This is what I like to call the “good stuff”.
Macabre (2009)
Directed By: The Mo Brothers
The Prologue
Called “Darah” in Singapore, “Macabre” for wider release, and “Rumah Dara” in Indonesia, the film I’ll just call Macabre is one kick-ass blood bath that I was very honored to get a chance to see. I WISH more films would be made like this one in this day and age and maybe after more people see this (and I’m sure you’ll love it), I hope that’s what we get. It’s a film that in the vein of Inside and other none-American films, holds no punches. It’s way of being all out there and extreme is really it’s best charm.
The Movie
Two newly weds Adjie and Astrid, along with 3 of their best friends decided to have an interstate road trip as a last attempt to reconcile Adjie with his estranged little sister. Along the way the run into a girl named Maya who is all alone in a storm. Doing what you would only assume to be the right thing, they offer to give the poor girl a ride home. This of course leads them right smack into a whole new level of terror. And a hell of a good time if I do say so myself.
Movies like this one sadly do not come along often enough for a horror fan like me. This film packs a good story, thrills, and is loaded with the type of gore that you come to look for in foreign films these days. We just don’t get stuff like this often, much less in the states. This film gets hardcore and when it does it’s a blast and you will be glued and wiggling in your seat until the climax. Maybe not all of the plot adds up at the end, but there soo much good stuff here you won’t mind I’m sure.
The term “horror” is a term that one would probably want to add some regulations on in the movie world. Sure, we get tons of movies with horror elements but there isn’t a whole lot coming out that is actually scary. This movie IS scary. It’s not only scary but it is pretty uncomfortable (in a good way) to watch at times as you just know things aren’t turning out well for our characters, and rest a sure they don’t. And the terror is turned up even more with the awesome gore this one brings to the table. Heads are cut off, eyes poked out, babies are born, and it all happens in a very smoothly flowing way that makes the movie seems short when it isn’t. That’s a good thing ya know?
While sometimes acting can get lost in the translation of foreign films, with this film that doesn’t stop you from enjoying what you see and liking the characters. To spite some cartoony villains that still fit well with the overall vibe, the regular characters have real issues and all come across as real people. I suppose the best way to describe it is by saying that nothing at all seems forced with this film, not even the over the top violence, it all clicks on all areas. When everything like that comes together you get a film that just works and everything here, no matter how odd, works.
Like I said, my only minor complaint is there’s a few awkward plot holes that kind of bug me, but not enough to bring down my overall enjoyment of the film. The ending is an ending that I found satisfying, and it builds up so much tension and despair as it all progresses that you are never really sure just how things are going to end. But when they do you may just find yourself ready to stand and applaud. While it adds nothing to the movie at all, I do want to bring up that there are some rather cute ladies in here as well, that never hurts. At the end of the day I’d say this is a film you NEED to see at least once, maybe twice.
The Conclusion
I’d recommend this movie to anyone who loves horror and wants to watch a horror movie that is legit creepy and scary. There is some good acting, gore, and a good plot, so what more could one want? No matter what name you see it under, be it Darah, Macabre. or whatever, check this one out because you will be very happy you did.
The Rating (8.5/10)
Chucks website
