Sitha Marino
Tantri
Mantra Surugana
“Once you see it, never again dare to be alone.”
2023
1h 38m
Director: Dyan Sunu Prastowo
Overview
Arriving in her new dormitory, Tantri soon discovers the presence of an ancient demon connected to the mysterious disappearance of fellow students.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Whisper and the Wound
I’ve seen enough horror films to know when one is trying too hard. The jump scares, the gore, the over-explained mythology—it’s all there in Mantra Surugana, but something else lingers beneath the surface, like a bruise you can’t stop pressing. This isn’t just another dormitory-haunting story.
It’s a film that wants to hurt you, not just scare you, and that ambition is both its strength and its undoing.
Dyan Sunu Prastowo doesn’t just borrow from Sundanese folklore; he weaponizes it. The titular mantra, derived from ancient manuscripts, isn’t just a plot device—it’s a cultural artifact, one that the production team treated with almost reverent caution. They altered the name of the demon from Hurugana to Surugana, not out of creative whimsy, but because they believed in the power of the words themselves.
That’s not the kind of detail you include unless you’re serious about the weight of what you’re invoking. And yet, for all that care, the film often feels like it’s stumbling over its own ambition. The plot lurches between supernatural horror and a more grounded exploration of sexual trauma, never quite finding a rhythm that serves either.
The practical effects are where Mantra Surugana shines brightest. The creature design—all twisted limbs and jagged teeth—is unsettling in a way that CGI rarely achieves. There’s a moment early on where Tantri, the protagonist, first glimpses the demon in a mirror.
The reflection doesn’t move like her. It’s slightly off, like a glitch in reality, and the makeup team deserves credit for making that uncanny valley feel so visceral. But then the film undercuts itself with a jump scare so telegraphed it might as well come with a countdown.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Mantra Surugana: A Horror Film with Heavy Themes and High Stakes
Mantra Surugana (2023), directed by Dyan Sunu Prastowo, is a horror film that blends supernatural terror with real-world trauma. The movie follows a new female college student navigating a dormitory plagued by eerie occurrences after a demon is awakened through an incantation tied to her past 
. While the premise leans into classic horror tropes, early reactions suggest the film carries a deeper, latestnetflix.com maintains, more unsettling message—one that has sparked both praise and criticism.
A Horror Story with a Social Edge
The film’s supernatural plot serves as a backdrop for a heavier narrative: sexual assault and its lingering trauma. According to a Letterboxd review, Mantra Surugana "has a really great potential to becoming a banger" but takes a "violent" approach to storytelling, a recurring critique of Prastowo’s filmmaking style 
. The same reviewer notes that the movie delivers an "important message" about sexual abuse and the profound trauma survivors endure, calling it "seriously good" . This duality—horror as both entertainment and social commentary—positions Mantra Surugana as more than just another supernatural thriller.
Cast and Crew: A Mix of Familiar and Fresh Faces
The film features a ensemble cast, including Sitha Marino, Fergie Brittany, Luna Sabrina, and Rania Putrisari in key roles . While the snippets don’t reveal much about individual performances, the inclusion of actors like Arswendy Bening Swara (a veteran of Indonesian cinema) and relative newcomers like Cindy Nirmala suggests a blend of experience and emerging talent . The full crew list, available on Plex and IMDb, confirms Prastowo’s collaboration with familiar behind-the-scenes names, though specifics on their contributions remain scarce .
Director Dyan Sunu Prastowo’s Signature Style
Prastowo’s approach to Mantra Surugana appears to follow a pattern: chaotic storytelling paired with bold thematic choices. The Letterboxd review criticizes his tendency to "choose violence" in his filmmaking, implying that his narratives can feel overwhelming or disjointed . However, the same review acknowledges that this style might be intentional, particularly when tackling difficult subjects like sexual violence . Whether this method resonates with audiences remains to be seen, but it’s clear Prastowo isn’t shying away from controversy.
What’s Missing?
Despite the intriguing premise, details about the film’s production, reception, or box office performance are notably absent from the available evidence. There’s no confirmation of a wide release, critical reviews beyond the Letterboxd snippet, or behind-the-scenes anecdotes about filming challenges. Rumors of a deeper backstory—such as the origins of the "Surugana" mantra or the real-life inspirations behind the dormitory setting—remain unconfirmed.
For now, Mantra Surugana stands as a horror film with ambitions beyond scares, though its execution may polarize viewers. If Prastowo’s past work is any indication, the movie will likely provoke strong reactions—whether for its storytelling or its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.