Dir. Sisworo Gautama Putra
1981, Indonesia, 106 min
Indonesian with English subtitles
Rated 18A
Indonesian superstar Suzzanna is Alisa, an ex-prostitute who marries the handsome Hendarto (Barry Prima). Hoping that she can put her old life far behind her, Alisa is soon confronted by her ex-madam Mami (Ruth Pelupessi) and sexually assaulted by several of Mami’s henchmen. After an emotional trial, Alisa finds out she’s pregnant and kills herself while attempting to perform an impromptu abortion. Her anger at the injustice of her life manifests itself into Sundelbolong, a vengeful ghost hellbent on vengeance. A popular – and much feared – legend in Indonesia, Sundelbolong (which roughly translates into “Prostitute with a Hole”) is the name of a spirit known for the large hole in her back. More than a ghost story, the horror of her situation also speaks to the political state of Indonesia in the early 1980s. As Sophie Siddique writes, “[During] the height of former President Suharto’s power, Sundelbolong occupies a space in which the gender ideologies of the New Order Indonesian government and the gender fantasies of the world of the vampire ghost are confronted with each other, with the Sundelbolong threatening to rupture the symbolic order with its grotesque fantasies of the feminine.” Playing the dual role of Alisa and her sister, Shinta, Suzzanna’s legendary hypnotic stare elevated the actress to superstardom in Indonesia. (Amanda Reyes)
Courtesy of Severin Films.
Content warning: This film contains scenes of sexual assault, suicide and violence.
We will be selling a limited number of the All The Haunts Be Ours – Volume Two from Severin Films at every folk horror screening in November! All The Haunts Be Ours – Volume Two brings together 24 films representing 18 countries for more of the best-loved, rarely seen, thought-lost and brand-new classics of folk horror, most making their International and/or North American disc debuts; 55+ combined hours of new and archival Special Features including trailers, interviews, audio commentaries, short films, video essays, historical analyses and bonus feature-length films; a 252-page hardcover of newly commissioned folk horror fiction by luminaries that include Chandra Mayor, Ramsey Campbell, Cassandra Khaw and Eden Royce with illustrations by Drazen Kozjan; and much more, all curated and produced by Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched creator Kier-La Janisse. Boxed set design by Luke Insect.
Unquiet spirits have gathered once again! Inspired by Severin Films’ latest compendium of folk horror, the Dave Barber Cinematheque presents All The Haunts Be Ours: Folk Horror Classics from October 11 until November 24. Featuring rarely seen and brand-new classics of folk horror, this series of films explores the strange and magical world of spirits, revenge and forbidden desires.
