The horror film Bayang-bayang Anak Jahanam is set to be released starting January 16, 2025, in cinemas across Indonesia. Produced by Anami Films, this horror movie tells the story of a mysterious boy who brings disaster to his family and those around him.
The film is produced by Prakash Chugani, Deepak Chugani, Dilip Chugani, and Sanjeev Bhalla. The cast includes Taskya Namya, Ali Fikry, Rizky Hanggono, as well as veteran actors such as Maryam Supraba, Ruth Marini, Adlu Fahrezy, and the late Yayu Unru.
The story centers around Agni (Ali Fikry), a child whose birth is eagerly awaited by his parents, Gina (Taskya Namya) and Gani (Rizky Hanggono). However, his birth becomes a threat to their safety.
During her pregnancy, Gina faced the risk of losing Agni. She was advised to undergo a ritual by a sect in the forest to ensure that Agni would survive. But Agni grows into a child who is different from others.
At school, Agni harms his classmates and draws frightening pictures that scare his teacher. Gani is unaware of the ritual his wife underwent until their family starts experiencing real-life terror that threatens their lives.
In a press screening on Monday (January 13, 2025) at CGV Grand Indonesia, the production team and cast discussed the creative process behind Bayang-bayang Anak Jahanam, which showcases stunning cinematography.
In several scenes, there are dramatic moments like a car falling off a cliff, explosions at a carnival and a minimarket, and an impressive sect ritual set built to evoke a terrifying atmosphere.
“Horror, for me, is an emotional game about anxiety and fear. This is what I tried to capture with cinematic elements such as light, contrast, camera movements, and others,” said Yudi Datau.
Yudi added that the story is deeply connected to Indonesian society. After delving into the script, he realized how love could coexist with human despair. Unknowingly, humans approach things that defy fate, like engaging with the magical and mythological world.
“This is what I tried to convey through photographic elements, following a mother during her pregnancy, then a miscarriage, and later making a pact with the devil, which ultimately leads her life to destruction,” he said.
These three phases were crafted by Yudi Datau to show elements of darkness that gradually become even darker. This atmosphere is further enhanced with tense sound effects and mysterious music. Additionally, Javanese music creates a magical feel during the sect ritual scene in the forest.
Sanjeev Bhalla, the producer of Bayang-bayang Anak Jahanam, emphasized that the quality of the film’s production was a key priority for the entire team.
“We conducted market research to understand the type of films the audience truly wants, starting from finding the script, casting the actors, to assembling a solid crew,” he said.
He further explained that this showed the high quality of the film’s production design, which was meticulously crafted by a qualified crew with a proven track record.
In agreement with Sanjeev, producer Dilip Chugani also aimed for maximum quality by involving talents with extensive experience in the film industry. Among them are Citra Cup FFI Best Original Scoring winner Abel Hurray, Citra Cup FFI Best Adapted Screenplay winner Rahabi Mandra, and four-time Citra Cup FFI Best Cinematographer winner Yudi Datau.
“Therefore, the quality is not just about the story or the actors, but also the production design and the entire film to create a unique horror film in the Indonesian film industry,” Dilip said.
Interestingly, the filming of Bayang-bayang Anak Jahanam was delayed for several years, but was eventually resumed and officially scheduled for release in early 2025.
“We started filming in 2018 in Banyuwangi, but the production was delayed for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Yudi Datau, the film’s cinematographer.
The production team agreed not to reshoot certain scenes, including the carnival explosion scene. Building a night market with a crowd took significant effort and time. Yudi explained that they only enriched the scene’s details through editing. Moreover, the carnival scene also features the late Yayu Unru, who played Sulaiman, a mysterious man in all-black clothing. The senior actor passed away on December 8, 2023, at the age of 61. This film now serves as part of his legacy in the Indonesian film industry.
One of the stars of Bayang-bayang Anak Jahanam, Ali Fikry, expressed his pride in having the opportunity to act alongside such a legendary figure in Indonesian cinema.
“Uncle Yayu was a very experienced actor, disciplined, and fully dedicated to his craft. He was also humble and willing to guide other actors,” he said.
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