Indonesian director Danial Rifki’s remake of the Spanish thriller “The Invisible Guest” has finally premiered at Jakarta World Cinema. The Falcon Pictures production, which adapts Oriol Paulo’s 2016 film “Contratiempo” into an Indonesian setting, stars Reza Rahadian, Mawar de Jongh, and Arifin Putra. Rifki told Variety that while the film was completed in 2023, its release was delayed by exclusivity clauses with HBO. The film debuted on HBO Max on Aug. 7.
Rifki also showcased two other new features at the festival: the romantic comedy “Tua Tua Keladi” and the thriller “Sandal Jepit No. 10.”
Regarding “Tua Tua Keladi,” which focuses on older residents of a small village, Rifki explained that the plot involves a chemical leak into the water supply that triggers a sudden outbreak of unspoken feelings and passion. Rifki stated he wanted to challenge the assumption that older people lack energy, saying, “I was thinking, if they have young energy to live the second life, [it is] the second chance to love.” He noted that despite the premise, he avoided eroticism with the younger characters because he is concerned about his daughter being exposed to wild media in the digital era. He said, “So with the young characters, I try to approach them with something pure, not physical.”
In “Sandal Jepit No. 10,” a confined-space thriller about a grieving father's police interrogation, Rifki addressed the political trauma of Indonesia. He noted that during the Suharto era’s New Order, which lasted around 32 years, people could not criticize the government. He observed that while the Reformation Era is current, criticism may now happen underground, noting that social media comments can be shadowbanned.
Rifki described Indonesians as the low class of society with a fear of oppression from those in power, stating, “So the movie is about how to fight back.” He added that people power is shifting to a digital era where netizens can help, and expressed confidence that many good people still exist. He said the film grew from his concerns over the abuse of power in Indonesia today.
Rifki described himself as an evolving filmmaker who wants to explore various genres, noting that human moral conflict is the backbone of his work. He expressed interest in trying action and horror. His next project, “Before Thirty,” is scheduled for release in January 2027. He described it as a survival drama about a 29-year-old man whose life is failing, serving as his commentary on the societal pressure for young people to be successful before the age of 30.
