JAKARTA - The Indonesian horror film industry is again enlivened by the presence of the film "Kuyank". Different from most horror films dominated by the Javanese cultural background, "Kuyank" presents a fresh breath by lifting the richness of authentic traditions, myths, and ecosystems from the Banjar land, Kalimantan.
The writer of the script, Asaf Antariksa, explained that this film wants to straighten out the public's misunderstanding about the Kuyang myth. If until now Kuyang is considered a bloodthirsty figure who is deadly, in this film the audience will be invited to see another side that is more emotional and close to social reality.
"The myth we took is that Kuyang does not kill. In Banjar, this myth is usually tied to the desire for beauty, husband's love, and youth," said Asaf in South Jakarta, Friday, January 23.
According to him, the choice not to make Kuyang as a killer figure actually gives room for stronger local traditional dramas.
By taking the visual backdrop of Kalimantan's exotic waters, this film seeks to bring to life a universe of traditions rarely touched by the big screen.
Director Johansyah Jumberan admitted that realizing "Kuyank" was not an easy matter. Learning from the experience of working on previous projects such as Saranjana, Jo - his nickname - poured all his abilities to ensure this film has quality above average.
"We brought hundreds of people to the interior of Kalimantan with a journey of almost 5 hours. For CGI itself, we worked on it for a full year with a team that has won the FFI twice in a row," explained Jo.
Not only technical CGI, Jo also emphasized the totality in the construction of the set. About 60 percent of the sets, including houses, were built from scratch to get an authentic impression.
The use of high-end cameras such as the Alexa 35 also shows that this production was made to a high standard.
"This production is not a joke. I want to give my best," he added.
For Rio, one of the main actors, filming in Kalimantan gave him an unforgettable experience. In addition to getting to know the majority of the Banjar people who are religious and friendly, he also felt the uniqueness of the local culture.
"The experience of shooting in Banjar was very enjoyable. If it wasn't for this project, I probably would never have gone to Kalimantan. The people are friendly, even though I was confused why there were so many 'Wong Solo' restaurants there," Rio joked.
During the filming, Rio also enjoyed the nature of Kalimantan by fishing, although he joked that he never got fish. For him, this film is a form of respect for the birthplace of the director and a means to introduce the Banjar culture to the national arena.
The film Kuyank itself will begin airing on January 29. Featuring the acting of Rio Dewanto, Putri Intan Kasela, Ochi Rosdiana, to Barry Prima.
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