Narik Sukmo [Movie Review]

Narik Sukmo [Movie Review] | I think most of you already know by now that I absolutely love watching and reviewing horror movies.

But it’s not just about the scares or the jump shocks for me. What fascinates me most is how modern horror films often reflect the culture they come from: their beliefs, myths, rituals, and unspoken fears.

So every time I watch a horror movie, I’m not just getting spooked: I’m also discovering a new piece of the world, one terrifying story at a time.

SYNOPSIS

Narik Sukmo (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Febby Rastanty, Aliando Syarief, Dea Annisa, Teuku Rifnu Wikana, Nugie, Elly D. Luthan, Yama Carlos, Kinaryosih & Maryam Supraba
• Director: Indra Gunawan
• Producer: Mulyadi JP and Darmawan Surjadi
• Production Company: Mesari Pictures & JP Pictures

• Distributed by: Jendela Kamera Films
• Release date: July 3, 2025
• Running time: 95 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: Indonesia
• Language: Indonesian
• IMDb: NA
• Tomatometer: NA
• Metascore: NA
• The film is adapted from Dewie Yulliantina Sofia’s novel of the same name. 
• The title “Narik Sukmo” means “drawing the soul” in Javanese, rooted in ancient rituals of spirit possession and traditional folk belief. 
• Febby’s role marks her first time performing a traditional dance on screen, showcasing a new side of her craft.

Kenar once lived for dance, until betrayal shattered her spirit. Heartbroken after discovering her lover’s affair with her closest friend, she accepts an invitation from her loyal companion, Ayu, to spend the semester break in Ayu’s quiet hometown, Desa Kelawangin, a remote village on the border of Central and East Java, famed for its traditional dancers and ancient rituals.

The day before their journey, Kenar follows Ayu on a quick shopping trip for gifts. While wandering into an old antique shop, she encounters a mysterious elderly woman who gifts her a delicate shawl and a dancer’s hairpin. Grateful but unsuspecting, Kenar slips them into her bag, unaware of the dark history they carry.

From the moment she arrives in the village, unease begins to stir. That night, Kenar is tormented by vivid nightmares. There is a shadowy figure chasing her through endless darkness, whispering her name and demanding her soul. The next day, at the village’s dance studio, she spots a lone female dancer watching her from afar and vanishing the moment she blinks.

When Kenar accidentally discovers a locked room in Ayu’s house, her nightmares grow stronger. Soon after, a series of mysterious deaths rattles the once-peaceful village. Terrified, Kenar begins to dance unconsciously in her sleep, movements that Ayu’s parents recognize as “Tarian Narik Sukmo”, the forbidden Dance of the Soul, last performed by doomed lovers Banyu and Ratimayu, whose tragic tale ended in betrayal and blood decades ago.

In her desperate search for answers, Kenar meets Dierja, a young villager determined to uncover the truth buried within Kelawangin’s past. Together, they delve into the legend of Narik Sukmo, a ritual dance once used to seize power through sacrifice, where the dancer’s spirit was offered to appease unseen forces.

But as the mystery deepens, Kenar learns that the shadow pursuing her is not merely a curse. It is the echo of a love twisted by greed and deceit and she may be the next vessel to finish the dance that never ended.

Will Kenar uncover the truth behind the dance or become its next sacrifice?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• As usual, I love the cultural aspect of the movie - learning a new Javanese dance.
• I love the cinematography.

What I Don't Like:

• Tend to get draggy in the second half of the movie.
• I wish there are more dancing scenes since the movie revolves around the dance.

Will I Watch It Again: Yes, I don't mind watching it again.

Overall: 4.0/ 5.0

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

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