Impetigore Review: A Creepy, Tension-Filled Homecoming

Release date: July 23, 2020
Running time: 106 minutes
Starring: Tara Basro, Ario Bayu, Marissa Anita 

Maya with her best friend, Dini, are struggling in the city.  However, a strange encounter with a random creep shakes her and causes her to think about going somewhere new.  After the encounter, she realizes that she might inherit a property from her rich family, but has to go back to her home village far away from the big city.  Maya returns to the village with Dini, but as soon as they return strange things begin to happen to the pair.  

Impetigore does a lot right.  The film doesn't pile on too much and uses its creepy music, lighting, and effects perfectly.  Although the film starts with a dramatic scene, it then slowly builds the unease as the girls learn more about the village's dark past and strange curse.  The movie slowly reveals things to you, which is an absolute must in a horror movie, and keeps you guessing all the way to the end.  Impetigore does a good job with creepy sound design, lighting, and scenery to make you think something is happening.  You will catch a glimpse of something briefly, be cued in by a strange sound, or see something happen only for you to realize nothing was there.  It really raises the tension and keeps you on edge.  And when the film gets to the more dangerous parts for the friends, it really does a great job of imposing the sense of dread. 

However, although Impetigore does so much right, it does make a few mistakes here and there.  For one, the film does a great job of keeping a lot from the viewer, but then reveals the bulk of the story cheaply.  It tells you what was going on, but I would have rather that the film reveal more to the viewer over the course of the encounter, rather than all at once.  And this film does such a good job of building up the dread and keeping the audience guessing, only to have an unsatisfying ending.  Maybe it was a cultural thing, but I did not understand the reasons for certain things to happen at the end, and the ultimate conclusion felt odd.  It's a shame because the movie does so much right and really keeps the audience on edge, but feels like maybe the filmmakers couldn't find a way to transition so went with an easy solution.  In any event, there is a lot to appreciate about Impetigore and it should make for a scary night time watch.

Impetigore's creepy music, fantastic lighting, and sense of tension will keep viewers on edge during this trip to a mysterious secluded village.

Rent it.