Kafir: A Deal with the Devil
2018
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Representation score: 1.9 out of 10
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Tenung
Representation Score
4.8/10
Fair
2025
Director
Rizal Mantovani
Runtime
92 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Tenung is a culturally grounded supernatural drama centered around a female protagonist in a domestic setting. By placing Ira at the heart of the family's struggle, the film avoids traditional patriarchal structures. However, it remains tied to genre clichés. The film excels at utilizing Indonesian folklore to create a specific, non-Western horror framework. Yet, it risks using mental instability and mystical trauma as mere plot devices for terror. The narrative also lacks exploration of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight-centered dynamics.
Category Breakdown
Does Tenung have LGBTQ+ representation?
The film focuses solely on heterosexual and cisgender family structures. There are no representations of queer relationships or non-cisgender identities.
How does Tenung portray gender?
Ira is a strong female character who drives the household crisis. However, the portrayal of the mother as a figure of madness may reinforce negative stereotypes about women.
How racially and ethnically diverse is Tenung?
The production is rooted in Indonesian folklore and regional identity. It moves away from Anglo-centric horror by centering localized mystical traditions.
How does Tenung represent religion and culture?
The story engages deeply with traditional spiritual beliefs and black magic. It presents a worldview where supernatural forces are more powerful than rational thought.
Does Tenung include disability representation?
Linda’s mental and physical conditions drive the plot. There is a risk that her condition is used primarily as a horror element rather than a nuanced exploration of illness.
Present on Screen
- The film centers a female protagonist who drives the domestic crisis.
- It uses Indonesian folklore to create a culturally specific horror framework.
- The narrative avoids Western-centric horror clichés.
Limited or Absent
- Mental health issues are portrayed through a mystical lens, prioritizing horror over nuanced representation.
- The film lacks exploration of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight-centered dynamics.
- There is a reliance on the 'unstable female' stereotype which limits the depth of gendered characterization.
Official Synopsis
Ira lives with her mother, Linda. One day, without any rational explanation, a mystical incident causes Linda to behave like a madwoman—suffering physically and frequently hallucinating. Unable to cope with her mother's condition, Ira asks her siblings, Ara and Ari, to come home and help take care of their mother. Unfortunately, fate has other plans, and Linda eventually passes away.
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