I recently watched the Indonesian film 🇮🇩 The Forbidden Door (2009) on Shudder. The storyline follows a doctor who is drawn to visions of an abused child and something horrible happening to his family. As he delves into determining if his dreams might be reality, he discovers he may only be able to help one-the boy or his family.
This film is directed by Joko Anwar (Impetigore) and stars Ario Bayu (Java Heat), Tio Pakusadewo (The Raid 2), Verdi Solaiman (Shackled), Fachry Albar (Dead Time), and Marsha Timothy (The Raid 2).
This is a long, methodical slow burn, and just as you're wondering why you watched it, there's a perfect conclusion to close the picture. The acting is solid and feels authentic, especially from the child actor. The kid's backstory is sad but very well done. The horror elements are very good, with solid stabbing, throat slashing, and blood splatter sequences. As I previously mentioned, the journey is slow, but the end is rewarding.
In conclusion, The Forbidden Door is a movie you spend the entire time wondering why you watched it, but in the end, you're glad you did. I would score this a 6.5/10 and recommend it to horror genre enthusiasts only.
