[Spooktober] SUNYI (2019): Indonesian Horror Movie, Adapted from Whispering Corridor

[Spooktober] SUNYI (2019): Indonesian Horror Movie, Adapted from Whispering Corridor

After KKN di Desa Penari, this time I want to recommend another Indonesian horror movie that happens to be an adaptation of the Korean horror film Whispering Corridor.

Whispering Corridor, it's one of my all-time favorite Korean horror series. If you’re into horror, this one’s worth to checking out.

Let’s dive into the review together!

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Title: Sunyi

Director: Awi Suryadi

Screenplay: Agasyah Karim, Khalid Kashogi, Awi Suryadi (Based on Whispering Corridors by Park Ki Hyung)

Producer: Manoj Punjabi

Genre: Horror, Drama

Cast: Amanda Rawles, Angga Yunanda, Arya Vasco, Naomi Paulinda, Teuku Ryzki, Verdi Solaiman

Cinematographer: Adrian Sugiono

Produced by: Pichouse Films, Xing Xing, Studio Invictus, Mixx Entertainment, CJ Entertainment

Distributed by: MD Pictures, Encore Films, Golden Village Pictures

Release Date: April 11, 2019

Runtime: 91 minutes

Type: Movie

Country: Indonesia

Language: Indonesian

Age Rating: 15+

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Synopsis Sunyi (Indonesia Horror Movie):

Sunyi follows the life of Alex (Angga Yunanda), a 10th grader who has just been accepted into Abdi Bangsa High School, one of the most prestigious schools in Jakarta. However, the school enforces a harsh seniority system where freshmen must obey the orders of the 11th and 12th graders. They aren’t even allowed to eat in the cafeteria or go to the library.

Frustrated with the toxic system, Alex vents his feelings through comics he draws. Fortunately, his anxiety starts to ease when he befriends Maggie (Amanda Rawles), another new student. Alex grows fond of her, but every time he tries to get closer, the seniors get in the way with relentless bullying.

Things escalate when three 11th graders; Andre, Erika, and Fachri forced Alex to perform a spirit-summoning ritual after finding out he’s the son of a paranormal. Rumor has it, Abdi Bangsa High School is haunted by the spirits of three female students who died due to bullying.

Reluctantly, Alex does the ritual. But after that, he begins to be terrorized by the spirits and eerie events unfold; leading to the mysterious deaths of Fachri and Erika. Andre, the last of the bullies, starts suspecting that Alex’s ritual is behind the tragedies.

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Rating: 8/10 for a solid adaptation that’s both good and a little disappointing at the same time.

Sunyi delivers horror wrapped in the backdrop of Indonesia’s education system. At its core, it’s about Alex navigating bullying and seniority at school. With bullying recently and always being a hot topic on social media, I felt it was the right time to revisit and review this film.

Remember, bullying is not only disgraceful action but also a crime that needs to be eradicated. I really hate people who doing bullying. Well, Sunyi portrays a terrifying perspective on how seniority practices in schools can destroy lives. It asks: how do victims of bullying "suffering both physically and mentally" manage to survive? And how does this toxic system affect teachers trapped within it?

Read this: Review Film Horor Thailand Terbaik 2004: SHUTTER

Related content: Review Drakor Karma (2025) | Suatu Hari Karma Pasti Datang

The Differences Between Sunyi and Whispering Corridor:

Unlike its source material Whispering Corridors, Sunyi leans more heavily into the supernatural side of things, making ghosts the main scare element. The ghosts are portrayed as symbols of vengeance and seniority. The adaptation deserves credit for creatively rooting the story in Indonesian culture, while still weaving in references from the original that will immediately recognize by fans.

Both films focus on themes of education and toxic hierarchy, but with different sources of “evil”: in the Korean version (came from one part of all series), the cruelty comes from the teachers, while in Sunyi it comes from the upperclassmen.

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Movie Review Sunyi: Simplistic Character Development

Although Sunyi stays true to its source and highlights bullying and seniority, the character development and atmosphere feel simpler and less layered compared to Whispering Corridors.

Where the original built terror through depth and tension, the Indonesian version goes for classic jump scares and ghostly appearances. This makes the characters less impactful. For those who’ve seen the Korean version, there’s not much surprise left.

Maggie’s character, shrouded in mystery, fails to deliver a strong twist. The ghosts serve more as scare devices than integral parts of the story, making Maggie’s reveal way too predictable.

The film also misses out on exploring the deeper effects of seniority and bullying, as well as Alex’s classmate dynamics. Still, I’ll admit part of this disappointment comes from me constantly comparing it to the Korean version, haha.

Other Review: Review Film Thriller No Exit (2022) | Aduh, Ngilu!

Movie Review Sunyi: An Adaptation That Doesn’t Disappointed 

Despite its flaws, Sunyi still shines in terms of technical execution. From cinematography, shot compositions, and key horror sequences are handled nicely. The film delivers a chilling atmosphere and solid moments of terror.

In short, Sunyi is just okay. Not bad, not great. Not a favorite, but enjoyable enough. It’s worth watching, though! You can stream it on Prime Video Indonesia (I'm not sure if it’s available internationally).

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Yep, That’s it for my review of the Indonesian horror film or horror movie called Sunyi. Thanks for reading, maybe i wouldn't post the Indonesian version of this review. It's be the only one on my blog. So, follow my blog for another English version of short story, articles or reviews.