Indonesian Horror Film ‘Sijjin’ Takes Karachi Cinemas by Storm

News Desk
Islamabad: Taking an unexpected turn in Karachi’s cinema scene, an Indonesian film is capturing the attention of a wider audience, reaching beyond just hardcore horror fans.
The unique factor contributing to its popularity in Pakistan is the presence of English subtitles, turning it into an unconventional draw for viewers.
On January 19, ‘Sijjin,’ an Indonesian horror film, premiered in Karachi, and to everyone’s surprise, theaters were filled to capacity on the opening day.
In Pakistan, horror movies typically struggle to attract large audiences, often overshadowed by Hollywood hits like ‘Conjuring’ or ‘Insidious.’ However, ‘Sijjin’ appears to be challenging this norm, sustaining its appeal even after a week, with audiences craving more thrills.
Exploring the plot, ‘Sijjin’ is unveiled as the Indonesian adaptation of a Turkish horror series with six parts, each crafting its own narrative.
This specific Indonesian remake is based on a 2014 installment of the Turkish series and has successfully made its way onto Pakistani screens.
Mirza Saad Baig, the general manager of the theater responsible for distributing the movie, shared insights into its box office performance, revealing that within the first week, ‘Sijjin’ has amassed over Rs20 million nationwide.
Baig also hinted at future plans, mentioning their prior showcases of animated Japanese and musical concert films. Additionally, they plan to screen three Thai films next month, spanning horror, action, and rom-com genres.
Ongoing discussions with other countries aim to bring a more diverse selection of films to Pakistan.
The success of ‘Sijjin’ in Pakistani cinemas underscores the potential for captivating storytelling and high production quality to overcome language barriers, presenting a valuable lesson for local filmmakers.