Official Trailer DREADOUT (2019) – Caitlin Halderman, Jefri Nichol

DreadOut is an Indonesian horror film inspired by the popular video game of the same name. The film follows a group of high school students who, while exploring an abandoned building, unknowingly awaken vengeful supernatural forces that bring their worst fears to life. The story blends traditional horror elements with supernatural Indonesian folklore, creating a tense and chilling atmosphere throughout.

The film’s protagonist is a young woman named Linda (played by Citra Prima), who is part of a group of school friends led by her classmate, Ardi (played by Jefri Nichol). The group of teenagers decides to explore an old, seemingly haunted building for fun, using their phones to record their adventures. However, as they explore deeper into the structure, they encounter a series of disturbing supernatural events that grow progressively more terrifying.

As the group navigates the eerie building, they find themselves trapped in a dark world where the line between reality and the supernatural begins to blur. Unseen forces begin to manipulate their fears, manifesting deadly ghosts and spirits based on their deepest anxieties and insecurities. Each of the characters must confront their personal fears to survive as the building’s malevolent power takes hold.

At the heart of the haunting is a vengeful spirit who is trying to trap the souls of those who enter the building. This spirit is tied to the tragedy of the building’s history, which the group must uncover in order to break free from the supernatural grasp and survive the nightmare they have found themselves in.

Themes:

• Fear and Survival: DreadOut explores how individuals confront their most primal fears when faced with life-threatening situations. The film taps into universal fears such as isolation, death, and the unknown, presenting a supernatural threat that is both terrifying and personal to each character.
• Supernatural and Folklore: The film incorporates elements of Indonesian mythology and horror traditions, drawing from ghostly legends and folklore. These elements add a cultural layer to the film, distinguishing it from typical Western horror films and creating a more localized atmosphere.
• Technology and Horror: The group’s use of smartphones and social media as a way to record their adventure is a central plot point in DreadOut. This modern element ties into the contemporary horror trend, where technology becomes a tool that both aids and hinders characters’ attempts to escape danger.

Tone and Style:

The tone of DreadOut is tense, dark, and claustrophobic. The film builds its horror slowly, allowing suspense to mount as the characters delve deeper into the building. The eerie atmosphere is amplified by the haunting soundtrack, which accentuates the supernatural dread lurking in every corner.

Much of the film’s horror comes from the psychological terror that the characters experience. The use of supernatural forces manifests in both visual and auditory scares, creating an atmosphere of fear that keeps the audience on edge. The filmmakers use unsettling imagery, such as distorted ghosts and shadowy figures, to evoke a sense of dread that lingers throughout the film.

The supernatural elements are handled with a mix of practical effects and digital enhancement, which gives the film a gritty and raw feel. This is in line with its video game roots, where players often encounter disturbing imagery and jump scares. The ghosts and spirits that haunt the building are visually distinct, drawing inspiration from Indonesian horror culture to present a variety of terrifying entities.

Reception:

DreadOut received mixed to positive reviews from critics and audiences, especially those who were familiar with the video game. Fans of the game appreciated the film’s adaptation of the source material, even though it diverged from the game’s mechanics in some ways. The film’s pacing, while somewhat slow in the beginning, picks up momentum as it builds toward its climactic finale. Some critics noted that while the film effectively captured the horror and suspense of the game, the character development and plot could have been more fleshed out.

The film’s cultural aspects, specifically its use of Indonesian folklore and ghost mythology, were also praised. These elements gave DreadOut a unique flavor in the genre of horror films, which often focus on Western traditions of ghosts and hauntings.