Preman is a 2021 Indonesian action crime drama, written and directed by Randolph Zaini in his first feature length directorial debut. After witnessing the murder of an old man at the hands of vicious gangsters, young Panu along with his deaf father Sandi, a current member of the gang, must fight for their survival as they try to escape the vengeance of its boss, Guru!
Though mostly an action-based film, Preman features a heavy emphasis on the exploration of the father/son connection between Sandi and Panu. Their relationship is strained even further as Sandi accepts a near-death sentence going against the gang , finally able to overcome his loyalty (or fear) of the group and risk everything for his son. Moreover, an in-depth look into Sandi’s troubled past assists in conveying the events that lead him into his current employment organically rather than utilizing a lazy exposition dump.
The premise here is not exactly a unique one, but Preman introduces elements that are lesser seen in the genre to its benefit. Powerful use of symbolism throughout, flashbacks of Sandi’s violent past manifested as skewed visions, dreams featuring anthropomorphic fox suits, are all presented with a vibrant mix of colours, neon lights, and liberal use of slow motion. Consequently, the amalgamation of these dreamlike states bleeding into reality in the film’s final scenes adds to the impressive visual style presented throughout Preman.
This permeating style is present throughout the film in addition to these dream sequences, the use of atypical styles of cinematography along with the alternation in aspect ratios creates some highly polished production values throughout. Additionally, the mixed-use of traditional and modern Indonesian music presents a strong national identity along with fitting the film’s tone perfectly.
Intermittent placed throughout are some impressively intense fight scenes, all of which retain the film’s unique style. The implementation of cinematography, sound design, and sleek editing in an exciting yet realistic manner avoids some more common tropes of the genre. Sandi, though a skilled fighter, is not infallible either, being on the receiving end of the violence on more than one occasion but with his trusty ‘Monkey’s Fist‘, Sandi fights all those in his path with sheer determination in an effort to save his son.
Perhaps not as adrenaline-fuelled as The Raid (2011) or The Night Comes for Us (2018), Preman undeniably delivers an action-packed thrill ride in Indonesia’s dark underbelly. Along with its emphasis on building a robust connection between the protagonists as well as its ever-present symbolism, it teeters the line between action and drama admirably – retaining the best aspects of both without compromise.
We watched Preman as part of the 2022 Fantaspoa Film Festival
More Film Reviews
It always feels like a bit of an odd statement, but I have always been interested in occultism tied to the Nazi party, and what potential world of horrors it… Veteran actress Veronica (Alice Krige) has just undergone a double mastectomy and has decided to go to a secluded retreat with her nurse in order to heal both physically and… Fabián Forte’s Legions, an Argentine horror-comedy that premiered at the 2022 edition of the Fantaspoa Film Festival, is a delightful concoction bound to please fans of Sam Raimi, Alex de la… One of the crowning glories of the horror film genre is how much can be done with so little. From budget to effects to characters, indie horror films prove time… Set to screen at the 2021 Fantasia Film Festival, Story of a Southern Islet rests as Malaysia’s only entry into the prestigious festival. Having found myself intently interested on the new… At this year’s Unnamed Footage Festival, the lineup of short found footage films promises to immerse audiences in thrilling and chilling narratives captured through unconventional lenses. From eerie home videos…Blood Vessel (2020) Film Review: Nazi Occultism Always Takes A Turn For The Worse
She Will (2021) Film Review – A Gothic Tale of Power and Feminism
Legions (2022) Movie Review – Aging Shaman vs. Self Help
The Alchemist Cookbook (2016) Film Review – Minimalism Maximized
The Story of Southern Islet Film Review – A Curse On You!
Unnamed Footage Festival Short Films Collection (2024) – Short but Sweet [Unnamed Footage Festival 7]
Hey there, I’m Jim and I’m located in London, UK. I am a Writer and Managing Director here at Grimoire of Horror. A lifelong love of horror and writing has led me down this rabbit hole, allowing me to meet many amazing people and experience some truly original artwork. I specialise in world cinema, manga/graphic novels, and video games but will sometime traverse into the unknown in search of adventure.