Love

Synopsis Of The Movie Love (2018)

Background Story

Film Love set 37 years before the events in the film Danur: I Can See Ghosts. The story centers on the origins of a kuntilanak ghost named Asih, who becomes one of the creepy figures in the Danur Universe. Based on a true story written by Risa Saraswati, Asih is a woman named Kasih who suffered a tragic fate due to betrayal and social rejection. This Film reveals the background of his life, the reason he became a wandering spirit, and the terror he caused to a family in Bandung.

Storyline

The story begins with the life of Asih (Shareefa Daanish), a village girl who moves to the city in search of a better life. However, bad luck befalls her when she is impregnated by an irresponsible man. The man leaves her, and Asih's family refuses to accept her pregnancy as a disgrace. The villagers also booed and kicked her out, leaving Asih plunged into grief and anger. In conditions of severe stress and loss of common sense, Asih made a tragic decision: he killed her newborn baby and then committed suicide under a banyan tree. Since then, Asih's spirit has become a haunting kuntilanak, obsessed with finding a replacement for her lost baby.

At the same time, in a house in Bandung, a married couple, Puspita (known as Ita, played by Citra Kirana) and Andi (Darius Sinathrya), are awaiting the birth of their first child, Amelia. Ita, who is heavily pregnant, lives with her mother-in-law (Marini Soerjosoemarno). The midwife who helps Ita, Sekar Nurmala (Djenar Maesa Ayu), warns Ita to be careful for 40 days after the birth of her baby, because there are kuntilanaks wandering in the neighboring village. The Kuntilanak is Asih, who is known to have just killed her baby and committed suicide. Sekar also mentions that a village elder named Abah (Alex Abbad) has knowledge of the occult and can help in case of disturbances.

After Amelia was born a month early, Ita's family life began to be disrupted. Ita finds a mysterious comb near Amelia's bed, which turns out to belong to Asih. Terror after terror began to haunt this family. Asih often appears around the house, especially at night, and appears obsessed with Amelia, regarding the baby as his own. Ita and her mother become increasingly anxious, while Andi, who is initially skeptical of mystical things, begins to realize the real threat after seeing Asih eat Amelia's placenta buried behind the House.

The tension reached a peak when, exactly a week after Amelia's birth, the baby disappeared while Ita was bathing her. In a panic, Nowa and Andi ask Abah for help. Abah explained that Asih, who used to be called Kasih, became a wandering spirit because of the trauma and loss of his son. The banyan tree where Asih committed suicide turned out to be very close to Ita's family's house, making them an easy target for Asih's terror. Abah guides Andi to chant azan in front of a banyan tree, which successfully provokes Asih and allows them to find Amelia.

However, Asih did not just give up. He possesses Ita's body, forcing him to try to drown Amelia in the water. With the help of Abah, Ita managed to resist the influence of Asih and save her baby. To end the terror, Ita's mother-in-law stuck the Asih comb into the banyan tree according to Abah's advice, which was believed to bind Asih's spirit to the tree.

Closing

The story ends with a note that 37 years later, sisir Asih was found by Riri, Risa Saraswati's sister, in the same tree. This discovery became the trigger for the events in the film Danur, where Asih again appears to disturb Risa and her family. Film Love not only does it present horror suspense through jumpscare and gripping soundtracks, but it also builds an emotional dimension through mother-daughter relationships as well as the tragic drama of loving life. With a duration of 77 minutes, the film managed to attract 1.7 million viewers and became one of the highest-grossing horror films in Indonesia in 2018.

Main Cast

• Shareefa Daanish as Asih, a kuntilanak ghost with a tragic past.
• Citra Kirana as Puspita (Ita), a young mother who was terrorized by Love.
• Darius Sinathrya as Andi, Ita's husband who initially did not believe in mystical things.
• Marini Soerjosoemarno as a mother, Ita's in-laws were the first to realize Asih's presence.
• Alex Abbad as Abah, the village elder who helped overcome the terror of Asih.
• Djenar Maesa Ayu as Sekar Nurmala, the midwife who warned Ita about Asih.

Additional Information

• DirectorAwi Suryadi
• Screenwriter: Lele Laila, based on the novel by Risa Saraswati
• Producer: Manoj Punjabi
• Release Date: October 11, 2018
• Duration: 77 minutes
• Genre: Horror
• Audience: 1,714,798 (ranked 5th highest grossing Indonesian film 2018)
• Platform Streaming: Available on Netflix since October 11, 2020

The Film combines elements of classic Indonesian horror, such as the Kuntilanak myth and mystical traditions (for example, the ban on taking babies out at dusk), with a strong emotional narrative. Love being a gate opener is important for understanding the Danur Universe, especially Asih's relationship with Risa Saraswati in subsequent films.

For the best viewing experience, watch Asih in theaters or stream on platforms like Netflix. Be sure to watch with a friend if you're scared!