Another Indonesian horror film is ready to haunt cinemas, but Munafik: Melawan Iblis promises more than supernatural terror. The Indonesia–Malaysia collaboration is set to hit Indonesian theaters on September 3, 2026, blending horror with family drama, spiritual conflict, and an emotional journey through grief and loss.

At the heart of the film is a theme that extends far beyond the horror genre: the difficult process of accepting what cannot be changed and learning to let go with sincerity.

Rather than using fear simply as a source of entertainment, Munafik: Melawan Iblis places its characters in situations shaped by trauma, loss and spiritual struggle. Their encounters with the supernatural become part of a larger journey toward acceptance.

Arya Saloka Finds a Personal Lesson in Ustaz Adam

For Arya Saloka, playing Ustaz Adam became a personal experience as much as an acting challenge. Through the character, he said he learned about acceptance and ikhlas—a deeply rooted Indonesian concept associated with sincerity, acceptance and letting go.

Speaking at the film’s press conference at Epicentrum XXI in Jakarta on Monday (August 24), Arya reflected on the difference between what people say and how they actually behave.

“For me personally, especially through the character of Ustaz Adam, I learned how to accept and let go. Sometimes, what we say does not necessarily correspond with how we behave,” Arya said.

That contradiction is central to the film’s emotional dimension. The characters are not simply confronted by external evil; they are also forced to confront their own emotions, beliefs and unresolved wounds.

A Journey Toward Acceptance

Widi Dwinanda, who plays Aini, Ustaz Adam’s wife, also found a personal connection with her character.

For Widi, Aini offers a perspective on loss that goes beyond the person left behind. Her role encouraged her to explore the emotional process of someone who has to confront the consequences of separation and loss.

“I think this is a journey toward acceptance. For me, acceptance is a process of growing that will never truly end,” Widi said.

Her interpretation gives the film another emotional layer. Grief is not presented as something that can simply be overcome overnight. Instead, acceptance becomes an ongoing process—one that changes as people learn to live with what has happened.

The Pain Behind the Words “Be Patient and Let Go”

Annisa Hertami also sees ikhlas as one of the film’s most meaningful reflections.

When someone experiences profound loss, telling them to “be patient” or “let go” may sound simple from the outside. But the reality, she noted, is much more complicated for the person living through the experience.

“The people we love most may find it easy to say, ‘Be patient and let go.’ But in truth, only we know what it feels like,” Annisa said.

Her statement captures the emotional tension at the heart of Munafik: Melawan Iblis. Beneath its supernatural elements lies a familiar human struggle: how do we move forward when something—or someone—we deeply love is no longer within our reach?

Horror with an Emotional Core

Director Guntur Soeharjanto said the film was designed to create experiences that audiences can emotionally connect with. Rather than relying solely on scares, the story seeks to bring viewers closer to its characters and make their experiences feel personal.

That approach allows the horror elements to work on two levels. The supernatural threats provide suspense and fear, while the characters’ internal struggles create a more intimate form of tension.

In this sense, Munafik: Melawan Iblis uses horror as a doorway into questions about faith, family, trauma and the difficult journey of accepting loss.

Indonesia and Malaysia Join Forces

Munafik: Melawan Iblis is directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, with M Ali Ghifari serving as screenwriter and Oswin Bonifanz as producer.

The film features a cast that includes Arya Saloka, Acha Septriasa, Dimas Aditya, Faqih Alaydrus, Donny Damara and Nova Eliza.

Scheduled to open in Indonesian cinemas on September 3, 2026, Munafik: Melawan Iblis arrives as a horror film with an emotional proposition: sometimes, the most difficult battle is not against the supernatural, but against the pain we carry within ourselves.

And perhaps that is where its message about ikhlas becomes most powerful—not as a simple instruction to forget, but as a lifelong process of learning to accept, grow and keep moving forward.