Before I watched Mangkujiwo, I had started with Mangkujiwo 2. Thinking that is was going to be easy to pick up. Well, I was wrong. They clearly expect you to have watched the original, since it was very hard to follow. So I stopped and made an effort to track down the original and watch it.
Now, after having watched the original, I am kind of confused why this sequel even exists. I mean, all you need to know is in this part, and from the twenty or thirty minutes I had seen of the sequel, it seemed to me that this part was repeating itself. But for the sake of fairness, I will watch the sequel in its entirety to make sure that I am not missing anything. Although I do need to point out that Mangkujiwo takes a lot of time to get to the point. The pace is so slow that I almost lost my mind. Perhaps the makers of this film intended this since it does help make you feel uneasy. In any case, in the first hour you get to witness certain events that don't make much sense until Uma (Yasamin Jasem) comes into the picture. Because of her, you get to find out what is going on. The why is also obvious. Almost every scene has exposition. The problem is that almost everything is told in such a convoluted way that it complicates the story too much. It's very off-putting and, frankly, quite insulting, since what is being conveyed is easy to understand.
In the final part, you finally get what the viewer has been waiting for, thank god. At least, some payoff. But like I said earlier, the film takes too long to get to the point, and I really think that detracts from the viewing experience. I don't mind if horror films are of a serious nature, but then you really have to bring your A game to maintain the tension, dread, and drama. In that regard, this film fails. This is demonstrated in the finale, when the makers have decided to have some fun. It's here that the film is at its best. As if they finally realized that they needed something extra to make it entertaining.
Overall, if you can overlook the flaws and the immense slow pace, you might have a decent viewing experience. But I can't possibly recommend this when films like Janur Ireng: Sewu Dino the Prequel (2025) exist. It kind of deals with a similar premise but clearly is the superior film in every way.
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