Director Azhar Kinoi Lubis Reveals Reasons For Using Black And White In Maryam's Film

Poster Film Maryam (Instagram @film.mayam)

JAKARTA - After successfully making the audience digitize while participating in the process of bathing the body in the horror film Pemandin Jenazah, now VMS Studio is back with promising horror works through the film Maryam: A Bound Promise and Soul.

A recent collaborative work by writer Lele Laila and director Azhar Kinoi Lubis, who has produced various exploitative horror works in Indonesia.

VMS Studio again presents a unique and unusual story through Maryam's story. The woman who was loved by the strongest jinn figure, and throughout her life for more than 26 years, he continued to be followed by this figure.

This film will reveal a mysterious romance, from a different world, and will disturb the audience's mind when watching the terror that Maryam faces. With the story idea that is unique and different, VMS also encourages creative exploration through the presentation of the black and white concept at the opening of the film.

A bold approach that is rarely taken by the Indonesian horror genre. The opening of this film opens with visual black and white which will bring the audience into little Maryam's life. The moment when a series of terror in Maryam's life begins, "said producer Maryam: Promise and Jiwa Yang Tied Tony Ramesh quoted by VOI from a media broadcast, Wednesday, September 10.

The approach of visual black and white as the opening of this film is narrativeally important to build intense terror nuances from the start. We will see the intensity of the scene even since the film began, including when Maryam injured ustaz who would help her. On the other hand, the visual selection of black and white at the film opening also means the darkness of Maryam's life, even since she was a child," added director Azhar Kinoi Lubis.

Positive reactions came from several reviewer films that had the opportunity to watch Maryam's film first.

One of them is @cinemuach, which is widely followed by Twitter/X users because of its views and recommendations about film, which reveals that this film has succeeded in presenting different horrors and providing different treatments.

Treatment is different from the existence of black and white to give the highlight of the time difference, because in this film there is Maryam's journey from childhood to adulthood. And that's what makes me go into the story until the end, the decisions of the filmmakers are more inviting to empathize. And Claresta Taufan managed to play Maryam, "said @Cinemuach.

Meanwhile, positive reviews also came from the Twitter / X account @paradigamfilm. The opening part of the film is one of their favorites.

"I really like the opening scene, it's crazy. Even though it's black and white, the gripping feeling is getting it. I really like it," said @paradigamfilm.

The film stars Claresta Taufan, Wafda Saifan, Debo Andryos, Maryam Supraba, Rukman Rosadi, and Shaqueena Medina. Following the story of Maryam, who lived with terror that had never stopped since she was born.

He received a mysterious letter that always appeared in front of him, no matter being thrown away or burned. Maryam knows that she is no longer alone. The invisible figure tied him up with a dark promise, followed every step, whispering words he could only hear.

The more he tries to escape, the stronger the shackles will be, until Maryam doesn't know anymore, is he alive? or just belongs to that figure forever.

Maryam's horror film: Bound Promises and Souls will hit theaters throughout Indonesia starting September 18, 2025. With a tense story full of emotions, this film witnessed Claresta Taufan's debut as a leading role, as well as a new chapter that marked his maturity in the world of Indonesian cinema.