If you thought prison riots were scary enough, try adding an ancient, vengeful spirit to the mix. Variety just dropped the first teaser trailer for Ghost in the Cell, and it’s a total bloodbath with a supernatural twist.
Directed by the legendary Joko Anwar—the Indonesian powerhouse behind Satan’s Slaves and Impetigore—this film is being billed as a “supernatural horror-comedy.” However, from the teaser, the “comedy” part looks very dark and very messy.
Survival of the Fittest (and Least Evil)
The movie is set inside a high-security Indonesian prison where life is already a nightmare. Things go from bad to “run for your life” when a mysterious new inmate arrives. He doesn’t come alone, though; he’s accompanied by a supernatural entity that has a particular hunger.
This Ghost doesn’t just kill people—it targets inmates with the “darkest auras.” As the body count rises in some truly creative ways (the teaser hints that the spirit turns its victims into literal macabre art installations), the prisoners realize that their only hope for survival is to stop fighting each other and start working together.
A Horror Story with a Message
While the movie looks like a wild ride, Joko Anwar is known for layering his films with deeper meaning. He recently shared that the “ghost” is actually a metaphor for a real-life crisis in Indonesia:
“Beneath its supernatural surface lies something very real: the massive deforestation in Indonesia and the way this destruction is too often met with silence or neglect,” Anwar explained. “The ghost in this film is a reminder of consequences we choose not to face.”
A Powerhouse Cast
Anwar has assembled a massive ensemble of Indonesian talent to bring the prison to life, including Abimana Aryasatya, Lukman Sardi, and Bront Palarae. Rio Dewanto, Morgan Oey, and Tora Sudiro join them.
Anwar’s Come produces the film alongside See Pictures, Rapi Films, and South Korea’s Barunson E&A (the team behind Parasite).
When Can We See It?
Ghost in the Cell is heading to Germany next month for its big world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Keep your eyes peeled for a wider release date shortly after!
