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Santet

Name: Santet
Director: Sisworo Gautama Putra
Released: 1988
Duration: 94 min

Representation Score

2.2/10

Limited

1988

Director

Sisworo Gautama Putra

Runtime

94 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Santet is a genre-driven exploration of superstition and social instability. It succeeds in providing cultural authenticity by focusing on Indonesian social dynamics and local beliefs, avoiding Western clichés. However, the film limits itself by adhering to traditional horror archetypes and rigid gender roles. Female characters primarily serve as plot devices rather than independent drivers of the story. Ultimately, the film studies communal instability, testing religious figures and social institutions against supernatural and criminal forces.

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Category Breakdown

Does Santet have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows traditional structures typical of 1980s Indonesian horror and does not include any queer narratives or non-cisgender identities.

How does Santet portray gender?

Limited

Women play minor roles in the story, functioning mainly as catalysts for conflict rather than having a significant role in driving the story of their own.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Santet?

Fair

The film centers an indigenous Southeast Asian perspective, offering meaningful representation of non-Western social structures and local folklore.

How does Santet represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story examines the tension between religious authority and criminal elements, presenting a dark look at social order through the lens of communal justice and populist fervor.

Does Santet include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of the film portraying physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Centers an indigenous Southeast Asian perspective and local folklore.
Avoids the white-centric lens common in Western cinema.
Explores nuanced themes of religious authority and social instability.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant roles for female characters, who mainly serve as plot catalysts.
Adheres to traditional, straight-centered gender and social structures.
Provides no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or disabilities.

Official Synopsis

After poisoning his wife, local gangster Bisman blames her death on the village cleric and instigates an outraged mob to burn down his hut, killing him in the process. The cleric’s wife Katemi escapes into the jungle, eventually meeting Nyi Angker, a half-crocodile half-witch who gives Katemi diabolical powers, thus allowing her to commence a bloody revenge.

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