The Siege at Thorn High (Indonesian: Pengepungan Di Bukit Duri) is a 2025 Indonesian dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Joko Anwar, co-produced by Amazon MGM Studios and starring Morgan Oey.
The film was released by Amazon MGM Studios through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on 17 April 2025.
Premise
Set in 2027, the film follows Edwin (Morgan Oey), substitute teacher working at Thorn High—a juvenile detention center for troubled teens—while searching for his missing nephew. As Edwin struggles to relate to his unruly students, he eventually finds his nephew. However, their reunion is cut short when anti-Chinese riots suddenly hit the city. Trapped within the school's walls, Edwin and his nephew must fight for their survival against a group of brutal students determined to eliminate them.[1]
The film was first announced in July 2022 and is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Joko Anwar's Come and See Pictures, with Anwar attached to direct and Tia Hasibuan to produce. It was initially announced as an Amazon Prime Video original film.[2] It is Anwar’s first non-horror film since 2019 and is his first collaboration with an American studio and a first collaboration with lead actor Morgan Oey.[3] Omara Esteghlal and Hana Malasan also were set to lead the cast which includes Fatih Unru, Satine Zaneta, Dewa Dayana, Florian Rutters, Faris Fadjar Munggaran, Sandy Pradana, Raihan Khan, Sheila Kusnadi, Millo Taslim, Bima Azriel and Farandika.[4]Principal photography had wrapped in October 2024.[5]
Release
The film was theatrically released in Indonesia on 17 April 2025.[6] It exceeded a million admissions on its tenth day of release.[7]
Reception
Pengepungan di Bukit Duri received generally thoughtful commentary from Indonesian media, particularly for its social themes and historical context. Cinemags noted the film’s gripping prologue, which evokes the traumatic events of the May 1998 riots in Indonesia.[8] The publication highlighted how the film reflects lingering anti-Chinese sentiment within society and explores its impact on daily life. Republika similarly emphasized the film’s focus on Indonesia's ongoing social crises, particularly violence and discrimination.[9] The outlet pointed out the film’s implicit references to the 1998 riots, portraying the Chinese–Indonesian community as a vulnerable minority subject to systemic prejudice.
During a press conference, co-writer Tia stated that setting the film in 2027 was a deliberate choice, intended as a warning. "It’s meant to be urgent, because 2027 is not far away," she said. "History can repeat itself if we fail to be cautious, if we don’t reflect, talk about, or attempt to heal the trauma of our nation’s past." Director Joko Anwar revealed that the screenplay was originally completed in 2008 but was intentionally postponed in the hope that Indonesia's social climate would improve. By 2024, however, both he and Tia felt that the country had not changed significantly, prompting them to proceed with the film. “Seventeen years after we wrote the script, Indonesia still struggles with the same issues,” Joko remarked.
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