Lift the Minahasa Legend, Horror Film 'Songko' Releases First Teaser and is Ready to Show 2026

Songko (IST) Film

JAKARTA - The Indonesian film industry is back with the latest horror work that explores local wisdom. The World Mencekam Studio, which collaborated with Santara Production House, officially released the teaser trailer for its first film titled Songko.

This film tells the story of a legend who lives in the community of North Sulawesi, especially the Minahasa and Tomohon areas. Through the first teaser released, Songko immediately presents the gripping atmosphere of a village haunted by mysterious terror at the foot of Mount Lokon.

Interestingly, Songko became the debut stage for Gerald Mamahit's directing on the big screen. Previously, Gerald was better known to the public as a screenwriter for a series of popular horror films in the country. Through this film, he not only presents jumpscare, but also tries to explore the wealth of folklore from East Indonesia.

"Songko is a story that is very close to the culture and legends of the Minahasa people. We want to present a horror that feels authentic, not just visually frightening, but also has a strong story root from local traditions," said Gerald Mamahit in an official statement quoted by VOI, Thursday, April 2.

This film was born from the vision of the Santara Production House which saw the potential of regional stories that have not been widely explored. Carrying the concept of hyperlocal storytelling, Santara not only makes North Sulawesi as a visual background.

The production team even specifically built a location set at the foot of Mount Lokon, Tomohon, which is projected to become a sustainable creative infrastructure. This regional film ecosystem is also realized by involving the majority of the original cast and crew from Minahasa, Manado, and Tomohon.

A number of well-known Indonesian actors were also invited to star in Songko, including Annette Edoarda, Imelda Therinne, Fergie Brittany, Tegar Satria, and Khiva Iskak.

For Khiva Iskak, this project gives a magical impression of its own because the story is close to the beliefs of the local community. "When undergoing the shooting process in Tomohon, the atmosphere feels very strong and supports the atmosphere of the story. That makes the experience of playing in this film feels very intense," said Khiva.

The same thing was expressed by Annette Edoarda. He said that the attraction of Songko lies in the social conflict that accompanies the terror of supernatural beings.

"The story is about fear, accusations, and how a village can be torn apart by a terror they don't understand. That's what makes this story feel so emotional and gripping," explained Annette.

Set in 1986, Songko tells the story of a village in Tomohon that is gripped by extraordinary fear. One by one, the young women in the village are found brutally dead without any logical explanation.

Residents believe that the series of deaths is the work of Songko, a mysterious entity believed to hunt for the sacred blood of young women in order to achieve immortality. The mass fear triggered hysteria and suspicion that eventually targeted Mikha's family.

Mikha's stepmother, Helsye, is accused of being the figure who called Songko to their village. When fear transforms into mass anger, the village is divided. The brotherhood is cracked and conflicts between residents explode in the midst of the terror of a creature that has just started its actions.

For local horror lovers, the curiosity about the horror in Minahasa land must be kept a little longer. The film Songko is scheduled to be released simultaneously in cinemas across Indonesia on April 23, 2026.