‘The Queen of Black Magic’ — A Thrilling And Gory Watch: Review

With charismatic leads, clever writing and enticing visuals, Kimo Stamboel’s latest film is a thrilling watch that delivers disturbingly unforgettable gore.  

The Queen of Black Magic follows the story of a family that goes back to visit the orphanage where their father grew up after its owner falls ill. As the history of the orphanage slowly unfolds, horror ensues. The movie is a remake of the 1979 classic of the same name.

While the setting of a haunted orphanage will sound familiar to any horror fan, the movie shines in two respects: the acting and the visuals. Child actor Muzakki Ramdhan stuns in his effortless depiction of Haqi, a curious child who, along with the viewer, discovers the secrets of the orphanage. His mother Nadya, played by Hannah al Rashid, is another stand-out performance. However, ultimately the strength of this film lies in its ensemble. Horror movies often lack a certain quality: while they may deliver on scares and effects, they rarely make you care about their protagonists. In those lesser movies, this is because they focus on stereotypes, rightfully beloved by horror fans.

This movie is not like that. Not only were the performances good, but I didn’t for a second doubt that these people were all family. Credit goes not only to the performances, but to the writing by Joko Anwar. In the first part of the film the characters are allowed to breathe, not burdened by heavy exposition nor obligatory jump scares. We see them dine together and reminisce about the old times, with moments of hilarity typical of family depictions. And because of these moments, the gore is earned. Not that gore needs to be earned: it can be fun on its own accord. However, in this movie the visuals are not only deeply disturbing on their own, but they effectively portray the horror of the trauma suffered by the characters.

The relationships between characters make up for some of the film’s shortcomings, particularly in the depiction of its antagonist. Though a twist revealed in the third act deepens the intrigue, the development of the ‘monster’ is rushed, especially when compared to the development of the protagonists. But it is difficult to speak to this movie’s greatest strength without spoiling the experience for future viewers. The gore hits that perfect balance of being cinematic, yet entirely disturbing. It is inventive, while retaining that classic quality of (literally) skin-crawling visuals.

The effects are complemented by compelling directorial choices. While the gore begins relatively late in the film, up to that point there is no shortage of tension. Admirably, this is not built through jump scares: rather, the insidious atmosphere slowly creeps in thanks to intriguing cinematography that establishing the orphanage as a place detached from reality. Those off-beat lines delivered by the residents of the orphanage, which are equally funny and chilling, serve as the perfect preparation for the gore that is to come. Viewers and protagonists slowly wake up from the illusion of an innocuous family getaway so that, by the time the movie gets to its first big scare, it is effective yet not out of place.

The Verdict

From the very first scene, the viewer is enticed on a fun ride full of twists and turns, with some outstandingly constructed elements of gore along the way. Patiently plotted, The Queen of Black Magic is sure to please gore fanatics and horror newbies alike.

Rating: 7/10

The Queen of Black Magic will stream exclusively on Shudder from 28 January.

Words by Elisabetta Pulcini

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