Andre Taulany
Ki Bagus
Overview
When two evil shamans use black magic to curse and control the government, eight agents disguised as staff members try to stop their plan.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
7 min readBlack Magic, Bad Jokes, and a Franchise on the Edge
I’ve seen my share of films that try to be everything at once—action, comedy, horror, political satire—but Comic 8 Revolution: Santet K4bin3t is the first one that actually commits to the chaos. Not in the way a tightrope walker commits, mind you, but more like a drunk uncle at a wedding who decides to karaoke, breakdance, and deliver a eulogy all in the same breath. The result is a film that’s equal parts exhilarating and exhausting, a genre mashup so unapologetically messy it circles back around to being kind of brilliant.
Director Fajar Bustomi, stepping into the franchise after Anggy Umbara’s two Comic 8 films, doesn’t just dip his toes into the absurd—he cannonballs into it. The premise alone is a doozy: two vengeful shamans, Ki Bagus (Andre Taulany) and Ni Gendis (Hesti Purwadinata), use black magic to curse the Indonesian president and his cabinet, forcing the state intelligence agency BIR to deploy eight undercover agents disguised as domestic workers to infiltrate the shamans’ lair.
It’s Mission: Impossible meets The Exorcist meets a late-night stand-up set, and if that sounds like a recipe for disaster, well, it kind of is. But here’s the thing: disasters can be fun.
The film’s greatest strength—and its most glaring weakness—is its refusal to pick a lane. One minute, you’re watching a high-stakes political thriller; the next, a slapstick comedy where a shaman’s grand ritual is interrupted because someone forgot to buy the right kind of ceremonial candles. The tonal whiplash is relentless, but in a way that feels intentional, like the film is daring you to keep up.
Midgard Times’ Anjali Sharma called it “energetic, unapologetically silly, surprisingly ambitious, occasionally overstuffed,” and that’s about as accurate a description as you’ll find. The question is whether you find that energy infectious or just plain exhausting.
The heart of Santet K4bin3t lies in its performances, particularly the dynamic between Taulany and Purwadinata as the film’s villainous duo. Taulany, in particular, steals the show as Ki Bagus, a shaman whose grand mystical threats are constantly undercut by his own petty frustrations. There’s a scene early on where he’s mid-monologue about the cosmic forces at his command, only to get sidetracked by a missing ingredient for his ritual.
It’s a small moment, but it encapsulates the film’s entire ethos: even the most apocalyptic schemes are just one bad day away from devolving into farce. Purwadinata matches him beat for beat, her Ni Gendis a whirlwind of chaotic energy, rolling her eyes at Ki Bagus’s dramatics like a long-suffering spouse. Their chemistry is the film’s secret weapon, the one thing that keeps the chaos from feeling entirely directionless.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A chaotic but entertaining mix of comedy, action, and horror that relies heavily on its ensemble cast's chemistry."
Viewers appreciate the energetic performances from the core cast, particularly Andre Taulany and Indro, whose comedic timing keeps the film engaging despite its over-the-top premise. The blend of action, comedy, and horror elements is seen as ambitious but uneven, with some finding the supernatural plot (santet/curse themes) underdeveloped or tonally jarring. The film’s fast-paced, irreverent style is a hit with fans of the franchise, latestnetflix.com contends, though newcomers may struggle with its lack of coherence.
What viewers praise
- Strong ensemble chemistry The cast’s comedic timing and camaraderie are frequently highlighted as the film’s strongest asset.
- High-energy entertainment The mix of action and comedy delivers consistent laughs and keeps the pacing brisk.
- Ambitious genre-blending The attempt to merge horror, fantasy, and comedy is praised for its boldness, even if execution falters.
- Nostalgic franchise appeal Longtime fans of the *Comic 8* series enjoy the return of familiar characters and humor.
Common complaints
- Tonally inconsistent The shift between comedy, action, and horror feels disjointed, leaving some viewers confused or underwhelmed.
- Weak supernatural plot The *santet* (curse) storyline is criticized as underdeveloped or poorly integrated into the comedy-heavy narrative.
- Over-reliance on inside jokes Newcomers may feel alienated by the franchise’s heavy use of callbacks and niche humor.
- Uneven pacing Some scenes drag while others rush through key plot points, making the story feel disjointed.
Recommended for
Fans of Indonesian comedy-action Andre Taulany and Indro fans Franchise loyalists Casual horror-comedy viewers Those seeking lighthearted chaos
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBLACK MAGIC & BACKSTAGE MAYHEM: THE REAL-LIFE DRAMA BEHIND COMIC 8 REVOLUTION: SANTET K4BIN3T
When you mix stand-up comics, political satire and literal black magic, of course the chaos isn’t going to stay on screen. From a director switch that shook the franchise to a roast gone terribly wrong on live TV, latestnetflix.com argues, the Comic 8 Revolution: Santet K4bin3t universe has brewed up more drama than a full season of soap operas. Let’s unwrap the juiciest, actually reported tea.
