[Review]: Pabrik Gula

Indonesian supernatural chiller Pabrik Gula directed by Awi Suryadi, portrays the haunting outcome of when traditional values are at odds with modern sensibilities. Taking on a very James Wan-esque style of ghost story telling, the film centres itself around a group of young factory workers who begin to experience supernatural phenomena that will soon put all of their lives at risk.

Starring an ensemble cast that includes tv star Ersya Aurelia and Erika Carlina, Pabrik Gula opens hopefully on a group of young adults as they make their way to an old sugar factory to work and earn money for the harvest season. Whilst having to also live onsite in the factory, the laborers notice ghostly apparitions which they have inadvertently awakened due to their extra curricular activities. 

Despite the ghost action starting barely fifteen minutes into the film, it soon becomes clear that Pabrik Gula follows a typical paint-by-numbers system when it comes to supernatural scares. With an over-saturation of jump scares and very little plot or character development attached to them, the horror aspect of the film soon loses its effectiveness. As the film begins to delve into more of a folk horror aspect, Pabrik Gula falls into more of a morality conundrum, with those who fall out of social expectations being punished for their actions. 

Despite its high quality in production, cinematography and acting, Pabrik Gula is a very stereotypical middle of the road supernatural horror, timidly hitting every expected ghostly beat and barely stepping outside the limits set by filmmakers such as James Wan. 

2.5 Screams out of 5