Movie Review: Munafik Melawan Iblis
Munafik: Melawan Iblis Review: Great Cinematography Hindered by CapCut-Style Editing
To be completely honest with you guys, I walked into the cinema thinking I had already watched the original 2016 Malaysian horror hit Munafik. But it turns out my brain completely tricked me, I had actually gotten Munafik mixed up with Khurafat!
Given that both movies star Syamsul Yusof (who directed the original Munafik), you can see how easy it was to swap them in my head. Because of that mix-up, I went into Munafik: Melawan Iblis without any baggage or direct points of comparison, walking in with a totally blank slate and fresh expectations.
Is this Indonesian-produced reimagining worth a trip to the cinema? Let’s talk about it.
Movie Overview
Directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, Munafik: Melawan Iblis (2026) serves as an Indonesian adaptation of the iconic religious horror lore.
The story follows Ustaz Adam (Arya Saloka), a devout religious practitioner who steps away from performing ruqyah (spiritual exorcisms) after the tragic, unresolved loss of his wife. However, when he is called upon to save a woman named Fitri (Acha Septriasa), who is being relentlessly terrorized by dark supernatural forces. Adam agrees to resume his spiritual duties. In doing so, he uncovers a web of dark secrets, trauma, and hidden hypocrisy lurking within the community.
An Epic Start, Great Visuals, and... Choppy Editing?
Right from the opening scenes, the film starts on a remarkably high note. The cinematography is genuinely cinematic, rich, and epic, immediately building a grand sense of atmospheric dread. Visually, it sets a very high bar right out of the gate.
However, as the narrative progresses, the editing starts to drag down the experience. To be blunt, the pacing and transitions felt surprisingly choppy, almost like an event recap video edited on CapCut! Scenes would cut abruptly into the next without proper room to breathe or build organic tension. It left me constantly wondering whether this jarring style was an intentional artistic choice or just a bad editing decision. Either way, it definitely disrupted the natural flow and affected how much I was able to immerse myself in the story.
Minimal Ghosts & Predictable Jump Scares
If you're heading in expecting a relentless onslaught of terrifying creature designs or ghoul encounters, you might want to temper your expectations. The physical presence of the ghost or devil is kept relatively minimal throughout the runtime.
Instead, the horror elements rely heavily on formulaic, predictable jump scares. You can easily spot the setups coming before they hit. At its core, the movie functions far more as a spiritual drama about internal conflict, trauma, loss, and personal grief than it does a pure, blood-pumping horror flick. The "demonic forces" act more as a backdrop to Ustaz Adam's internal crisis of faith.
Is It Worth Watching?
Munafik: Melawan Iblis is an okay, serviceable watch. The gorgeous cinematography and solid lead performances hold it up, even if the choppy editing choices and predictable jump scares keep it from reaching its full potential.
RATING: 6/10: A visually stunning religious horror-drama that trades pure scares for internal conflict, held back slightly by abrupt, choppy editing choices.
Comments