Horror lovers, this might be a little disappointing for you. Janji Darah sets out to create a gripping blend of supernatural horror and family drama. Still, it ultimately stumbles in both areas, leaving viewers with a film that struggles to engage. The story revolves around a couple Rayhan and Sheren, who are expecting their first child. They soon find themselves caught in a series of eerie occurrences connected to Rayhan’s mysterious and troubled past. Though the setup holds the potential for a deep dive into dark family secrets, the movie quickly slips into tired horror tropes and predictable plot twists that dilute its impact.
The film opens with a flashback to two children—a boy and a girl—who stumble upon something sinister in a deserted area. This initial scene hints at a mystery that should set the stage for the rest of the story, but the film squanders this potential by rushing into an over-explanation. Instead of allowing the tension to build, the plot immediately unravels the mystery, leaving little room for suspense. This heavy-handed approach diminishes the narrative's intrigue, making the film feel shallow from the outset. The audience is given too much information too early, rendering the plot's trajectory obvious and stripping away any sense of anticipation.
The performances by Emir Mahira, who plays Rayhan, and Natasha Wilona as Sheren, serve as the emotional core of the film, but their characters aren't given much depth to work with. As the supernatural disturbances in their home become more pronounced, Sheren grows increasingly anxious, leading her to seek help from a friend, who introduces her to Kasman, a spiritual expert. However, the film fails to build the necessary tension around these encounters. Kasman, who could have been an intriguing character, ends up feeling more like a plot device than a key figure in the story. His involvement in the narrative is superficial, and his character lacks the substance needed to make him memorable or integral to the plot's progression.
The horror elements in Janji Darah are particularly underwhelming. The film relies heavily on traditional horror tactics like sudden loud noises and jump scares that lack originality or innovation. While watching you may not be scared. There are moments where the film could have taken its time to craft genuine fear—such as Sheren’s first chilling encounter with a supernatural force—but these scenes are telegraphed too clearly, undermining their potential effectiveness. The scares are too predictable to evoke any real sense of dread, and without any meaningful buildup, the horror feels repetitive and uninspired.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Janji Darah is its failure to balance its dual themes of family drama and supernatural horror something which could have an excellent plot. The emotional weight of Rayhan and Sheren’s journey is lost amid the lackluster scares, and the film’s attempts to explore deeper family secrets are overshadowed by a plot that prioritizes surface-level horror. As a result, the film feels disjointed, unable to commit to fully either genre, leaving both the emotional and terrifying moments feeling hollow.
In the end, Janji Darah is a film that lacks originality and depth. With a storyline that is far too easy to predict and horror that feels more mechanical than frightening, it struggles to make an impression. For fans of the horror genre, it may offer a few fleeting moments of tension, but overall, the film falls flat in delivering a memorable or thrilling experience.
Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times