A stab at horror
> Indonesian director Witra Asliga is covering all his bases in his first feature film attempt, The Returning
INDONESIAN Witra Asliga is making his debut as a feature film director in The Returning, a horror film that he also wrote, which explores strong conflicts in a family’s relationships.
“I believe everyone who sees the film can easily connect with the characters and will likely stick to them till the very end,” says Witra in a recent interview with theSun.
The Returning opens in Indonesian cinemas on Nov 1, and stars award-winning modelturned-actress Laura Basuki and multi-talented Ario Bayu (last seen in One Two Jaga) as a couple whose love for each other is challenged.
Others in the cast include Tissa Biani Azzahra and Muzakki Ramdhan (who play the couple’s children), Dayu Wijanto, Bryan Domani, DJ Yasmin, Bryant Santoso, Peter Taslim, and Paul Agusta.
The story centres on Collin (Ario), who falls from a cliff while out hiking and his body never found. His wife, Natalie (Laura), is left to continue her life and care for their two children, Maggie (Tissa) and Dom (Muzakki).
Maggie is having difficulties dealing with her father’s death and starts acting up in school, while Dom is constantly being bullied by his schoolmates.
Just as it seems their misery will never end, Colin suddenly returns home with no signs of serious injury.
The family is overjoyed at having him back, but soon realises he has changed, and may have brought something evil into their lives.
For this, his first feature film attempt, Witra has gone the extra mile. He even sent the first draft of his script to a script doctor in Los Angeles for review.
“I also got feedback from film reviewers I trust on this script,” he adds. “I want to [present] a plot that works for the audience.”
It is a change of pace for someone who admits he never studied filmmaking, or even aspired to be a film director. Witra worked in management positions for several multinational corporations based in Jakarta. In 2008, he started a blog, writing about Indonesian films. He contributed articles on Indonesian cinema to some popular magazine and newspapers. Slowly he found himself making short films and learning the craft from other young filmmakers. “I also enriched my film references by watching up to eight films a week,” he says.
As a film blogger, he had reviewed other people’s films. Is he worried, now that the situation is reversed, that people may criticise his own film?
He says: “I am ready to listen to any reviews, whether it is a compliment or a criticism, as long as it comes from the heart. Positive comments mean I am on the right track. Negative comments mean I need to learn more and try better next time. No hard feelings.”
He reveals his favourite director is Guillermo del Toro, who won an Oscar this year for his film The Shape of Water.
“We have seen how good he is at creating a convincing fantasy world with strong characters,” he says.
Witra also loves the works of James Wan, the Malaysian-born filmmaker who is making waves in Hollywood and who has directed box-office horror thrillers such as The Conjuring and Insidious.
“I like his skills in creating scary tricks and terrifying moments in his works,” he says.
When asked where he sees himself in five years’ time, Witra says: “I like to explore, and challenge myself to be a better filmmaker and to create my own signature touch.”