Movie Review: The Haunted Hotel (Panggonan Wingit)

The Haunted Hotel, directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, presents a blend of traditional horror tropes and modern film making.

Set in the enigmatic Amber Mangun Hotel in Semarang, capital city of Indonesia’s Central Java province, the film tells the story of sisters Raina (Luna Maya) and Fey (Bianca Hello) who inherit a hotel shrouded in dark secrets and supernatural curses. Though packed with familiar narrative elements, the movie subtext offers a commentary of social expectations surrounding familial duty and the pursuit of independence.

The Curse

The narrative begins with Nimrung, a hotel cleaner, who meets a tragic fate after ignoring warnings about the hotel’s cursed third floor. When Raina and Fey arrive to manage the inherited property, they encounter the same supernatural forces that befall Nimrung.

As Raina battles to uncover the curse and save herself, the film lurches between jump scares and visceral gore.

While the tale draws obvious parallels to classic horror films like Ringu, it constructs a uniquely Indonesian atmosphere. The film weaves together cultural lore with contemporary fears, positioning itself within a regional context that will resonate with local audiences.

Cinematic Elements and Performances

Visually, The Haunted Hotel boasts strong production values. The cinematography captures hauntingly beautiful imagery of colonial and modern Semarang and its surroundings, from lush pine forests to eerie hotel interiors. Despite this, the film plays with pace, lingering long on reflective story telling allowing characters to remain mysterious shadows we long to know more deeply.

Luna Maya delivers a solid portrayal of Raina, embodying both resilience and vulnerability. The supporting cast often flicker mysteriously through terrified dialogue, which sharpens the film’s emotional drive on it’s major focus .

Tradition

The Haunted Hotel represents the social pressures imposed on women within the family. Raina’s struggle against the cursed legacy of her family mirrors the conflicts many face in balancing personal ambitions with expectations of loyalty and duty. The film’s supernatural elements kind of serve as metaphors for these social constraints, demonstrating that unchecked traditions can lead to dire consequences.

At What Cost

The film recycles many familiar narrative trope, but it drives us into a discussions about autonomy, agency, and the complexities of family obligations. It poses the question: at what cost does one fulfill family duty?

While The Haunted Hotel offers a palette of well honed horror experiences, it also seats us firmly in quandary of family expectations frequently navigated in the contemporary Indonesian cinematic landscape. Its blend of cultural elements and modern horror ultimately invites viewers to reflect on their own societal roles—both within the family and beyond.

4 stars

In related news:

• van der Meer A. “Come to Java”: Colonial Tourism and the Fragile Illusion of an “Island Paradise.” Itinerario. 2024;48(3):294-314. doi:10.1017/S0165115324000342
• https://www.semarang.nl/
• https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2025/06/09/mengenang-hotel-inna-dibya-puri-hotel-mewah-semarang-yang-pernah-disinggahi-ra-kartini-dan-bung-karno
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28023328/