Danur

Last updated
Danur: I Can See Ghosts
Danur poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAwi Suryadi
Written byLele Laila
Ferry Lesmana
Risa Saraswati
Produced byDian Sasmita Faisal
Starring Prilly Latuconsina
Sandrinna Michelle
Shareefa Daanish
Kinaryosih
Indra Brotolaras
Inggrid Widjanarko
CinematographyAdrian Sugiono
Edited byFirdauzi Trizkiyanto
Music byRicky Lionardi
Production
company
Pichouse Films
Distributed byMD Pictures
Dee Company
Release date
  • 30 March 2017 (2017-03-30)
CountryIndonesia
Language Indonesian
Box officeUS$9.23 million

Danur (English: Danur: I Can See Ghosts) is a 2017 Indonesian horror film directed by Awi Suryadi and written by Lele Laila, starring Prilly Latuconsina, Shareefa Daanish, Wesley Andrew in lead roles. The film's story is adapted from a novel written by Risa Saraswati and is based on a friendship between ghosts and humans. [1] It is the highest-grossing Indonesian horror movie and has led to two sequels, Danur 2: Maddah [2] and Danur 3: Sunyaruri . Three spin-offs, Asih (2018), Silam (2018), Asih 2 (2020) and Ivanna (2022), have also been released.

Contents

Plot

Risa Saraswati is a girl who lives with her rich and busy mother Elly, who works as a teacher. Her father, meanwhile, works overseas, and only visits once every six months. She is displayed as an introvert due to the miserable broken home she lives in. Her mother does not celebrate her eighth birthday. Thus, she celebrates it herself, wishing for new friends to cope with her loneliness. Suddenly, she hears a boy singing "Boneka Abdi," a Sundanese song that is claimed to be an invitation for ghosts. She then sees a group of Indonesian-speaking Dutch children: Peter, Janshen, and William, who died during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies and can only be seen by Risa. Upon request by Elly, the shamanist Asep explains to Risa that her ability is due to another ability to smell danur, the scent of the dead. Gaslighted, she sees the kids in their dead forms, scaring her and prompting her to forget about them.

Nine years later, Risa goes back to her childhood house with her little sister Riri and cousin Andri, assigned by Elly, now overseas, to take care of her dying grandmother until a nurse arrives. Whilst playing around the house, Riri discovers a ficus tree once warned to Risa by the kids to never approach it. That night, nurse Asih arrives at the house, and Risa starts feeling suspicious towards her, especially after she gets along with Riri instantly. Andri says that he is unable to see Asih, concluding that Asih is a ghost. Amidst a supernatural sabotage, Asih kidnaps Riri, and attacks Risa's grandmother and Andri, knocking them unconscious. Risa calls Elly and reports Asih's malice. She later plays "Boneka Abdi" on her dusty piano, bringing the kids back, who travel with Risa to the spiritual realm, where Asih drowns Riri in the bathtub. Simultaneously, Elly meets Asep, who tells her that Asih was a woman who committed suicide after killing her newborn baby produced through zina. Asih's spirit roams around the world, searching for children that can replace her murdered child. By placing Asih's comb in the ficus tree and stabbing its roots, Risa and the kids succeed in rescuing Riri.

The next day, everyone moves away from the house. However, Risa insists that she will never forget her ghost friends. Later, a girl finds Asih's comb, and it is hinted that Asih's spirit is reawakened.

Cast

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of CeremonyCategoryRecipient(s)/Nominee(s)ResultRef.
Indonesian Box Office Movie AwardsMarch 23, 2018Best Box Office MovieDanur: I Can See GhostsNominated [3]
Best Actress in a Leading Role Prilly Latuconsina Nominated [3]
Best Actress in a Supporting RoleShareffa DaanishNominated [3]
Best DirectorAwi SuryadiNominated [3]
Best ScreenwriterLele Laila, Ferry LesmanaNominated [3]
Best Movie TrailerDanur: I Can See GhostsNominated [3]
Best Ensemble TalentPrilly Latuconsina, Indra BrotolarasNominated [3]
Top 10 Box Office Movie of 2017Danur: I Can See GhostsWon [4]

References

  1. Afrisia, Rizky Sekar. "Rahasia 'Asih,' Wajah Seram 'Danur' yang Hantui Prilly". CNN Indonesia. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  2. "Dissecting Danur, The Highest Grossing Indonesia's Horror Movie to Date - The Display". The Display. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sari, Ine Yulita (16 March 2018). "IBOMA 2018 Siap Digelar, Siapa Saja yang Masuk Nominasi?" [2018 IBOMA is ready to be held, who are the nominees?]. Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  4. "Daftar Peraih Piala Indonesian Box office Movie Awards 2018" [Winners of the 2018 Indonesian Box Office Movie Awards]. Viva (in Indonesian). 24 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.