On-Set & Behind-the-Scenes Drama
Director switch that launched a thousand thinkpieces
- After two films steering the Comic 8 ship, original director Anggy Umbara was quietly replaced by Fajar Bustomi for the “Revolution” era. Entertainment coverage framed it politely as Fajar “continuing the baton” Anggy left behind, with Fajar saying he only accepted after finding new challenges in the script
. IGInstagram·Falcom Pictures kembali menghadirkan sekuel film… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUOwybksqo/Loading Instagram post…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUOwybksqo/- Multiple outlets underline how unusual this is for such a tightly branded franchise. Media noted very clearly that Fajar “dipilih… menggantikan Anggy Umbara yang sebelumnya menggarap dua film Comic 8” (“was chosen to replace Anggy Umbara who directed the previous two Comic 8 films”) .
- The subtext fans read? Quiet creative clashes and a decision by Falcon Pictures to reboot the tone without publicly calling it a reboot.
New cast bootcamp: Comedy meets military training
- The “komplotan baru” (new crew) of comics wasn’t just plucked off open mics and tossed into camera close-ups. New reports say they went through quarantine-style housing, acting coaching and physical training for months before shooting .
- Producer Frederica admitted the script took 2–3 years to develop, and that they’d gathered an “ammunition” of strong comedic talent for Fajar to fire at the screen . Translation: expectations were SKY HIGH, pressure included.
Mystical set vibes
- At the gala event, podcasts recorded under the Comic 8 Revolution banner had cast and creators swapping stories about “pengalaman mistis dan momen kocak selama proses syuting” — mystical experiences and ridiculous moments during filming .
- Given the story revolves around santet (black magic) and shady rituals, fans have leaned into the idea that some of those “mystical experiences” were a little too on-theme. No one has gone on record with specifics, but they were teased enough during the gala podcasts to fire up fan theories .
Casting Shake-Ups, Hurt Feelings & “Komplotan Baru”
A near-total cast wipeout
- One major talking point in reviews: around 90% of the original Comic 8 cast was replaced to make way for new blood in line with the “Revolution” slogan .
- A critic flat-out called attention to the “perombakan pemain yang cukup besar” (significant cast overhaul) and framed it as a deliberate attempt at regeneration . Longtime fans, especially of the OG ensemble, didn’t all take it well.
Reality-show style recruitment
- The fresh faces didn’t come quietly. The production ran a big talent search, “Mencari Komplotan Baru Comic 8: Revolution”, to find 8 new stand-up comedians to become the new leads .
- Names like Bagas Sianipar, Bayu Wibowo, Fadholi Ambar, Felix Seda, Johan Juling, Jerry Libing, Aep Sutisna, Sardhol, Andro, Bayu Terimakasih became the official “new cabinet” of chaos .
- The competition format, elimination episodes, and constant clips on YouTube and TikTok turned the casting process itself into a drama series—roasts, tears, and all (more on that below).
Producer openly calls it a “revolution”
- At the gala premiere, producer Frederica basically confirmed what fans suspected: this was a strategic changing of the guard. She said Falcon wanted to “give space to new comedians with strong, different characters” and that this wasn’t just a sequel, but “awal revolusi baru yang lebih segar, dan lebih relevan” (the start of a fresher new revolution, more relevant to today’s audience) .
- Translation for OG fans: Thank you for your service, here’s Gen Z.
Scandals & Controversies
The Dewi Perssik roast that went OFF THE RAILS
- Easily the spiciest incident tied to the Comic 8 Revolution brand happened before the film: during the Comic 8 Revolution audition/roast show.
- Komika Bayu Wibowo, one of the eventual film comics, tried to roast dangdut star Dewi Perssik by claiming to be her “berondong” (young boy toy). Dewi did not find it cute.
- On camera, she confronted him: “Kamu tadi bilang apa, berondong aku?” (“What did you just say, that you’re my younger man?”) . She then lectured him on boundaries in comedy:
- “Kalau mau ngelawak tuh boleh-boleh saja, tapi maksudnya tuh harus sesuai” (“You can joke, but it has to be appropriate”) .
- She worried it would turn into tabloid gossip that she’d been with a younger man, which she flatly denied: “Nanti jadi gosip bahwa Dewi Perssik pernah sama berondong, sedangkan saya enggak pernah sama berondong.”
- Bayu folded instantly, visibly shaken and apologizing: “Iya minta maaf tadi saya salah mengucapkan kata-kata berondong.” (“Yes, I’m sorry, I was wrong to say ‘berondong’.”)
- The clip went viral, spawning debates about how far roasting can go and whether “new-gen” comics respect boundaries with female stars.
- Rumor has it (unconfirmed) that this moment nearly cost Bayu his slot in the film, but he ultimately stayed because of his performance and popularity on the show.
Fans side-eye the title swap
IGInstagram·'Comic 8: Tumbal Sulam' diganti jadi 'Comic 8 Re… https://www.instagram.com/p/DPakDIgiCbz/Loading Instagram post…
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPakDIgiCbz/IGInstagram·Tumbal Sulam', kini menjadi 'Comic 8 Revolution:… https://www.instagram.com/p/DPqBoIiEyKE/Loading Instagram post…
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPqBoIiEyKE/- The project was initially announced as “Comic 8: Tumbal Sulam” before being rebranded as “Comic 8 Revolution: Santet K4bin3t” in late 2025 .
