I often find myself contemplating the concepts of life and death, pondering the existence beyond our earthly realm. Will my journey lead me to paradise or to damnation?
Certain family members and friends may reprimand me for my contemplations, deeming them excessive. However, as a Muslim, confronting the reality of the afterlife is an integral component of our faith.
We hold steadfast to the belief in Allah the Almighty, heaven and hell – a fundamental truth that shapes our worldview – and how we choose to spend our time on this earth significantly influences the outcome we aspire to attain after our death.
Recently, after viewing an Indonesian horror thriller, I was starkly reminded of this truth.
SIKSA NERAKA (2023)
Based on a comic book by M B Rahimsyah of the same name, the movie sees four siblings – Saleh, Fajar, Tyas and Azizah – raised on lessons of heaven and hell by their strict, respected ustaz father, who find themselves on an unexpected journey.
After a fateful incident where the four siblings disappear, Saleh wakes up in the very inferno his father warned him about.
As the search for the missing siblings unfolds in the mortal realm, secrets are unearthed, leaving their parents questioning their adequacy.
Meanwhile, in hell, Saleh and his siblings navigate torment while seeking each other amidst their hidden sins.
RAW REVELATION
So, this movie offers viewers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the afterlife’s darker realms.
Set in a rustic village, it delves into the lives of the four siblings mentioned earlier, each with their own unique quirks and traits.
A horror thriller movie wouldn’t be one without a tragedy striking, and it’s one when they meet a sudden and untimely demise – as I’ve mentioned earlier, only to awaken in the depths of hell.
One of the film’s standout features is its seamless narrative flow, which kept me engaged from start to finish.
It didn’t rely on typical scares; rather, it evoked a deeper sense of unease, haunting your conscience long after the credits. Rather than simply aiming to scare audiences, the director appears intent on delivering a profound wake-up call.
Through the lens of this story, viewers are compelled to confront the reality that our actions in this fleeting life will be judged in the hereafter.
The craftsmanship of the film is evident in its meticulous attention to detail. It may be low budget and CGI may be obvious in a lot of parts within the movie, but it still made up for it somehow. I can’t quite phrase it in words.
Every intense scene is enriched by a flashback, shedding light on the circumstances leading to the characters’ dire situation.
Take, for instance, when one sibling faces the gruesome consequence of having their tongue severed in the afterlife due to their history of deceit – yes, there’s a bit of gore. Of course I’d be interested in it.
MIXED FEELINGS
Alright, so rating this movie is a bit tricky for me. It’s interesting in aspects of it’s originality as I’ve never watched one like it before, and the main actors delivered quite a good performance – no, it’s not Hollywood blockbuster level yet, but even some Hollywood actors are subpar too.
The movie was banned from cinemas in both Malaysia and Brunei, facing criticism for contorversial issues.
While the storyline raises moral concerns and lacks subtlety, many films in this genre do.
It’s just oddly refreshing to see something that doesn’t feel like a rehash of familiar tropes. – Izah Azahari
