Through Shutter Film, Niken Anjani Wants To Voice The Importance Of Safe Space For Everyone

Niken Anjani di gara premiere film Shutter (Instagram @armanfebryan)

JAKARTA - Niken Anjani is one of the actors in the film directed by Herwin Novianto, Shutter, which is produced by Falcon Pictures and will premiere in theaters on October 30.

Not just a tense spectacle that only offers supernatural tensions, the re-adaptation of the Thai film by Banjong Pisanthanakun also carries social messages relevant to today's reality, especially the issue of sexual violence in the academic environment.

Niken himself admitted that he had been a victim of sexual harassment and bullying as a child. He tried to remove the bitter experience from his memory, and he didn't want any other victims like himself.

"We are also getting older and we want to move on. We want to move, it's impossible in that hole and that's it," Niken said after the premiere of the film Shutter in Thamrin, Central Jakarta, Friday, October 24.

The desire to voice a safe space for everyone, said Niken, is a strong reason for his involvement in this film. For him, it didn't take long to accept the offer to play in the film Shutter.

"You could say one of the reasons why I was brave and wanted to take the film Shutter with the character Lilis, because I feel like an artist and an art worker, I can contribute, can voice, can express feelings of trauma, sadness, anger and disappointment from victims of bullying," he said.

"Hopefully the message can reach the audience: if a good deed will definitely get good karma and bad deeds will also get bad karma, so people can care more and can create a safe and comfortable space. Anyway #SafespaceForAll," added the actress.

Meanwhile, Shutter's main narrative centers on Darwin's character (played by Vino G. Bastian), a young photographer. His life suddenly capsized after he and his girlfriend, Pia (Anya Geraldine), got involved in a tragic accident. They hit a foreign woman on a deserted street at night, which was the beginning of an endless nightmare.

After that incident, Darwin was haunted by a strange shadow that always appeared in every shot of his camera. The figure of the same woman, who kept staring from behind the darkness, was then traced by Pia.

Pia found the fact that the entity was not just a curious spirit, but a victim of a crime that occurred in the past, which involved the practice of abuse of power in the campus environment.

The investigation then exposed the dark secrets that Darwin had been hiding tightly. The secret includes the story of sexual harassment in academics, the issue of gender inequality, and the lack of adequate reporting systems, which forced many victims to remain silent.

Furthermore, Shutter brings an important mission to urge the creation of a safe space for everyone. Through the #SafespaceForAll campaign initiative, this film tries to remind the public that sexual harassment is a systemic problem, not just a personal matter, which must be faced collectively.

Falcon Pictures producer Frederica confirmed that this film was designed to provide a layered experience for viewers. "On the surface, this is a terrible horror film. But behind that, Shutter keeps a message about justice and the courage to speak up. We want the audience not only to be afraid, but also to be touched and think," said Frederica.

For information, Shutter's tense atmosphere was also strengthened by the theme song titled At the Night Limit, performed by Danilla Riyadi. This song is an emotional thread that binds the story as well as presents the dimension of beauty in the midst of horror.

This film also stars Rangga Nattra, Dewi Gita, Michelle Tahalea, Angie Ang, and Nugie. Meanwhile, Shutter's gripping atmosphere was also strengthened by the theme song titled At the Night Limit, performed by Danilla Riyadi. This song is an emotional thread that binds the story as well as presents the dimension of beauty in the midst of horror.