‘Kuyang’ Netflix Movie Review - The Clash of the Flying Heads

There are moments in Kuyang where director Yongki Ongestu's camera observes things like a man or a car from above. These shots frame the images in such a way that it seems as if something is off. On top of this, the rural setting amid a dense forest provides the film's eerie atmosphere a charge. Add to this the creepy facial design of the demon, and you have a horror film that, if not original, is at least tolerable. Ongestu finds pleasure in going through the same old routines. He isn't interested in "pushing the envelope" or "reinventing the genre." You don't complain as long as Kuyang works. The director knows how to execute jump scares effectively, so even the familiar tricks (someone knocking on all the doors and windows of the house or someone suddenly appearing from the dark) manage to make you jump from your seat. The camera is placed so close to the horrific faces that all you can do is feel frightened. If jump scares are all you want, watch Kuyang.

You will go in for horror routines but will come out impressed with Putri Ayudya's performance. As a shaman named Mina Uwe, the actress relishes every second. She plays her part with such commitment that her rituals feel real. When she closes her eyes and moves her arms to locate Sri (Alyssa Abidin), you believe she is not acting for the camera but has been doing such magic for a long time. Ayudya only gets better after that reveal. She single-handedly overshadows everyone else in the film. The other actors exist within a limited range. They are mostly confused or scared - only Ayudya is able to pull you in. I also enjoyed the special effects. It's amusing to see heads flying out of their bodies, though I am pretty sure Ongestu doesn't want us to laugh at these images. The head looks chilling initially, but when you watch it the second or the third time, you stop finding it spooky.

One of the main flaws of Kuyang is that it fails to dispense scares consistently. There are three or four portions that are spine-tingling. The rest of the movie, however, is uninteresting. We are once again provided with clichés like "the person who appears menacing is revealed to be the good guy, and the good guy turns out to be the villain." The "Boo!" moments are performed without imagination. You get the usual pattern involving the camera following the characters before surprising them with something unexpected like a knock or a face. And can filmmakers stop creating a franchise out of their productions? This obsession with sequels leads to cliffhangers. The dead character wakes up, and the movie says, "Wait for more installments." This trick is more tiresome than all those conventional "Boo!" moments.

Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times