REVIEW: ‘Ghost in the Cell’ Is A Gleefully Gruesome Bumpy Ride

Ghost in the Cell paints a vivid picture of what to expect with its title. The arrival of a prisoner starts a chain of murders with a supernatural source. What many won’t expect is the notes of unhinged humor that takes over in the film’s second half, prompting some head scratches before it finds its place in the grand scheme of things. While the varying genre tones don’t always come together, once Ghost in the Cell gets moving, it becomes a gruesomely fun watch.

Directed by Joko Anwar, Ghost in the Cell introduces journalist Dimas (Endy Arfian), who has written an expose on mysterious deaths in Borneo connected to a mining facility, before a shocking act of violence changes his fate. Framed for the murder of his boss, despite the fact that Dimas was nowhere near the scene of the crime, the journalist finds himself shipped to Labuhan Angsana prison, where we’re then introduced to the gang of men who will do everything to protect the young man once things start getting bloody after his arrival.

But it takes time to get to the first kills in the prison. After such an intense opener, things slow down to a crawl, giving time to flesh out the corrupt climate of the prison (where, if you have money, you’re spared from the oppressive force of the guards and various human rights violations) but also to flesh out the men who will help Dimas: Anggoro (Abimana Aryasatya), the leader, Six (Yoga Pratama), the non-religious accidental clairvoyant, Pendi (Lukman Sardi), a former professor, and Wildan (Mike Lucock), a devout Muslim. 

Ghost in the Cell struggles to find the balance between genres until its halfway point.

The chemistry between these four is solid, each riffing off one another in a way that quickly shows the longevity and strength of their bond without relying heavily on exposition. Of the four, though, Anggoro and Six get the most screen time, with Six’s sole purpose in the latter half of Ghost in the Cell to show his friends (and the audience) who will be the next on the chopping block. 

Still, it does take time for Ghost in the Cell to pick up the pace. The plot surrounding the hit against Dimas adds some tension, with Endy Arfian leaning into the fish-out-of-water energy needed in such an unfamiliar environment. However, once the first kill occurs within the prison walls, the energy starts shifting to something more comedic. It’s an odd sort of humor difficult to embrace until Anwar, and subsequently the cast, really lean into the silliness (the power of well-executed dance scenes comes in handy in driving this vibe home).

That’s not to say that it’s all silliness in Ghost in the Cell. The macabre displays of brutality enacted by the spirit that’s made itself at home in the prison are what many horror fans have come to expect from Joko Anwar. There’s one particularly gruesome scene that involves eye penetration that also reminds one of a snail’s ommatophores in execution. But it’s what the inmates have to do to avoid becoming the next victim that creates a fascinating contrast between the humor and bloodshed featured in the film.

The film explores corruption and the importance of positive energy, but the latter requires more finesse.

Underlying it all is what Anwar explores about corruption in Indonesia, and how social class structures carry over into a prison setting. The fact that corrupt politicians can serve out a prison sentence in luxurious solitude, separate from the general population, and also use their power and influence to run the prison from the warden down is the most blatant display of the social power imbalance throughout. And while lacking subtlety, Anwar shows in Ghost in the Cell that journalists like Dimas pose the biggest threat to exposing that corruption.

As for the ghost’s motivation for targeting its kills in Ghost in the Cell, some of it might get lost in translation. The best way to describe it is that the ghost is literally aura farming its victims, waiting for the right chance to strike. A good aura typically blocks out negativity, whereas an aura full of rage or pain attracts negative energy. For Western audiences, the particulars (presented by Six) might not fully make sense or resonate, but there is a basis.

Ghost in the Cell is a bumpy ride, with its strong, high-octane start setting expectations that Joke Anwar has to race to get back up to once things slow down to a crawl. What helps him along the journey is the incredible chemistry between cast members and, once the comedy finds its footing, the balance between humor and sheer horror is absolutely laugh-out-loud fun. It just requires patience to wait for the elements to all come together.

Ghost in the Cell is now available on Digital, and then the film will be available on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray on November 17, 2026.