It doesn’t matter that the stars and films of cult classic horror didn’t reach mainstream audiences: they are beloved by their fans. There is the low-budget and nightmarish Carnival of Souls from the United States, or the vulgar, diabolical monster, Coffin Joe (José Mojica Marins), from Brazil. Over in Asia, there is a cult horror icon that not many know about. Suzzanna Martha Frederika van Osch was hailed as the “Queen of Indonesian Horror,” and her fame has been contained in Indonesia, where she is still adored almost twenty years after her death. Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic is a documentary available on Shudder that hopes to change that by introducing the actress to new audiences and being a tribute to her life that could be as mysterious as her horror roles.
‘Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic’ Honors an Underrated Horror Star
A vengeful spirit with a hole in her back can kill and have an appetite for 200 satays in Sundelbolong (1981). This is one of the many supernatural monsters played by Suzzanna, whose film works and personal life are the focus of Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic. It’s another insightful and in-depth documentary produced by Severin Films, responsible for the epic-spanning Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021). Suzzanna takes a look at the Indonesian star, who had a difficult life throughout much of her career. From starting as a teen actress to taking on roles in exploitation films, it wasn’t until later in life that she found her biggest fame in the horror genre.
A first marriage helped with her success in acting, but when it fell apart, she was denied a divorce by her ex-husband, who married another woman. The death of her son then devastated Suzzanna. Family drama never ceased for her, all the way to her death in 2008, which, depending on who is asked, could have been the result of failing health or something more heinous. She was an actress who became as legendary as her performances in the Indonesian horror films that gave her a career revival. Featuring interviews that include relatives, scholars, and filmmakers influenced by her, Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic is not just about the life story of the actress. Away from her troubles, the real-life events of the country she lived in add context as to why her horror roles were beloved by her fans.
The History of Indonesia Led to the Popularity of Suzzanna’s Horror Movies
While putting the spotlight on Suzzanna, The Queen of Black Magic also charts the oppression of living in Indonesia in the 1900s. The country was colonized by the Dutch in the 1800s to form the Dutch East Indies. Then World War II led to Japan’s temporary occupation before the Indonesian military took control for three decades. Under the rule of dictator Suharto, traditional gender roles were expected of women. They were to be domesticated as wives and mothers. Suzzanna’s horror roles turned these expectations into on-screen manifestations of terror and gore.
Throughout the 1980s, the slasher boom occurred in the United States and Canada, with ripoffs that were made and favorite killers that were birthed from these movies. In Indonesia, there was a different horror trend, with possible influence from the nationalism of the country’s dictatorship. Two of the most famous characters played by Suzzanna were in 1981’s Sundelbolong and 1982’s Nyi Blorong, where she played spirits and creatures taken from Indonesian folklore. Perhaps seen as campy nowadays (you can tell when a dummy replaces an actor for a stunt), Suzzanna’s performance stands out with her piercing stare, the deep sadness within her performances, and her commitment to transform.
To become a Medusa-like goddess in Nyi Blorong, Suzzanna wore actual snakes on her head. It was her idea, and on-screen, the practical, slithering effect makes for a formidable presence. One of the actress’ prominent fans interviewed for this doc is Joko Anwar, a famous Indonesian filmmaker working today, who has become known for his atmospheric, fun-yet-scary horror films. Alongside the perspectives of Suzzanna’s relatives and collaborators, Anwar recalls how fact and fiction are blurred around the actress by the public due to her openness to traditional rural mysticism. Her fans saw her as bigger than life when she would take part in rituals to pay respect to a sea deity or because of her habit of eating jasmine flowers. It could be too easy for this doc to indulge the legends surrounding her, but it remains an intimate portrait of the actress.
Suzzanna Is an Indonesian Horror Icon More Horror Fans Should Know About
Many of the spirits that Suzzanna played were women who had been treated poorly when they were alive. In the afterlife, these deadly women return for revenge and mostly target men, especially those belonging to the upper middle class. It made the lower class root for her various monsters, and it made her films very popular during communal events called layar tancar. These outdoor screenings, almost like drive-ins, were set up in towns that had no official cinemas for a movie marathon. (Sundelbolong and Nyi Blorong are on Shudder for additional viewing, before or after this doc.)
There is always more room in the hall for cult classics, which include Carnival of Souls and Coffin Joe. While The Queen of Black Magic introduces its icon to new audiences, her memory in Indonesia has reached the point where the actress and her roles have become one. There is a not-so-subtle homage in the 2018 remake of Sundelbolong, where the main character is given Suzzanna’s name and resembles her likeness. Peeling back the layers of a country’s dictatorship and a celebrity’s personal turmoil, this horror documentary honors Suzzanna and makes it clear that no one can replace the “Queen of Indonesian Horror.”
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Follow Followed Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic Not Rated Documentary Horror Release Date October 12, 2024 Runtime 88 minutes Director David Gregory Cast See All Suzzanna Self (archive footage) Joko Anwar Ekky Imanjaya Hikmat Darmawan
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