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Jailangkung: Sandekala

Name: Jailangkung: Sandekala
Director: Kimo Stamboel
Released: 2022
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

4.1/10

Fair

2022

Director

Kimo Stamboel

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jailangkung: Sandekala is a culturally specific horror film that emphasizes its Indonesian identity through the use of local mythologies and spiritual concepts. By focusing on the Jailangkung ritual and local folklore, it provides a unique perspective that counters Western-centric horror norms. However, the film maintains traditional social structures. The narrative prioritizes the preservation of a conventional nuclear family and adheres to standard gender dynamics without challenging them. While the film offers a fresh non-Western mythological framework, it lacks depth in representing diverse identities. It does not actively integrate various backgrounds or challenge established social hierarchies within its character arcs.

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Category Breakdown

Does Jailangkung: Sandekala have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on a traditional family structure and does not include any characters with non-conforming gender identities or stories that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Jailangkung: Sandekala portray gender?

Fair

The story follows a traditional family hierarchy where female characters play central roles but often react to supernatural threats rather than driving the plot themselves.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Jailangkung: Sandekala?

Excellent

The film stands out by featuring an Indonesian cast and incorporating local folklore and spiritual concepts, which deviates from Western-centric supernatural themes.

How does Jailangkung: Sandekala represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative is grounded in regional mysticism and ancestral traditions, moving away from a singular Christian moral framework by exploring the consequences of engaging with local spiritual beliefs.

Does Jailangkung: Sandekala include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no notable inclusion or depiction of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong cultural authenticity through the use of Indonesian folklore and indigenous spiritual concepts.
Effective disruption of Western-centric supernatural clichés by centering a local mythological framework.
High level of ethnic specificity that reinforces the film's regional identity.

Limited or Absent

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-conforming gender expressions.
Reliance on traditional, reactive gender roles within the family hierarchy.
Absence of diverse identities or characters that challenge conventional social structures.

Official Synopsis

The supernatural terror centers on a small family consisting of Adrian and his wife Sandra, along with their two children, Niki and Kinan, who are on vacation out of town.

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