Summary
Qorin is a supernatural horror movie directed by Ginanti Rona and co-written with Lele Laila. The film focuses on a dark, forbidden ritual in which demon-like doppelgängers, referred to as “qorin,” are summoned in an Islamic girls’ boarding school (pesantren). The peaceful academic environment is plagued by psychological and physical horror as the girls confront the demons of their past and supernatural manifestations of vengeance.
A respected teacher, Ustaz Jaelani, suggests to a group of students a form of isolation will serve as a spiritual test. During this period, he proposes the students perform the qorin ritual and, though pressured to, a group of students comply. The ritual reveals disturbing reflections of their true selves in the form of twin-like monsters. Once the ritual is completed, the qorin entities emerge and begin to disrupt reality. As a result of their interference, students start disappearing or dying in mysterious, horrific ways.
At the heart of the story is new student, Yolanda. Along with friends, Zahra and Umi, she uncovers the deeper purpose of the ritual as well as the agendas of its perpetrators. As the horrors worsen, friendships are pushed to their limits, alliances are created and broken, and the most devoted of students are consumed by paranoia.
The violence escalates as complicated psychological torment occurs—students are not only haunted but also pursued, shackled, and compelled to face their most closely guarded secrets. As the more spiritual facets of the rite spiral into more of the occult, the characters start struggling to separate reality from their nightmares. Rather than a definitive ending, the film provides an ambiguous conclusion, enveloping the audience in a sense of dread and a myriad of questions.
The film is produced by IDN Pictures and the main cast includes Zulfa Maharani as Yolanda, a new student whom the viewer learns has a complex emotional background and becomes a reluctant hero. Aghniny Haque as Zahra, is a bold and skeptical student who does not conflate authority with power and as such, challenges the status quo. Dea Annisa as Umi Hana is a kind and curious student who is deeply affected by fear.
The film is directed by Ginanti Rona who also worked on the screenplay as well as Lele Laila. The film has an immersive quality with the use of cinematography and editing, which is emphasized with the focus on the ritualistic and eerie nature of the settings. As a teacher, Ustaz Jaelani is in charge of the girls by spiritually disciplining them through rituals. The film also features art and sound design that reinforce the story’s spiral into the supernatural and psychological.
The film has an immersive quality with the use of cinematography and editing, which is emphasized through an eerie and ritualistic focus on the strings of the setting. As a teacher, Ustaz Jaelani is in charge of the girls by spiritually disciplining them through rituals.Critical Reception
Qorin received a mixed response from critics who appreciated the atmosphere and the idea of the film, but were not happy with how it was executed. Some people thought the movie was a true horror film and appreciated the use of fear and ritual in place of bloodshed. The setting of an Islamic school was unique and refreshing in mainstream horror, which helped the film stylistically.
It was pointed out in many reviews that the pacing of the film along with abrupt shifts in tone and underdeveloped characters were issues in need of addressing. The film was thought to have a strong and creative beginning, but the narrative was criticized for falling into a chaotic lack of clarity instead of building toward a strong resolution.
Overall, the audience was satisfied with the performances given by the cast. In particular, Zulfa Maharani and Aghniny Haque were noted for making their characters believable and relatable. Omar Daniel’s portrayal of Ustaz Jaelani added a dark and suspicious quality to the character which deepened as the film progressed, and the true nature of the ritual was revealed.
Audience members with the same concerns took to review sites and social media to share their opinions. A few applauded the story’s cultural and spiritual dimensions. Others thought it simply did not hit as hard as it could. The film’s average rating suggests there was a lack of decisive emformance, sitting firmly around the middle. Nevertheless, the film is still of some interest to Indonesian horror enthusiasts and those who appreciate psychologically tinged thrillers with religious elements.
Qorin Breakdown and Themes
- Abuse of Spiritual Power
Qorin demonstrates the abuse of religious power. The school’s clerics justify the use of power with old traditions and rituals. Instead of being a setting of solace in which students feel liberated to learn, it is transformed into a disturbing space of immense restriction nestled in a religious garment.
- The Inner Demon
The film’s primary supernatural element, the qorin, is loaded with symbolism. These doppelgänger figures are a physical embodiment of a person’s trauma, guilt, and/or tortured elements. Each student’s hidden fears or sins are personified as doppelgängers.
- The Strength and Vulnerness of Women
The central theme of the film is young women experiencing fear and change. The characters appear to be passive and alienated at first, but their eventual defiance, along with their increasing defiance, suggests the need for resilience and bonding. Women are often isolated and contained within institutional frameworks in the film who confinement outweighs care.
- Concealment
The pesantren functions as a pedagogical institution, which has a certain underlying order. It has concealed conversations, concealed hallways, and concealment of knowledge. This represents a notion in cult horror, which embodies the idea that blind devotion can result in exploitation.
- Disciplinary Mechanism of Fear
The ritual is not designed to extend spiritual boundaries, but to tighten compliance. The qorin, when invoked, as a metaphor of a chronicled calamity that befalls when worship is weaponized in place of sanctuary. It questions the juxtaposition of compassion alongside penalty, hierarchies of customs and care.
Conclusion
With its setting in an Islamic boarding school, Qorin offers a new perspective on spiritual horror, adding to the Indonesian horror genre. It challenges societal issues such as repression, trauma, abused power, and the corruption of authority through supernatural elements of doppelgängers and dark rituals.
This film is visually stylish and striking. It captures a sense of dread through the use of religious symbols, chanting, dark lighting, and disorienting camera movements. However, these powerful themes often clash with the lack of clarity in the story’s characters and plot. This is especially true for the film’s ending, which is more puzzling than conclusive.
Even though the script is disjointed, the younger actors have a strong emotional presence. Qorin’s Director, Ginanti Rona, has a promising future. While Qorin may not fully satisfy all horror lovers, it does demonstrate Rona’s talent in blending cultural specifics into genre filmmaking.
Qorin is an intriguing option for both psychological horror and psychical cinema lovers, especially those interested in cultural roots. While it’s not perfect, it defies the mold of formulaic horror films and delivers a unique and unsettling perspective.
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