Movie Reviews: The Amateur & Pabrik Gula

The Amateur wasn’t on my watchlist this week. I actually planned to catch something else, but since that movie got pushed to next week, I figured—why not? Going in, I didn’t have high expectations. I’ve seen so many movies in the revenge/action/spy genre that I honestly thought this would be just another one in the pile. Plus, action movies aren’t exactly my top pick—I’m more of a horror and comedy kind of person. But to my surprise, this film managed to hold my attention. It wasn’t action-packed like John Wick, but that’s what made it stand out in its own way.

Storyline Overview:

The plot centers around Charles "Charlie" Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA cryptographer whose life takes a sharp turn after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When the agency refuses to take action, Charlie blackmails his way into becoming a field operative and sets out to get justice on his own terms. It sounds like your usual “man on a mission” setup, but this one goes a different route. There’s no training montage or miraculous transformation into a killing machine. Instead, Charlie uses his intelligence, not his fists, to seek vengeance—which makes it feel a lot more grounded and real.

Character Highlights:

Rami Malek shines as Charlie. His performance carries the emotional weight of the story, and it’s refreshing to see a protagonist who’s not a typical action hero but still manages to be compelling. His vulnerability and determination make him easy to root for. Supporting actors like Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, and Laurence Fishburne also bring depth to the cast, though this is very much Rami’s movie.

Villain Analysis:

The villains here aren’t flashy or overly dramatized, which fits the more grounded tone of the film. They serve their purpose in pushing Charlie forward, but don’t expect a standout “big bad.” Instead, the focus remains on the emotional and psychological weight of Charlie’s loss and how he channels it into something constructive, albeit dangerous.

Emotional & Thematic Depth:

The movie leans more into grief, intelligence, and resilience rather than full-on action and violence. That approach gives it a more serious and believable tone. It explores how someone with no combat skills or field experience can still make a dent in a world that’s stacked against them, purely through intellect and sheer willpower. It’s a more subtle kind of revenge tale.

Final Thoughts:

The Amateur might not be what hardcore action fans are looking for. If you're expecting non-stop fight sequences, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you're open to a slower, more cerebral approach to the spy-revenge formula, this could work for you. The pacing might feel off at times, and I personally had mixed feelings about the ending—but overall, it's a decent watch. Not amazing, not terrible. Just solid.

Rating: 6/10

Not a must-watch, but worth checking out if you're looking for something a bit different in the revenge genre. Just don’t go in expecting Taken or John Wick levels of action.

I walked into this one with low expectations—and honestly, that might've been the best approach. Pabrik Gula didn’t surprise me, and maybe that’s the point. Indonesian horror films have started to blur together, and while this one tried to add its own flavor, it still tasted like something I've seen before. That said, it’s not entirely a letdown—it just didn’t deliver the chills I was hoping for.

Storyline Overview:

The film follows a group of seasonal laborers working in an old sugar factory deep in the countryside during the harvest season. But as they settle into the rhythm of work, something sinister begins to surface—an evil presence haunting the grounds, tied to a past tragedy that saw the previous workers perish in a fire.

Now, I’m all for retelling folk horror stories and bringing local legends to life. But the plot felt too familiar—KKN di Desa Penari, anyone? Perhaps it’s no coincidence since the story came from the same storyteller, SimpleMan. While the premise had potential, the pacing was just too slow to maintain any tension. By the time something creepy happened, I’d already checked out mentally.

Character Highlights:

The cast actually did a great job. Everyone gave believable performances, and you could tell they were committed to their roles. I wish the story gave them more to work with, though, especially emotionally. No one really stood out as a protagonist you’d root for or feel deeply connected to.

Villain Analysis:

The evil presence was more atmospheric than menacing. It lurked, it haunted, but it never really terrified. There wasn’t much depth to the horror element—no real explanation or emotional hook that made the villain stand out. Just... spooky stuff happening, then moving on.

Emotional & Thematic Depth:

Not much to unpack here. The film could’ve explored themes like exploitation, forgotten histories, or generational trauma tied to the factory, but it barely scratched the surface. Instead, we got a straightforward horror template with a sprinkle of comedy—which, ironically, was the most enjoyable part.

Yes, you read that right: the comedic bits were the best part. In a horror movie. Let that sink in.

Final Thoughts:

Pabrik Gula is not a bad movie—it’s just not a memorable one. Beautiful cinematography (as expected from Indonesian cinema) and solid acting save it from being a total miss. But if you’re going in expecting to be scared, you might come out more amused than anything.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended if: You're in the mood for light horror with some laughs, and you're not too fussy about originality.