Reviews: Impetigore (2019) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Asian
Subgenres: Supernatural, Survival, Cult, Dysfunctional Family, Folk Horror, Wilderness
Where does Impetigore (2019) stand among horror films? Our review examines the scares, pacing, and what makes it unique in the genre.
Impetigore (2019), directed by Joko Anwar, is a chilling Indonesian folk-horror film that plunges viewers into a world of generational curses, ancestral sins, and village superstition. With an eerie atmosphere and a narrative steeped in traditional mysticism, Impetigore stands out as one of the decade’s most effective horror films from Southeast Asia. It’s equal parts haunting and heartbreaking — and it doesn’t shy away from the brutal consequences of secrets buried in the past.
Impetigore (2019) – A Curse Carved in Blood and Silence
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The story follows Maya (Tara Basro), a young woman living in Jakarta who narrowly survives an attack by a mysterious man who calls her by a name she doesn’t recognize. After discovering clues about her potential inheritance in a remote village, Maya and her best friend Dini travel to the rural countryside in hopes of reclaiming family land. But once there, they uncover a horrifying curse linked to Maya’s bloodline — and a community that may be waiting for her return for reasons far darker than she imagines.
Impetigore weaves a story steeped in cultural horror, intergenerational trauma, and the isolation of rural myth. The themes are deeply embedded in Indonesian folklore, particularly the fear of legacy and the supernatural punishment for ancestral wrongdoing. Maya is a compelling lead — strong but emotionally adrift — and her search for identity adds emotional weight to the creeping dread around her.
The film also deals with class disparity, social alienation, and the devastating ways in which tradition can be manipulated to justify violence, particularly against women. It’s horror rooted in history — and that makes it feel all the more terrifying.
Acting and Cinematography
Tara Basro delivers a nuanced, magnetic performance. As Maya, she balances courage with vulnerability, and her slow unraveling feels authentic and grounded. Marissa Anita as Dini brings warmth and wit to the screen, providing a brief but vital emotional counterweight to the film’s darker turn.
Visually, Impetigore is stunning. Cinematographer Iman Santoso captures the remote village with an eerie stillness — long, creeping shots of fog-draped forests, decaying wooden houses, and oppressive silence amplify the isolation and tension. The visual style is not just beautiful; it’s oppressively haunting.
Anwar avoids cheap jump scares, instead opting for measured pacing and escalating dread. When violence does erupt, it’s unflinching and raw. The gore is shocking not because it’s gratuitous, but because it shatters the stillness with sudden brutality.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Joko Anwar has cemented himself as one of the most exciting voices in modern horror, and Impetigore proves why. His direction is confident, precise, and steeped in regional authenticity. He integrates folklore organically, never pandering to Western horror expectations, yet making the story universally resonant.
The structure of the narrative may feel slow for some viewers — particularly in the first half, which leans heavily into mystery — but this build-up pays off in the final act. The film’s backstory is complex, but Anwar reveals it methodically, drawing viewers deeper into the mythos before hitting them with devastating revelations.
If there’s one weakness, it’s that some secondary characters are underdeveloped, and the pacing could be tightened. But in a film that thrives on mood and slow-building horror, this is a minor issue.
Strengths:
Richly atmospheric cinematography and sound design
Tara Basro’s standout lead performance
Culturally grounded folklore with universal horror resonance
Unsettling story structure that rewards patience
Brutal, earned violence that never feels cheap
Weaknesses:
Slow pacing in the first act may lose impatient viewers
Complex mythology may require close attention
Some minor characters could use more development
Lack of traditional jump scares may underwhelm some mainstream fans
Final Verdict & Score: 8/10
Impetigore is an intelligent, emotionally resonant folk-horror film that elevates the genre with cultural depth, slow-burn tension, and stunning visuals. It’s a film that lingers in your mind — not for its gore, but for its grief, its shadows, and the silence between screams. For horror fans tired of formulaic frights, this is a fresh, frightening breath of haunted air.
Similar films like Impetigore can be found in Asian horror movies sub-genre(s), check them out for more movies like Impetigore.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Impetigore Rating Scores
- Our Score: 8/10
- Overall Score: 7.94/10
- IMDB: 6.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 9.2/10
Look here for more movies starting with I and here you can find 2019 movies to watch on your favorite streaming service.
Browse: Asian Movies List / Must See Asian Horror