Description
Title: Spirit (1989)
Alternate Title: Roh
Genre: Horror
Plot Synopsis:
Nadia is apprehensive about her widowed father, Bramasto, marrying Astria, suspecting that her new stepmother is malevolent. Her fears are validated when, after the marriage, Astria engages in an affair with Lukito, Bramasto’s brother who practices black magic. Astria becomes entangled in Satanic rituals, serving as Lukito’s accomplice. Her role involves seducing men and sacrificing them to Satan for Lukito’s gain. Nadia must confront these dark forces to protect her family.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Susilo SWD
Writer: Djoko S. Koesdiman
Cast:
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Enny Beatrice as Astria
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Pong Harjatmo as Bramasto
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Sally Marcelina as Nadia
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Hengky Tornando as Lukito
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Agyl Syahriar
IMDb Link:
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Bleeding Skull – ★★★☆☆
“A man is surrounded by candles and fiddles with a cursed trinket. You are 100% positive something evil is about to be summoned. And indeed, something—someone—does get summoned. The guy gets flayed and turned into a goopy, neon monster. Stop-motion, bloody skeletons and organs come together to form a neon skinless man. He is basically wearing his body inside out. Poor Frank. You really shouldn’t mess with cursed objects. Now at this point you’re thinking, hold up, isn’t this the plot to Clive Barker’s HELLRAISER? And you’re right, it is. ROH is an Indonesian cover of the 1987 classic, only this one’s a little hornier, a lot more melodramatic, and much less slick. However, it’s just as ambitious.”
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Brad Henderson – ★★★☆☆
“ROH isn’t Indonesia’s answer to HELLRAISER – it’s a straight up remake. This film goes almost beat for beat while maintaining a little originality to it, too. As far as the story – it’s pretty much the same but some slight changes here and there. The biggest one is they didn’t do the Pinhead design or make the Cenobites look like the original film. They also turned down the ‘hellishness’ of the film and made it more of a drama. However, the film is pretty gory, goopy, and the special effects are pretty on point. This would actually double really well with HELLRAISER in my opinion. Yeah, same story but they are different in some ways.”
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Adam Hursey – ★★★★☆
“I didn’t plan to watch Indonesian rip-offs of highly popular horror franchises, but I’m so glad my journey led me here! ROH is a straight up rip-off of Hellraiser. Not exactly shot for shot, but pretty much beat for beat. And it’s still pretty great in its own right.”
Meta Description:
“Spirit” (1989), also known as “Roh,” directed by Susilo SWD, is an Indonesian horror film that follows Nadia as she confronts her malevolent stepmother, Astria, and her occult practices. The film delves into themes of family betrayal, black magic, and the supernatural.
Title: Blood & Donuts (1995)
Alternate Title: Blood and Donuts
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Plot Synopsis:
In 1994 Toronto, vampire Boya awakens from a 25-year slumber after being struck by a golf ball. Eschewing human blood, he subsists on rats and pigeons. Boya befriends taxi driver Earl, entangled with local criminals, and falls for donut shop waitress Molly. Meanwhile, his former lover from 1969, Rita, seeks to reconnect. The film explores themes of redemption, love, and the challenges of reintegration into society.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Holly Dale
Writer: Andrew Rai Berzins
Cast:
- Gordon Currie as Boya
- Louis Ferreira as Earl
- Helene Clarkson as Molly
- Fiona Reid as Rita
- David Cronenberg as Crime Boss
IMDb Link:
Blood & Donuts (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Steven Millan – ★★★½
“BLOOD & DONUTS efficiently works thanks to Dale’s stellar helming, the cast’s strong performances, and scriptwriter Andrew Rai Berzins that offers plenty of heart and soul to the Canadian surroundings.” -
Madi Danger – ★★★★★
“I love this movie so much and had to have another friend watch it.” -
Dave K – ★★★★
“Incoherent but delightful. Love to see the Crone way back when. This should probably be required viewing for ‘nucks. I’m shocked I’ve never heard about this before.”
Meta Description:
“Blood & Donuts” (1995), directed by Holly Dale, is a Canadian comedy-horror film about Boya, a vampire who awakens after 25 years to navigate modern Toronto. He forms bonds with a taxi driver and a donut shop waitress while confronting past relationships and local crime. The film blends humor and horror, exploring themes of love and redemption.
