Home Video Menu
Home Prev Next Menu
Better experience in portrait mode.
Mystical Story of the Screenwriter of 'CERITA LILA', Terrorized by the Sound of Claws on Glass

Mystical Story of the Screenwriter of 'CERITA LILA', Terrorized by the Sound of Claws on Glass

Horror Film

kapanlagi
Swipe Up to See the Photos
Mystical Story of the Screenwriter of 'CERITA LILA', Terrorized by the Sound of Claws on Glass

The process of writing the script for the film CERITA LILA turned out to leave a rather chilling mystical story for the creative team behind the scenes. Abdal and Gereksi, as the screenwriters, admitted to experiencing various disturbances beyond reason while trying to string together words to bring to life the tragic story of Lila and Lili.

Abdal recounted that writing a story based on true events has a very different and much heavier energy. The pressure to convey the feelings experienced by the original characters made the writers conduct in-depth research with direct guidance from Sara Wijayanto.

"It's true what Mr. Amrit said earlier, we have to seek guidance from Mbak Sara because Mbak Sara is like, how should I put it, a bridge for the spirits that really exist," said Abdal when met in the Kasablanka area, South Jakarta, Wednesday (06/05/2026).

<nil>

Abdal shared his personal experience of feeling followed by an invisible entity while he was focused on completing the draft of the script at his home. The disturbances he experienced occurred repeatedly and at quite specific times. Strange noises near the window of his room often emerged, creating a real horror atmosphere, not just an imagination for the sake of the film.

<nil>

"At first when I was offered, I didn’t know, maybe it was suggestion or something, but when I was offered this project in the room, it felt like there was a nail on the glass, you know. And it happened every time after the night prayer like that," Abdal recounted his experience.

<nil>

The fear felt by the writing team led them to perform a unique trick to remain focused on their work. They even tried temporarily changing the names of the characters in the script so they wouldn’t feel visited by the original figures being told.

<nil>

"What was the reason? The reason might be... oh that was before, that's why due to that disturbance we had to change the name of the character because we were really afraid that every time we wrote Rahma, it felt like she suddenly appeared," he explained further.

<nil>

Meanwhile, Gereksi also added that this film is not just about physical fear, but also horror that drains emotions. He felt both in love and pity for the fates of the characters he wrote with Abdal during the quarantine process.

<nil>

"This is one of the horror films that we wrote, but it’s not just a horror film; it’s also one of the saddest films we’ve ever written. Wow... because of Lila's story itself and also from Ms. Sara's story, this is indeed a family tragedy," said Gereksi.

<nil>

CERITA LILA, which will be released simultaneously in theaters starting June 18, 2026, tells a supernatural journey about two twin children named Lila and Lili who experience a tragic fate as they are murdered by their own mother. The story focuses on Lila's character as she tries to find her twin, Lili, in a different realm, which also brings deep mysteries and a sense of loss.