Susuk

A genre film that is both a homage to and satire on its own genre. A film with many sides that occasionally consciously contradict each other. Firstly, it’s a horror film as they no longer are made. Susuk mirrors film making from a more classic era. In addition, the film holds up a mirror to a very modern world – fleeting fame in the media. The film also mixes various styles and genres and is both dark and light-hearted and humorous.
‘Susuk’ is a practice of magic in which small, valuable objects are inserted under someone’s skin. People with a special talent maintain and strengthen their talent in this way and beautiful people keep their beauty. But in this film, a high price has to be paid. For one person’s beauty, someone else literally has to bleed.
The film is set in the world of television celebrities. They seek solace in the dangerous practice of susuk. Less famous people are sacrificed for this. Suzana (named after the queen of the Indonesian horror film) is a diva who is totally held in thrall by her susuk master. She shows what the young nurse and wannabe diva Soraya still has coming to her. Suzana even ventures to use ‘susuk keramat’, which demands human sacrifices.
The film was a major topic of discussion in its own country. The involvement of the essayist Amir Muhammad even made some people regard the film as a political satire. (GjZ)

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