Jakarta, January 30, 2025 — Come and See Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios have released the official trailer for Joko Anwar’s 11th film, The Siege at Thorn High (Indonesian title: Pengepungan di Bukit Duri). This film is the second production by Come and See Pictures after Siksa Kubur, which earned 17 Citra Awards nominations and attracted over 4 million viewers.
The Siege at Thorn High marks a new chapter in Joko Anwar’s filmmaking career after 20 years, introducing a genre he has never explored before: action-drama. Starring Morgan Oey, Omara Esteghlal, Hana Pitrashata Malasan, and a lineup of new faces in Indonesian cinema, this film will be released in Indonesian theaters on April 17, 2025.
The film depicts a possible future for Indonesia if the nation does not address its social issues, including the growing connection between youth and violence.
The story follows Edwin (Morgan Oey), who promises his late brother to find his missing niece. Edwin’s search leads him to become a teacher at Duri High School, a school for troubled kids. There, Edwin faces the most aggressive students while searching for his niece. When he finally finds her, a riot breaks out across the city, trapping them at the school, where they must fight for their lives against the brutal kids now targeting them.
The thrilling trailer shows Edwin fighting to survive in a nation in turmoil. Alongside him is Diana (Hana Pitrashata Malasan), and together they must confront the societal pressures of racial conflict and rising tensions in their school while trying to complete their mission to find his missing niece.
“This film is the greatest challenge of my career. Not only does it need to meet high technical standards because we’re collaborating with a legendary Hollywood film company, but the story also needs to reflect our country’s current state,” said Joko Anwar.
Producer Tia Hasibuan added, “We want everyone involved in this film—cast, crew, and Come and See Pictures—to level up by making a film that stands alongside the world’s highest quality films.”
Meanwhile, a study released by the WHO in 40 developing countries showed that, on average, 42% of boys and 37% of girls experience bullying. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA), together with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the Demographic Institute of the University of Indonesia, the Social Welfare Polytechnic (Poltekesos), and UNFPA, released the 2024 National Survey on Women’s Life Experiences (SPHPN) and the National Survey on Children’s and Adolescents’ Life Experiences (SNPHAR). According to the data, approximately 11.5 million, or 50.78%, of children aged 13-17 have experienced one or more forms of violence in their lifetime.
The action-thriller The Siege at Thorn High will not only entertain with its fresh genre and compelling storytelling, supported by talented actors and a major Hollywood studio, but also raise a very important and relevant issue for the Indonesian public.
The Siege at Thorn High will be released in Indonesian theaters on April 17, 2025. Stay updated with the latest news and developments on the film via Instagram @comeandseepictures.
Leave a Reply