Marcel Chandrawinata Debuts as a Horror Producer in 'THE DARK HOUSE', Challenges Himself to Step Out of His Comfort Zone

"Since 2005 I have been involved as an actor. Finally, I want to try something new, I'm curious about what it feels like to work behind the scenes. And it turns out to be quite difficult," said Marcel Chandrawinata at the Gala Premiere of THE DARK HOUSE at XXI Epicentrum, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Monday (2/6/2025).

As a producer, Marcel has responsibilities that are much greater compared to when he was an actor. He must ensure that all production stages run according to the direction from the very beginning of the process until the release. 

"As an actor, we only delve into the character and give our best during filming. But being a producer is different, there are many steps. From start to finish, we have to be involved and ensure everything goes according to our vision," explained Marcel Chandrawinata.

Although it is his first time sitting in the producer's chair, Marcel did not play it safe by choosing a drama or romance genre. Instead, he jumped straight into the horror genre, which he hasn't explored much until now. "I rarely act in horror films, but my debut as a producer is in this genre. After this, maybe I'll act in a horror film too," he revealed.

The film THE DARK HOUSE tells the story of a couple, Dewi and Arya, played by Karina Ranau and Ade Bilal Perdana. In the story, Arya is depicted as experiencing psychological disturbances in the form of psychosis that leads them to an old house. The location of the house on the slopes of Mount Selamet becomes the main backdrop for various terrifying events they experience.

The plan to rest and undergo a pregnancy program in the house turned into the beginning of a disaster. Slowly, Dewi realized that there was something strange and frightening that couldn't be explained logically. The tension escalated when Arya suddenly disappeared, forcing Dewi to ask for help from her two friends, Gaby and Ansel.

They then tried a mystical game called Charlie Charlie, which is said to be able to summon spirits. However, this action only opened the door to far more terrifying supernatural events that were beyond control. Charlie Charlie itself is a spirit-summoning game that went viral and is believed to be able to summon evil spirits.

In addition to presenting classic horror elements and local mysticism, this film is also strengthened by a cast of talented young actors. Among them are Ade Bilal Perdana, Karina Ranau, Theo Culver, Delia Alena, and Roy Turaekan, as well as a guard dog that plays a significant role in the story.