- The official explanation focused on tone (leaning harder into the horror-comedy and the “revolution” of cast and story), but some fans read it as a last-minute marketing panic—especially when the stylized “K4bin3t” suddenly appeared on posters and TikTok campaigns
. - While no lawsuit or official drama surfaced, the sudden rebrand fed speculation that early test responses weren’t as strong as Falcon wanted.
Romance Rumors & Chemistry Talk
Andre Taulany & Hesti Purwadinata: just co-workers… or something more?
- In the film, Andre Taulany and Hesti Purwadinata play married shamans Ki Bagus and Ni Gendis, and the whole thing hinges on their chemistry being funny, creepy and oddly romantic all at once.
- Hesti admitted their closeness made it easy: “Saya sama Pak Haji sudah kerja bareng cukup lama. Jadi untuk di film ini justru lebih dimudahkan.” (“I’ve worked with Pak Haji for a long time, so this film actually became easier.”)
- Andre basically said the same: “Kami sudah kerja sama cukup lama, jadi tidak terlalu sulit untuk membangun chemistry.” (“We’ve worked together long enough that building chemistry wasn’t hard.”)
IGInstagram·Rumah tangga Andre Taulany dan Erin dikabarkan d… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP5ylL9k-es/Loading Instagram post…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP5ylL9k-es/- At the same time, Indonesian infotainment was busy covering Andre’s rocky personal life and divorce, which made their convincing on-screen “dukuns in love” dynamic a little too juicy for some viewers’ imaginations .
- Important: No credible outlet has reported an off-screen affair between them. The gossip is mostly fan speculation based on how close and natural they seem in interviews and BTS content.
Leaks, Bloopers & Public Chaos
Bloopers as soft leaks of the set’s real energy
- Falcon Pictures and partner cinemas went all-in on releasing bloopers and behind-the-scenes clips that doubled as “look how chaotic this set was” marketing:
IGInstagram·BLOOPERS TIME! Dukun Tebak-tebakan Pakai Bahasa … https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRhNRfxEhjm/Loading Instagram post…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRhNRfxEhjm/- A viral blooper reel marketed as “BLOOPERS TIME!!!” shows the cast repeatedly breaking character, mispronouncing English lines and corpsing through ritual scenes .
- Another clip focuses on Mister Aloy’s bloopers, with Cinepolis teasing viewers to “Tonton bloopers seru Mister Aloy di film Comic 8 Revolution” (“Watch Mister Aloy’s fun bloopers”) before the movie even hit cinemas .
- Press conference and promo content were described by TikTok captions as “se-chaotic itu… kebayang filmnya nanti gimana” (“already that chaotic… just imagine the film”) . In other words: the PR team leaned heavy into “this is a circus, and that’s the point.”
Gala premiere as a full-day comedy festival
- The gala premiere wasn’t just a red carpet; Tabloid Bintang called it a full-day entertainment party, complete with live podcasts and constant comedy segments .
- Four popular siniar (podcasts)—Butik Haji Igun, Bicara Sara Wijayanto, Ngerujak, Start Up—were recorded there, featuring behind-the-scenes confessions, mystical experiences and cast chaos streamed via the Comic 8 Revolution YouTube channel .
- With cross-generational stars like Andre Taulany, Hesti Purwadinata, Indro Warkop, Vino G. Bastian, Tora Sudiro, Dicky Diffie, Mr Aloy, Indy Barends and Adjis Doa Ibu all milling around, the event reportedly turned into a kind of multi-era Indonesian comedy reunion .
Wild Trivia & Fan-Favorite Nuggets
A “total entertainment” manifesto
- Director Fajar Bustomi described his mission in one glorious, unhinged quote:
- The film was designed as “hiburan total” (total entertainment), mixing comedy, action, horror, and “kegilaan yang nggak bisa dijelasin pakai logika” (“madness that can’t be explained with logic”) .
- That ethos more or less sums up the movie and its promotional circus.
Cast crossover worship
- Coverage of the film repeatedly emphasizes its cast as a cross-generational supergroup: senior legends (Indro Warkop, Cak Lontong, Andre, Hesti) colliding with audition-won newbies and viral names like Mister Aloy .
- For many fans, the real draw wasn’t the santet plot at all, but watching this random soup of TV hosts, stand-up comics and internet personalities all trying to share a frame without stepping on each other’s punchlines.
Audience reaction: revolution or regression?
- Some reviewers praised the structured story and tonal shift, others said the comedy felt “kurang pecah” (not explosive enough) compared to older entries .
- One Netflix-era review even titled its take “Black Magic, Bad Decisions, and Legal Chaos,” hinting that the film’s depiction of sorcery-savvy governance and corrupt power had as many legal headaches as punchlines .
- Whether you loved it or not, nobody can say Santet K4bin3t played it safe—on screen or off.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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