Qodrat

Pumping massive surges of adrenaline into the Indonesian horror scene, director Charles Gozali's "Qodrat" (2022) proves that the local genre can be pushed into completely uncharted, explosive territories. Eschewing the traditional slow-burn, purely psychological frights of Southeast Asian cinema, "Qodrat" effectively fuses terrifying demonic possessions with high-octane martial arts action. The gripping story centers on Ustadz Qodrat (Vino G. Bastian), a veteran Islamic exorcist whose faith is shattered when he tragically fails to save his own demon-possessed son from a powerful entity named Assuala.

Returning to a remote village to seek spiritual solace, Qodrat finds the community completely overtaken by inexplicable supernatural terrors. Rather than merely reciting scriptures at a distance, Qodrat literally throws down and physically brawls with demonic forces. Vino G. Bastian carries the film magnificently with a deeply broken, traumatized, yet furiously determined performance. Aided by fantastic practical makeup, gripping choreography, and a stellar supporting turn by Marsha Timothy, "Qodrat" is a visceral, incredibly original religious horror blockbuster.