Introduction
Qorin is a supernatural horror film from Indonesia that was released in 2022. It was directed by Ginanti Rona and co-written with Lele Laila. The film takes place mostly in an ultra-orthodox Islamic boarding school and tells the story of a group of adolescent girls whose lives fall apart after they inadvertently summon their spiritual counterparts, metaphysically known as “qorin” in Islamic folklore. Fusing tradition with horror myth, the movie explores dark spiritual realms and has a devastatingly deep plot filled with moral struggle, supernatural dread, and psychological tension.
With its unique cultural and religious references, Qorin marks a shift in the horror genre, which is rapidly losing its cultural identity. The film delves into the extremes of repression and blind obedience, exploitation in all its forms, and self-identity crises, as well as the notion of possession, presenting them through a wholly Indonesian lens.
Plot Summary
The plot follows Zahra, a dim and obedient student at a prestigious Islamic girls’ boarding school, who, unlike the other girls in her class, doesn’t daydream in lectures. Zahra adheres to the rules she’s given blindly and, as a result, is quite popular among her teachers, in particular Ustaz Jaelani, who is a maleate religious figure in the school. While everything seems peaceful, Zahra is mentally battling with herself—her mind is filled with self-doubt, overwhelming guilt, and the pressure to be perfect.
A new rebellious student named Yolanda shifts things up when she joins the school. Unlike other girls, Yolanda does not want to fit in and actively resists systems and structures around her. Her presence breaks the equilibrium and creates micro ripples of chaos for the rest of the peers to follow.
Things start spiraling out of control when Ustaz Jaelani asks the students to participate in an enhancement exercise to spiritually strengthen the students’ minds and senses. The ritual performed instead invokes each girl’s qorin, a spirit said to twin or accompany a person who in Islam is considered a supernatural being. Once freed, these qorin commence their impersonations, haunting, and even possession of the students—everything becomes disorderly in school.
As the students become more delusional with complete lack of self-control, Zahra finds out that there is no way this is pure stress. Something foul and primal is loose among them. The qorin as beings take the form of their hosts, but instead of desire, rage, and fear become the surrogates of the strongest and darkest parts of everyone. They embody the sinister essence of every student.
Zahra and Yolanda need to put their differences aside and work together to find the truth. In the process they go through the betrayal of trust, manipulation on a spiritual level, and a fight for their souls. The school that was mostly seen as an area of no moral guidance turns out to be a place filled with trauma.
Characters and Performances
Zahra serves to be the emotional core of the film. Her transition from witnessing blind obedience to awakening is displayed beautifully. It was almost near impossible to portray living under such oppressive pressure which is what Zulfa captures perfectly.
Yolanda played by Aghniny Haque is a character that is in desperate need. Her rashness and skepticism along with some other traits show up to Zahra and contrast with Zahra’s submissive attitude. She brings forth so much strength and vulnerability to the role and especially when her backstory is introduced.
Omar Daniel takes the role of Ustaz Jaelani who is both charismatic and enigmatic. He is a religious teacher which makes him a well liked and trusted figure however, his unhealthy interest in the occult becomes terribly obvious.
Supporting Cast: Each of the other students, though less nuanced, embody a particular reaction to submission and fear—some break down under pressure, some resort to violence, and a handful surrender to the darkness that the qorin bring out within them.
Themes and Symbolism
- Faith and Fear
The film examines the struggle between faith as a calming element and faith as a form of control. Zahra’s path demonstrates that she came to trust that obedience would protect her; however, she discovers that unchecked belief can render people susceptible to exploitation.
- Spiritual Duality
The concept of the qorin is pivotal: each person has a spiritual as well as physical doppelganger. This motif portrays the issues of self-identity, latent feelings, and self-conflict. The narrative horror is not solely exterior, rather, it is sourced within the characters themselves.
- Repression and Conformity
The girls’ school is an extreme case of the suffocation of individuality. The girls are expected to complete set tasks in unison, wear the same clothes, and repress their urges. The appearance of the qorin serves as a symbol of what occurs when repression boils over – within the layers of the mind, the hidden elements stage a rebellion.
- Power and Control
The responsibility of Ustaz Jaelani brings a consideration concerning the occult use of power stems from the supposed ‘spiritual’ authority he exerts on people. His occult forays under religious cover reveal how dangerous power, even in the guise of sham devotion, can be.
Direction and Cinematography
The atmosphere is tense and the visuals are sharp, as conveyed by Director Ginanti Rona. The bleak and ominous interior of the school adds to its foreboding atmosphere—the white bodices worn by students and faculty are at a stark contrast with the dimly illuminated corridors and shadowy dormitories. This calm-violent paradox reinforces the theme of the chaos lurking beneath the surface, which the facade of cleanliness attempts to hide.
The use of sound design is notable—whispers, singing, and distorted echoes add tension to slow-paced scenes. The possession sequences are not overly graphic but are psychologically disturbing, emphasizing body language, sudden outbursts, and unnatural tone changes to suggest someone else’s control.
In terms of pacing, Qorin is a slow burn. Mood and character setting occur progressively and at a leisurely pace, before the true horror begins to unfold. While some might prefer a film with faster pacing, this style allows viewers to feel more immersed in the story, making the horror more character-driven.
Critical Evaluation
Although reception for Qorin has been mixed, many spectators admire the film for its specificity and the cultural and thematic concepts it seeks to achieve. Its treatment of qorin as a supernatural being within Islamic folklore cannot be found in contemporary horror films and thus gives Qorin its uniqueness.
Critics appreciate the performances, particularly from the main actresses, and the film’s dark symbolic narrative. Some critics wonder whether the film at times becomes too melodramatic, claiming certain hysterical and expositional scenes are overly repetitive. The film’s ending is spine-chilling but some would say, unexplainable. While some may consider this decision unsatisfying, others may argue it complements the film’s motives concerning psychological themes.
Final Thoughts
Qorin weaves together religious myths, cultural oppression, and teenage stress into a thoughtfully composed atmospheric horror film. Instead of employing jump scares and gory scenes, the film builds tension through the development of character, ritualistic conflict, and uneven morals.
The film places its story in an all-girls Islamic boarding school which allows it to tackle the themes of faith, fear, and identity intersection in a manner that has rarely been demonstrated in horror films. Even with Qorin’s clear pitfalls, the film displays extraordinary vision that deserves credit. Its originality and emotional depth is a sight to behold.
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