A chilling blend of Taiwanese exorcism traditions and Indonesia’s legendary kuntilanak is set to haunt movie theaters this October, featuring Indonesian stars Ferry Salim, Andovi Da Lopez, and Yessica Tamara.

Get ready for a spine-tingling cinematic experience! Taiwanese horror franchise The Rope Curse is taking a terrifying new turn with its fourth installment, The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak (粽邪4：坤蒂拉娜). Set for release in October, during the Ghost Month season, the film ventures beyond Taiwan for the first time, bringing Indonesia’s infamous kuntilanak spirit into its chilling supernatural universe.

Blending Taiwanese temple rituals, exorcism traditions, and Indonesian folklore, the upcoming film promises a fresh dose of terror, backed by an international cast and scenes filmed in Indonesia.

A Mysterious Death Unleashes a Deadly Curse

The story begins with the tragic murder of Mira, an Indonesian migrant worker who is killed at an eatery. On the same night, the shop’s owner dies by suicide, setting off a chain of disturbing supernatural events.

Yulan, a Taiwanese woman who accidentally enters the scene, soon finds herself caught in a series of inexplicable occurrences. A ritual investigation reveals that she has fallen victim to a dangerous soul-transfer curse, placing her very existence at risk.

The source of the nightmare leads back to a live-streamed spirit-calling ritual conducted by an Indonesian shaman. Mira had watched the broadcast, unknowingly witnessing the awakening of a kuntilanak — a terrifying female spirit deeply rooted in Indonesian folklore.

With Yulan’s soul in danger, Jia-min, a young man with supernatural abilities, joins forces with Mila’s son to bring the deceased woman’s cremated remains back to Indonesia. They have just seven days to break the curse and restore Yulan’s soul.

Spiritual practitioners from Taiwan and Indonesia must then work together to perform an exorcism ritual before time runs out.

Indonesian Stars Join the International Horror Cast

One of the film’s biggest attractions is its collaboration with Indonesian talent, bringing a distinctly Southeast Asian flavor to the Taiwanese horror franchise.

The cast includes veteran Indonesian actor Ferry Salim, popular content creator Andovi Da Lopez, and former JKT48 member Yessica Tamara. Their involvement adds another layer of cultural connection to a story that brings together two countries’ supernatural traditions.

For the production team, expanding the story to Indonesia represents more than a change of scenery. It is an opportunity to explore a different world of spiritual beliefs, rituals, and terrifying folklore while preserving the franchise’s signature atmosphere.

Three Years in the Making

In a press release dated June 30, the production team revealed that The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak took three years to develop and produce.

The franchise has already established itself as a notable name in Taiwanese horror. According to the production team, the first three installments collectively generated more than NT$200 million (approximately Rp110.9 billion) at the box office, making The Rope Curse one of the relatively few Taiwanese horror franchises to reach a fourth film.

While previous installments have focused on Taiwanese temple culture and exorcism practices, the latest chapter expands the franchise’s world internationally for the first time, introducing Indonesian locations and folklore into the narrative.

Director Liao Shih-han (廖士涵) said the idea of featuring the kuntilanak came to him while conducting field research for The Rope Curse 3. He became fascinated by the legend and immediately felt that it would fit naturally into the franchise’s supernatural world.

“This kuntilanak is one of the most ferocious and difficult evil spirits to confront in the history of The Rope Curse,” Liao said.

Producer Jeff Tsou (鄒介中) added that the film would retain the folk-horror style audiences have come to love while broadening the franchise’s storytelling and exploring Taiwan’s distinctive exorcism traditions alongside another rich cultural heritage.

Real Rituals Bring an Unsettling Authenticity

Beyond its supernatural storyline, the film’s Indonesian production experience has become a talking point in its own right.

On July 14, the production team released its first behind-the-scenes video, offering a glimpse of the rituals performed during filming in Indonesia. On the first day of production, three ceremonies representing three belief traditions were held together to pray for a smooth and successful shoot.

The crew approached the ceremonies with respect, although some of the experiences proved genuinely unnerving.

Liao recalled being particularly shaken by a spiritual practitioner who struck his own back with a sword, pierced his cheeks with needles, and extended his tongue before cutting it with a knife.

“When the cut began to bleed, we all instinctively looked away because we couldn’t bear to watch,” the director recalled.

According to the production team, the film’s tense Southeast Asian ritual sequences draw inspiration from the region’s actual cultural and spiritual practices. The filmmakers hope this grounding in local traditions will deliver a horror experience that feels unfamiliar, immersive, and genuinely unsettling.

For actor Hangee Liu (劉國劭), who plays A-Guai, the production was also a first. He said he had never before worked on a film that began with collective prayers involving Taoist traditions and Islamic faith.

The experience left a lasting impression, revealing a solemn and mysterious atmosphere that extended beyond the film set.

Vera Chen (陳雪甄), who plays Yulan, was similarly moved by the experience. She said watching people from different cultural and religious backgrounds pray for one another and work together toward a shared goal brought tears to her eyes.

The Stars Face Their Own Fears

Returning to the franchise as Yulan, Chen admitted that she felt nervous about confronting the kuntilanak, a formidable spirit in Asian folklore.

“Since appearing in The Rope Curse, I feel that I’ve become more sensitive to these kinds of things,” she said, adding that she had even asked the crew to help her observe certain taboos before filming began.

Chen also hinted that Yulan would undergo a major character development in the new installment, encouraging audiences to look forward to a different side of her performance.

Wilson Hsu (許安植), who returns as Jia-min, said he was excited as soon as he received the script. Reuniting with familiar cast members gave him a sense of security, even as his character faced greater challenges.

“Jia-min’s exorcism abilities and psychological state have developed considerably compared with the previous films. I believe audiences will feel that something is truly different this time,” Hsu said.

Hsu also acknowledged that working in an unfamiliar cultural environment could be unsettling. However, he believes that fear of the unknown is precisely what helps actors immerse themselves in horror roles.

A New Chapter for Asian Folk Horror

With its combination of Taiwanese exorcism traditions and Indonesian supernatural mythology, The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak aims to offer something beyond conventional ghost stories.

Tsou described Indonesian folklore as exceptionally rich and filled with mystical elements, expressing confidence that the new film would deliver a different experience from its predecessors.

For Liao, the goal is to bring audiences closer to the cultural traditions behind the horror, rather than relying solely on frightening imagery. By drawing from real beliefs and rituals, the filmmakers hope to create a story that is both culturally distinctive and deeply unsettling.

The result is a cross-cultural horror production that connects two neighboring Asian countries through their shared fascination with the supernatural — while exploring the differences that make their legends unique.

Will Indonesian Audiences Get to See It in Cinemas?

Although the film features Indonesian actors and was partially shot in Indonesia, its local theatrical release has not yet been confirmed.

On Sunday, the production team told CNA that discussions about a possible Indonesian release were still ongoing and that no final decision had been made.

For now, horror fans can look forward to the film’s planned October release, timed to coincide with Taiwan’s Ghost Month season.

With a deadly soul-transfer curse, a terrifying kuntilanak, authentic ritual sequences, and a cast spanning Taiwan and Indonesia, The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak is shaping up to be one of the franchise’s most ambitious chapters yet.

And for audiences who enjoy horror rooted in Asian folklore, this time, the nightmare may feel a little closer to home.