Macabre (2009)
A relentless Indonesian horror-thriller in which a deadly family home becomes a trap no one escapes easily.
Macabre - Movie Information
- Original Title: Rumah Dara
- Release Year: 2009
- Directed by: Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: Indonesian
- Spoken Languages: Indonesian
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 8, 2009 (Singapore - M18)
- Alternative Titles: Darah (SG)
- Production Companies: Nation Pictures, Merah Production, Gorylah Pictures, Guerilla Visuals, MediaCorp Raintree Pictures
- Production Countries: Indonesia, Singapore
Macabre - Plot
Six friends are captured and tortured by a murderous family after giving a ride home to a desperate stranger.
Macabre - Trailer
See the terror unfold in the official trailer for this Indonesian horror landmark:
Horror has a mother.
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Macabre - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kimo Stamboel
- Timo Tjahjanto
Main Cast
- Shareefa Daanish
- Julie Estelle
- Ario Bayu
- Arifin Putra
- Imelda Therinne
- Sigi Wimala
- Mike Lucock
- Daniel Mananta
- Dendy Subangil
- Ruly Lubis
Writers
- Kimo Stamboel
- Timo Tjahjanto
Producers
- Timo Tjahjanto
- Delon Tio
- Freddie Yeo
- Gary Goh
- Greg Chew
Macabre - FAQs
What is Macabre (2009) about?
Macabre follows six friends who make the fatal mistake of offering a lift to a mysterious young woman. She leads them back to her family home, where her terrifying mother Dara presides over a household with a horrifying secret. What starts as hospitality quickly descends into a brutal fight for survival.
Is Macabre based on a short film?
Yes! Macabre is actually an expansion of a short film called Dara, which directors Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto made earlier. The short introduced the chilling character of Dara and her murderous household, and its strong reception gave the duo the green light to develop it into a full feature.
Who plays the villain Dara in Macabre?
Shareefa Daanish delivers a genuinely unsettling performance as Dara, the matriarch at the center of all the carnage. She brings a cold, almost regal menace to the role that makes Dara one of the most memorable villains in Southeast Asian horror cinema.
Where can you watch Macabre online?
Streaming availability for Macabre varies by region and changes over time. Your best bet is to check JustWatch, which tracks current rental, purchase, and streaming options across all major platforms in your country so you can find the most up-to-date viewing options.
Who directed Macabre and what else have they made?
Macabre was co-directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto, the Indonesian filmmaking duo known as The Mo Brothers. After Macabre, they went on to direct segments in horror anthologies like V/H/S/2, and Tjahjanto later helmed The Night Comes for Us and Headshot, cementing his reputation as a master of visceral action-horror.
How gory and violent is Macabre?
Macabre is genuinely intense and pulls no punches. The film features graphic violence, gore, and scenes of torture that earned it an M18 rating in Singapore. It's firmly in extreme horror territory, so viewers sensitive to graphic content should approach with caution. Hardcore horror fans, however, will find it impressively crafted.
How was Macabre received by critics?
Macabre earned strong praise within the horror community, particularly for its relentless pacing, stylish direction, and Shareefa Daanish's commanding performance. Critics highlighted it as a standout entry in Southeast Asian horror and a confident debut feature from The Mo Brothers, drawing comparisons to classic Western extreme horror films.
What movies are similar to Macabre (2009)?
If Macabre hit the spot, you'll likely enjoy The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wrong Turn, and The Hills Have Eyes for that same trapped-and-hunted dread. For more recent picks, Pearl (2022) and Strange Darling (2024) offer similarly unhinged antagonists. The Strangers (2008) delivers comparable home-invasion terror with a different but equally chilling tone.
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