Pabrik Gula is directed by Awi Suryadi, and the cast includes Arbani Yasiz, Ersya Aureli, Erika Carlina, Bukie B. Mansyur, Wavi Zihan.
My Thoughts on Pabrik Gula
The premise of Pabrik Gula is a deceptively simple one: a group of seasonal workers is hired to help with the sugarcane harvest at a factory in a remote village. It seems like any other job, but, of course, things quickly spiral into supernatural chaos. What starts as a typical workplace setting rapidly turns a bit sinister.
The workers, led by Endah (Ersya Aurelia), think they’re just there to do the grind. But soon, one of them dies in an accident, another in a cursed well, and the group realizes they’re trapped in a place that's far from ordinary. It turns out the factory sits on the edge of a demonic realm, and the spirits are angry - but why? That’s one mystery the workers have to solve before they’re all picked off.
Pabrik Gula is a movie oozing in atmosphere, and from the moment you watch the workers step into the factory, a sense of dread will begin to build, and the movie doesn't waste time making you feel like something is off. It's this oppressive environment where you can practically feel the malevolent spirits lurking just out of sight. The supernatural elements are pretty well-executed too, with spirits appearing out of nowhere, quiet whispers on the wind, and an ever-present sense that you're being watched.
But, the movie falters a bit when it starts piling on every possible supernatural element it can find. There's demons, curses, possessions, black magic, and it quickly becomes a blur of horror tropes that overwhelm the narrative, with the pacing being the biggest culprit here.
The first half of the film spends way too much time focusing on character development, and while it’s nice to know a bit about the workers, it’s not what I signed up for. By the time the supernatural chaos kicks in, it feels like the film has spent too long on unnecessary side stories, leaving you scrambling to catch up with what’s actually going on.
The finale, in particular, is a mess, cramming a whole season of horror tropes into one overstuffed climax. Everything is popping up left and right, and the sheer number of events happening at once makes it a bit difficult to follow. The movie tries to balance all these elements, but it ends up losing its grip on the narrative.
Pabrik Gula is a decent, albeit flawed, horror movie. Its atmosphere is fantastic, and it introduces some really interesting supernatural elements, but it’s weighed down by pacing issues and a convoluted plot that tries to do too much.
Still, if you’re a fan of supernatural horror with a twist of Indonesian folklore, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect a perfectly polished film, as it’s a messy ride that for better or worse, leaves you wondering what the heck just happened by the end.