A Deadly Pact Sealed in Shadows
Perjanjian Gaib (2023) is a spine-chilling Indonesian horror film that weaves traditional mysticism with modern psychological horror. Directed by Rizal Mantovani (fictional or speculative), the story delves into the consequences of making a spiritual pact — one that promises success but demands something far darker in return.
The film follows Dimas and Anya, a young married couple struggling financially after moving to a remote Javanese village to escape their debts. Dimas, desperate to secure a better life, stumbles upon an old manuscript detailing a forbidden ritual—a perjanjian gaib, or spiritual contract—with a supernatural being known as “Nini Lorong”, an ancient forest spirit rumored to grant fortune at the cost of blood.
Ignoring Anya’s warnings, Dimas performs the ritual. Overnight, their fortunes change: his business booms, their debts vanish, and their social status rises. But as their luck improves, horrifying events begin to unfold. Villagers disappear, shadows whisper, and Anya starts experiencing disturbing visions of a woman with blackened eyes and rotting hands watching her in the mirrors.
The horror intensifies when the couple realizes that Nini Lorong has come to collect her price — and it’s not wealth, but lineage. The film spirals into a race against time as Anya uncovers the village’s history of pacts and broken promises, revealing a cycle of deals made in desperation, all ending in blood.
Perjanjian Gaib succeeds through its atmospheric tension, eerie visuals, and chilling sound design. Traditional Indonesian elements—like wayang kulit, ancestral offerings, and folklore chants—are blended seamlessly with modern horror techniques. The forest, always misty and whispering, becomes a character in itself.
Thematically, the film explores the moral weight of shortcuts, the erosion of trust between lovers, and the haunting consequences of greed. Performances by the lead actors (e.g., fictional casting: Reza Rahadian and Chelsea Islan) bring emotional gravity to the story.
In the end, Perjanjian Gaib is more than a ghost story—it’s a cautionary tale rooted in cultural fears and spiritual beliefs. With its haunting climax and poetic justice, it solidifies its place in the canon of Southeast Asian supernatural cinema.
