Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: Upi’s SRI ASIH: THE WARRIOR Is A BCU Franchise Force To Be Reckoned With
Sri Asih was screened and reviewed for Fantastic Fest. The film releases on DVD in the U.S. from Shout! Factory on December 5.
Provided that the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe is still very much a thing going forward, director Joko Anwar’s Gundala will hopefully have been worth the big cliffhanger it left for us with actress Pevita Pearce in a live-action cameo appearance as Bumilangit property, Sri Asih. That now brings us the latest move to bring the power-packing, scarf-wielding superheroine into fruition by director Upi, taking notes from late author R.A. Kosasih’s 1954 comic of the same name which launched the Indonesian superhero brand in the first place.
The comic’s influence stems even well into Indonesia’s early film industry with the character staking her claim under the stewardship of directors Tan Sing Hwat and Turino Djunaedy. As such, echoes of the character’s prevalence in the 50s are given momentary reference midway in Upi’s production for a modern fan-service take on the tale, with our lead portraying its newest evolution in the form of Alana, a gritty and tough MMA fighter who runs a gym with her equally tough surrogate mother, Sarita (Jenny Chang). Alana is a proven champion among her locals, though her biggest shortfall is a fiery, supernatural presence of anger that recurs in her sleep, and in moments during training, making her more dangerous than any typical hot head with a daunting right hook.
As fate has it though, that rage surfaces once again after being cajoled into an underground cage match with the son of a corporate goon with a known reputation for beating women and skirting the law as a result. Push comes to shove and not only does the father retaliate, an explosive development occurs in the heat of the upheaval which draws Alana into a secret world that soon connects her to an even greater destiny regarding the mysterious abilities she’s had since childhood. With the help of a wise sage named Eyang (Christine Hakim) and her right hand, Kala (Dimas Anggara), and a meek but diligent photojournalist named Tangguh (Jefri Nichol), destiny soon Alana her as the beholder of the incumbent title of Sri Asih, a longstanding divine savior to mankind who must learn to control her rage if she’s to foil a deadly plot to give rise to the Fire Goddess.
Indeed, several things in Sri Asih: The Warrior contribute to the on-going materialization of the BCU, which gives hope that we may actually see the phases take shape in similar vein to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Like all good things though, this one will take time, and with Gundala kicking things off, Upi’s Sri Asih: The Warrior keeps the energy going in fine form with Pearce taking the mantle for a sizeable origin story that meets the demand. It’ll be difficult for hardcore comic book heads to get past its similarities with Wonder Woman, particularly when it comes to the powers. What helps is its packaging and overall delivery from origin to present day assembly, allowing our heroine an identity all her own that stands out with traits that are ubiquitous and admirable for any comic book fan.
One other key facet with Sri Asih: The Warrior is the level of action that is maintained after Gundala. Comprehensive martial arts action and choreography is on the menu in this superhero headliner with Iko Uwais and his team following suit from the presentation left by Andrew Suleiman and Cecep Arif Rahman on Gundala. Pearce is a standout action star in her scenes and a proven talent equal to that of other performers who’ve helped proliferate women in viable action roles for major productions. Special effects tend to get a little janky on some occasions when the action antes up on the super-powered end of things, although if you’re already pulled in and compelled by the story to follow along, then a few iffy visuals will be the least of your worries.
The film’s antagonistic allure comes in several forms to beef up our heroine’s competiton on the good and evil paradigm. The crux of our setting is inherently focused on the building malcontent between the rich and the poor. Actor Reza Rahadian plays Jatmiko, a corrupt cop caught between both worlds and afflicted with his own woes as a puppet who answers to the wealthy and powerful Prayogo (Surya Saputra), father to the equally amoral Mateo (Randy Pangalila) in a sub-arc that cunningly reveals not only the goal, but who the real villains at hand are.
Keep an eye out for actors Ario Bayu and Aqi Singghi who reprise their roles from Gundala, as well as another cameo hinting at what looks to be another cinematic superhero arrival to the BCU with at least a few more properties immediately in toe for both the big screen and streaming. If you’re eager for more of this universe, the BCU has two films ready for consumption, with Sri Asih: The Warrior making a fine offering to the superhero movie medium if comic book film tapestries are still very much your thing.
Screened for Fantastic Fest.
