-“Hanif… What if Uncle isn’t dead yet?”
“Sorop” is the story of Hanif and Isti, a couple of sisters that return to their childhood home at the request of their aunt, since their uncle Koir is dying and he keeps calling their names.
The same very night they arrive, their uncle Koir dies in a very strange manner, asking the sisters for forgiveness. This clearly shocks the sisters, especially Isti, the youngest one, who gets sick the next day and insists on going back home immediately. Unfortunately, strange events start to develop and it appears that something wants to keep the sisters in the house indefinitely, as if they were part of a plan that started a long time ago, and won’t be finished until everyone in the family is off the table.
“Sorop” is a film directed by Upi Avianto and co-written with Simpleman. The film could easily be dismissed as a typical tale of a haunted house, but let me assure you, this film has a lot of things that will stand out above most of the movies with a similar premise.
One of the strongest points of the story is that you can easily relate to the characters and unlike other films from Indonesia (like let’s say “Sugar Mill”) you don’t need to understand the culture to understand the plot.
The story is very easy to follow, although there are several flashbacks that can make some moments confusing. This is because while they are giving you clues to the main plot, they are not done in a chronological order. Thus, I would advise you to not waste time trying to guess the twists and reveals of the story. Just enjoy the ride. While the pacing might feel irregular at times, the film never drags the feet, and there was not a single scene that I felt was unnecessary.
Another thing I liked about “Sorop” is that while there are several good scary scenes, there are almost no fake jump scares in the movie. A lot of the scary scenes are done with good camera work, very eerie sound effects and make up work that can give Hollywood a run for their money. The rest of the special effects are good and were used very effectively.
I could say more, but I would be getting into spoiler territory, and I would like for you to enjoy the film as it develops. I am confident that this movie will be enjoyed for the fans of the Haunted House sub-genre, but are tired of cheap jump scares, as much as the seasoned horror fans.
“Sorop” was directed by Upi Avianto, who also co-wrote the script with SimpleMan.
EST N8 has the rights for the distribution, and for the moment we are waiting for a VOD release date.
Stay tuned for more reviews!