'Ghost in the Cell' Review
Release Date: 10/02/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Drama. Horror.
MPAA: Rated TVMA.
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment.
The Verdict: A Must-See
Some movies make you think, “What the…did I just watch?” Joko Anwar’s Ghost in the Cell is one of those underrated gems. In this prison drama/horror comedy, gore, religious hypocrisy, and political themes about the injustice of the incarceration system mash together to create a thrill ride from start to finish. As good films come and go, it’s rare to find one that is unique, entertaining, and highly intelligent. This one has my money for all three.
ِAnwar sets his murder spree in prison, one of the most hopeless places on earth. He introduces a cast of characters who keep audiences intrigued. There’s Anggoro, the rebel prisoner; Wildan, the showy Muslim; Dimas, the corporate dropout who seems protected by an angel of hell; and Six, who sees ghosts. As bodies start piling up -gory and artsy- around them in the metal canister that is prison, our protagonists start putting two and two together to figure out why their jail time has a body count.
I have to admit, shamefully, that I wasn't familiar with Anwar’s work before this movie. But his creative script, his perfect blend of gore and comedy, his subtle and coy political satire, and his masterful jabs at religious bias and hypocrisy show that we are in front of a prolific director in command of his tools, who knows exactly what he is doing and when to deliver the punches or hold the suspense, messing with the audience’s emotions. Anwar also has some decent acting credits, and he has a great eye for casting the Ghost in the Cell heroes and foes. The cast is perfect, most notably Abimana Aryasatya as Anggoro, Lukman Sardi as Pendi, Mike Lucock as Wildan, and Yoga Pratama as Six. This team of misfit reluctant bandits has the audience rooting for them, hoping they’d all come out of this horrific ordeal alive.
Ghost in the Cell is like if Brawl in Cell Block 99 and They Will Kill You had a baby. But that offspring is rogue, rebellious, and lives independently of mommy and daddy. It’s one of the most fun viewing experiences this year: a bold commentary on politics and religion, and how they intersect to subdue and dominate, but also a cool, fun watch no matter how deeply you choose to inspect the narrative.
Where to Watch:
