Eko Sulistyo
The Indonesian cinematic landscape is poised for a significant evolution within its most dominant genre as Paragon Pictures and Ideosource Entertainment officially announce the production of their latest horror venture, Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah. This project, which serves as a highly anticipated sequel to the 2024 hit Kuasa Gelap, seeks to elevate the "religious horror" subgenre by intertwining traditional Indonesian occultism with the structured rites of the Catholic Church. Announced in Jakarta on Friday, March 27, 2026, the film represents a strategic expansion of a franchise that has already demonstrated significant commercial viability and international appeal.
The first installment of the franchise was a landmark release in the Indonesian film industry, primarily because it shifted the focus of religious horror—which is traditionally rooted in Islamic themes within the country—toward the specific rituals of Catholic exorcism. Having secured over 1.4 million admissions during its initial theatrical run and gaining further traction on global streaming platforms, the sequel, subtitled Perjanjian Darah (Blood Pact), aims to broaden the narrative scope. By introducing the dark reality of pesugihan—a local form of ritualistic wealth-seeking involving spiritual contracts—the film promises a complex exploration of faith, greed, and the supernatural.
A New Benchmark for the Religious Horror Subgenre
The announcement of Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah comes at a time when Indonesian horror is undergoing a period of creative refinement. For decades, the genre relied heavily on "jump scares" and urban legends. However, the mid-2020s have seen a pivot toward "elevated horror," where thematic depth and cultural commentary are as important as the scares themselves. Director Rizal Mantovani, a veteran of the industry known for his foundational work in films like Jelangkung, is set to helm this project. Mantovani’s involvement suggests a commitment to high production values and a sophisticated visual language that balances the visceral nature of horror with the solemnity of religious practice.
During the press briefing in Jakarta, the production team emphasized that this sequel is not merely a continuation but an escalation. While the first film focused on the internal struggle of a priest and the technicalities of exorcism, Perjanjian Darah introduces an external societal threat: the practice of pesugihan. In the Indonesian context, pesugihan refers to a pact made with dark entities to obtain wealth or power, often requiring a "mahar" or sacrifice, usually in the form of human lives or the souls of family members. By pitting the Catholic Rite of Exorcism against this deeply rooted local occult practice, the film explores a clash between institutional faith and ancestral darkness.
Production Timeline and Strategic Vision
According to the production schedule released by Paragon Pictures, principal photography for Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah is slated to begin in April 2026. The choice of filming locations is expected to span both urban centers and remote rural areas to reflect the pervasive nature of pesugihan, which is often whispered to occur in the shadows of both modern society and traditional villages.
Producer Robert Ronny highlighted the grounded nature of the script, noting that the story is informed by real-world accounts and cultural observations. "Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah raises a theme that has never been present on the Indonesian big screen: pesugihan from the perspective of the Catholic faith," Ronny stated. He further explained that the film treats pesugihan not as mere superstition but as a social reality that continues to affect communities. The stakes in this narrative are elevated from the possession of a single individual to the spiritual safety of an entire village, suggesting a much larger scale than its predecessor.
The collaboration between Paragon Pictures and Ideosource Entertainment remains a cornerstone of the project’s business strategy. Following the success of the first film, which was distributed in various Southeast Asian markets and Latin America, the producers are eyeing a wider international release. The "exorcism" trope is a globally recognized horror staple, and by localizing it with Indonesian elements like pesugihan, the film offers a unique "glocal" product that appeals to both domestic audiences and international horror enthusiasts.
The Return of Iconic Characters and New Additions
Central to the franchise’s identity are the characters of Romo Thomas and Romo Rendra, portrayed by Jerome Kurnia and Lukman Sardi, respectively. Both actors have been confirmed to reprise their roles, providing a sense of continuity that is vital for franchise building. Lukman Sardi, one of Indonesia’s most respected actors, noted that his character, Romo Rendra, will undergo a more rigorous test of faith in this installment. The "battle of faith" is described as more "brutal," suggesting that the spiritual warfare depicted will have significant psychological and physical tolls on the protagonists.
The casting also marks the return of Feby Febiola to the silver screen after a notable hiatus. Her inclusion adds a layer of seasoned talent to the ensemble, which also features rising stars Venly Arauna and Keysha Angelica. This blend of veteran actors and fresh faces is a tactical move to capture a broad demographic, from older audiences who recognize Febiola and Sardi to the younger Gen Z audience that follows Arauna and Angelica.
Cultural Context: The Reality of Pesugihan and Faith
To understand the weight of the film’s premise, one must look at the cultural significance of pesugihan in Indonesia. Despite the country’s modernization, stories of "blood pacts" for wealth remain a staple of local discourse. These stories often serve as moral allegories regarding the dangers of unbridled greed. By framing this through the lens of Catholic exorcism, the film provides a rare ecumenical dialogue in cinema.
Indonesia is home to a diverse religious population, and while Islam is the majority faith, the Catholic community has a long-standing history and a well-documented tradition of the Rite of Exorcism. The first film was praised for its consultation with religious experts to ensure that the liturgical aspects of the exorcism were portrayed with accuracy. The sequel is expected to maintain this level of detail, potentially involving consultations on how the Church views local occult practices. This commitment to realism serves to ground the supernatural elements, making the horror feel more immediate and plausible to the audience.
Market Analysis and Industry Implications
The success of the first Kuasa Gelap, reaching 1.4 million viewers, placed it among the top-tier horror performers of its release year. In the context of the Indonesian film market, achieving over a million admissions is a benchmark for a "box office hit." The horror genre continues to be the primary driver of the domestic film economy, often accounting for more than 60% of total annual ticket sales.
Industry analysts suggest that the sequel’s focus on pesugihan is a savvy market move. "Pesugihan horror" has historically performed well in Indonesia (as seen in films like Di Ambang Kematian), but it has rarely been executed with the high-concept production value associated with Rizal Mantovani and Paragon Pictures. By combining a proven "local" horror trope with a "Western-style" religious procedural (the exorcism), Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah is positioned to dominate the box office in late 2026.
Furthermore, the expansion of the Kuasa Gelap universe signals a shift toward "cinematic universes" in Indonesian horror. Much like the Danur universe or the Pengabdi Setan series, Kuasa Gelap is building a brand that audiences can trust for a specific type of experience—one that is intellectually stimulating, religiously grounded, and technically superior.
Thematic Depth: More Than Just Scares
Director Rizal Mantovani has been vocal about his desire to push the boundaries of the genre. "In Perjanjian Darah, the battle of faith is much more brutal. The depth of the theme of this film goes far beyond the first film," he remarked. This suggests that the movie will delve into the theology of suffering, the nature of evil, and the sociological impact of spiritual corruption.
The concept of a "Blood Pact" implies a debt that must be paid, and the film likely explores the collateral damage of such debts. In many pesugihan legends, the person who makes the pact is not the only one who suffers; their descendants and neighbors are often drawn into the darkness. This communal threat allows the film to explore themes of social responsibility and the collective strength of faith.
Anticipation and Future Outlook
As the production prepares to kick off in April 2026, the buzz surrounding Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah continues to grow. Fans of the first film are eager to see the evolution of Romo Thomas and Romo Rendra, while horror aficionados are interested in the technical execution of the pesugihan-exorcism crossover.
The film stands as a testament to the maturing Indonesian film industry, which is increasingly capable of producing genre films that are both culturally specific and globally competitive. If Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah succeeds in its ambitious goal of "leveling up" the religious horror genre, it may well set a new standard for how faith and folklore are depicted on screen for years to come. With a seasoned director, a powerhouse cast, and a narrative that taps into the deepest fears of the Indonesian psyche, the "Blood Pact" is set to be one of the most significant cinematic events of 2026.
