned and deeply in love, chooses to stay and support him. When Arin, Febri, and the rest of the crew arrive for the rescheduled photoshoot, their presence stirs something malevolent—an angry spirit of a bride wronged long ago.

What begins as a romantic getaway turns into a chilling descent into the past. Tasya, brave and determined, refuses to run. She’s drawn to the mystery and is willing to risk everything to uncover the truth. As the layers of Salim’s cursed lineage begin to unravel, she realizes this isn’t just about surviving a haunted house—it’s about breaking a cycle of pain so they can both have a future, free and alive.

Can Salim and Tasya break the curse—or will their love be lost to the same dark fate that haunts his family?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• A beautiful insight into the Tionghoa wedding. 

What I Don't Like:

• I want more sightings of demons/ spirits.

Will I Watch It Again: Yes, I will but not my top movies.

Overall: 4.3/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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