Review 'ALAS ROBAN': A Complete Horror with Perfect Ingredients

Kapanlagi.com - ALAS ROBAN, starring Michelle Ziudith, Fara Shakila, Rio Dewanto, Taskya Namya, Imelda Therinne, and Dewi Pakis, presents a horror full of mystery that is ready to make KLovers shiver from start to finish.

Directed by Hadrah Daeng Ratu and produced by Oswin Bonifanz, this film from Unlimited Production takes us to explore the dark side of one of the spookiest routes in Central Java.

The story focuses on Sita (Michelle Ziudith), a single mother from Pekalongan who lives a limited life. When she finally gets a new job at a hospital in Semarang, she decides to move with her daughter, Gendis (Fara Shakila), who has a visual impairment.

However, this journey of hope turns into the beginning of a nightmare when the last bus they take passes through the terrifying Alas Roban route and suddenly breaks down in the darkness of the night.

Since that incident, Gendis begins to experience strange occurrences. She hears voices she has never recognized before, draws strange symbols, and becomes possessed every night as if something wants to take her body. Gendis's deteriorating condition makes Sita desperate and frightened.

KLovers, here is the review of ALAS ROBAN from the KapanLagi.com editorial team. Warning: this review contains some spoilers.

1. Michelle Ziudith's Acting is a 5-Star Performance

YouTube/CGV Kreasi

ALAS ROBAN marks Michelle Ziudith's horror debut, an actress well-versed in drama roles. How did it turn out? Well, the woman who just turned 31 this year proves she can perform in any genre.

Her acting is capable of conveying natural horror to the audience, alongside her role as a warm mother who is willing to sacrifice anything for her daughter. She shows remarkable chemistry in many scenes with Fara Shakila as Gendis. This is a notable credit since in the 'real world' Michelle Ziudith is not yet married and does not have children.

She manages to tackle a part that seems very 'dramatic' at the end of the film and proves her status as one of the queens of Indonesian drama films. Growing up in Medan, North Sumatra, she also speaks Javanese fluently in several scenes in this film.

2. Jump Scare & Its Ghosts Are Allowed Too

YouTube/CGV Kreasi

For jump scare enthusiasts, ALAS ROBAN presents unexpected shocking scenes. In parts where a sighting is predicted, there turns out to be nothing. Conversely, in other scenes that seem flat, the jump scare actually makes the audience in the cinema scream and cover their eyes.

Moreover, the ghosts in this film feel realistic and not exaggerated. The use of computer-generated effects or CGI for some details like the ghosts themselves, several animals, and the bus weaving through Alas Roban is also considered appropriate.

3. Details to Note

YouTube/CGV Kreasi

ALAS ROBAN showcases a setting in the 90s era. To support this, several props that depict that time period are used. Everything is portrayed clearly and in detail, such as paper money, the bus being ridden, an ambulance, the hospital staff uniforms, newspaper vendors in the market, the house where the staff lives, as well as all the clothes worn by the other cast members.

The playing of Nike Ardilla's song titled Bintang Kehidupan on the radio in the pecel lele stall also reinforces that the time setting used in this film is the 1990s.

At the beginning and end of the video, interviews featuring testimonies from the original residents of Alas Roban about the circulating myths are shown. This gives the impression that the film is made with seriousness.

4. Best Scene

YouTube/CGV Kreasi

According to the editorial team, ALAS ROBAN offers two of the best scenes that send shivers down the spine of the audience. First, the scene with Gendhis and Tika (Taska Namya) playing hide and seek in the house. Then, the scene at the end of the film when Gendhis's cataract-affected eye is successfully operated on. Both are indeed 'chilling' but in different contexts. How are they different? KLovers, see for yourselves in the cinema while it's still showing!

5. All Cast Members Complement Each Other

YouTube/CGV Kreasi

Rio Dewanto plays Anto, an ambulance driver who is well aware of the dark myths of Alas Roban. Meanwhile, Agus Kuncoro plays the bus driver who takes Sita & Gendhis on a bus from Pekalongan to Semarang through Alas Roban.

Both of them deserve a larger share of the screen because their acting skills would be regrettable if they only received minor roles.

In addition to them, Taska Namya performs her role as one of the 'queens of horror films' well and does not disappoint. Her acting manages to create an increasingly tense atmosphere. Credit is also given to Imelda Therinne who effectively portrays the antagonist role.

The selection of the cast in this film is also key to the quality of ALAS ROBAN. All the cast members deliver their best performances and complement each other.

6. Things That Are Lacking

Not without flaws, ALAS ROBAN also has several shortcomings. However, in general, the following issues do not disrupt the experience of enjoying this film.

• The white vehicle license plate is visible when the bus is about to enter Alas Roban. White license plates were not used in the 90s. It is known that white license plates were officially implemented in June 2022.
  
  
• The use of Javanese language and accents seems stiff for some other actors. This does not apply to Michelle Ziudith, who has already appeared fluent in Javanese.
  
  
• Night scenes feel repetitive. The scene when Gendhis wakes up at night is indeed thrilling, but it feels boring and seems to be repeated.
  
  
• A very dramatic ending. For a horror film, ALAS ROBAN has an ending that feels dramatized and overly long. This makes the exciting atmosphere built up to the middle of the film collapse because the audience's expectations are not met at the end.

7. Rating

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Based on the points mentioned above, the editorial team of KapanLagi.com gives a rating of 8.4/10 for ALAS ROBAN. This film could be a choice for KLovers who are horror fans that don’t just rely on jump scares, with a strong storyline and elements of family drama within it. A complete horror with the right mix.

(kpl/ums)