Written and directed by Joko Anwar, a notorious prison, an invisible force begins killing inmates brutally, compelling enemy gangs and corrupt guards to work together as they try to survive the mounting bloodshed. Starring: Abimana Aryasatya, Bront Palarae, Dimas Danang, Endy Arfian, Lukman Sardi, Mike Lucock, Yoga Pratama, Morgan Oey and Aming Sugandhi.
You know what you’re getting from Ghost in the Cell right off the bat, it’s loud, it’s theatrical, it’s intense and loves some violence and classic male aggression. It’s unlikely you’d be going into a film like this and expecting subtlety, but just in case, there will be none found. Everything is done with a boldness and big energy, which mostly works but there is the odd exception. Mostly that the sense of humour can be rather old-fashioned or ham-fisted, and it has a penchant for cliché and being crude in a 2000s kind of way.
However, that is nowhere near big enough of an issue to prevent you from enjoying Ghost in the Cell because it knows what it is, there’s a self-awareness, because ultimately, it is aiming for that Southeast Asian, male audience, so the choices are fitting. So, overlooking those moments, once the film hits its stride you find a dark playfulness and nicely exaggerated action. The choreography is great work, both for the fights and the dancing, and both are a lot of fun to watch. There’s an incredibly twisted artistry to the violence, the deaths and staging of the bodies are unexpectedly inventive.
The story is relatively simple, which was a good choice, a haunting with a nice, very relevant, theme of anti-corruption. It moves well, coming in at an hour and forty five minutes, although the supernatural element could arrive sooner, it takes a little time to establish itself fully. However, that does give you time to get to know these characters as their friendships, camaraderie and rivalries are a huge part of Ghost in the Cell. There’s a great ensemble and the core group get a great opportunity to be silly and sarcastic, and create this charming dynamic that becomes the heart of the film, as they scramble to stay calm, and stay alive.
Ghost in the Cell does exactly what it sets out to do, provide viewers with a good time. It’s entertaining, funny and surprisingly bloody. It’s got a great creative vein, the ensemble is excellent, it’s paced well and has an unexpected charm. Joko Anwar instils a very big, theatrical energy into the film which is entirely unapologetic in a fun way. It’s well designed, and while not without its flaws, it is a great piece of comedy horror. For the full experience, make sure you stick around for the credits.
