The History of Horror Porn In Indonesia...

Hey, the title is a little bit of a misnomer. But, the point of this post is to highlight that comedy horror films starring foreign actresses have quite a long history in Indonesia, and it has not always been a tortured one. Or maybe it was just a matter of there not being an FPI equivalent active at the time when these earlier films were made.

A recent spate of campy Indonesian horror films starring the incredible acting talents of Japanese and US porn stars, such as Maria Ozawa (Miyabi), Rin Sakuragi, and Tera Patrick, has been controversial to say the least. However, campy horror films with foreign stars and Indonesia as a backdrop is not a new phenomenon so it seems. Most of my musings on the subject can be found here.

Read this spiel about the 1992 film Dangerous Seductress:

Fleeing her abusive boyfriend, Susan (Tonya Lawson) jumps on a plane to Indonesia, where her sister lives. There, Susan stumbles across a black-magic book of spells and accidentally raises the spirit of a 1,000-year-old witch with a thirst for blood. This campy horror flick features the special-effects makeup artistry of Steve Prouty, the master behind such films as The Cat in the Hat and the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

You can actually download the film online here.

I am wondering why the producers of this film chose Indonesia of all the countries in the world that they could of had her sister living in. Indonesia is a beautiful country, the peoples of Indonesia are warm and welcoming, but campy horror films with scantily clad women seems to make Indonesia an odd choice. But, perhaps not seeing the director is none other than H. Tjut Djalil.

I make a point of learning something new about Indonesia every single day of my life. Some of the things I learn are important and useful. Some of the things I learn get filed away in the trivia drawer of my brain. You never know when you might get a trivial pursuit question on Indonesian horror films and foreign actresses!

The film starred Amy Weber, Tonya Lawson, Kristin Anin and Joseph Cassano.

If you do decide to download the film, or if you have already seen it, then feel free to post a review of it here as a comment ;)

Miyabi: Is She or Isn't She in Indonesia?

Nothing like a little bit of controversy to promote a film. Whether Maria Ozawa's latest Indonesian film, Hantu Tanah Kusir, is any good or not is almost irrelevant now. Simply, the controversy and mystery surrounding the use of a Japanese porn star in an Indonesian movie combined with the fact that Maxima pictures, the film production company, says she is here, but for security reasons will not disclose where ensures maximum attendance at theaters where the film is scheduled to be screened. This is particularly so when Maxima seems to be playing up the idea that Miyabi is going to be doing some meet and greet the fans at select movie theaters throughout the country.

To be honest, it seems unlikely that security will ever be tight enough to warrant a "meet and greet" with Miyabi. It is certain that if the white-robed thugs and proponents of religious tolerance, the FPI, ever got wind of a Miyabi appearance that they would be there in a heartbeat and looking to stop the heartbeats of a few attendees. In any event, the FPI have made it clear that there intent is to effect a citizen's arrest on Miyabi and then take her to the nearest airport and forcibly deport her. No, they do not have the right to effect a citizen's arrest against a foreign national legally visiting or resident in Indonesia who has not broken any laws.

Miyabi has broken no laws. She would be, assuming she is, in the country legally. Maxima would have ensured that they dotted all the "i's" and crossed all the "t's" on this one. Yet, it is worth noting that this means nothing to the FPI and the law enforcement officials charged with maintaining law and order would almost certainly let the FPI get away with any outrage of this nature.

What is really interesting is the outrage that the FPI projects against the presence of Miyabi is seemingly so disproportionate for other foreign porn stars that have recently made films in Indonesia. Among the more well-known porn stars to grace the Indonesian silver screen of late have included Rin Sakuragi, Leah Yuzuki and Tera Patrick. Yes, the pictures will appear below. After all, it is important to know what you are protesting against, right? And, all these photos are freely available on the internet with a simple search of the relevant actresses names. These are not my pictures!

A major Indonesian language newspaper, Republika, has suggested that the government needs to put an end to the practice of permitting foreign porn stars from appearing in Indonesian films. However, it would seem that the Indonesian Minister for Culture and Tourism, Jaco Wacik, is of the opinion that providing these individuals are not breaking any Indonesian laws and regulations, then it is impossible under the current framework to prevent them. He has a point in that the films to date where these foreign porn stars have cut their non-porn acting teeth have been, well, non-pornographic. In fact, they have all been passed without any issues being raised by the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Sensor Film / LSF).  

The pictures:

Leah Yuzuki

Rin Sakuragi

Tera Patrick

I have already posted heaps of Maria Ozawa / Miyabi photos in the past. So, feel free to search for them here. My guess is that a simple Maria Ozawa or Miyabi search will find them all.

Miyabi Makes Her Indonesian Horror Film Debut...

The poor old FPI and any other white-robed thugs that have a problem with foreign porn actresses making horror films in Indonesia must be a little annoyed once again. It seems that the hardliners have missed Maria Ozawa, or Miyabi as she is affectionately known in Indonesia, slipping into the Republic of Indonesia to film a horror film, The Ghost of Tanah Kusir (Hantu Tanah Kusir).

Tanah Kusir is a public cemetery in South Jakarta if one is interested.

Funnily enough it is not only the FPI that have had the wool pulled over their eyes on this one. The majority of the promotional material for the film does not even make mention of Miyabi's role or the fact that she is even in it. But, there is no doubting she is there. Miyabi makes her grand entrance into the film about halfway through it. The rest of the film, I am reliably told, is a procession of Miyabi chest (or is that breasts) shots.

The same production house, Maxima, that was set to film the original foray of Miyabi into Indonesian horror / comedy (does that make the film comically horrific or horrifyingly comical) films. Unfortunately, for a lot of Indonesian Miyabi fans, Kidnapping Miyabi, did not make it into production out of fears that the FPI would violently seek to disrupt filming.

It would appear that the standard operating procedure will now be to sneak the controversial actresses into Indonesia, shoot the film, send the actresses home, and then release the film. Tera Patrick and Rin Sakuragi were recent porn stars to make their film debuts in Indonesia in this way. This is certain to raise the ire of the FPI as they would have been denied a soap-box opportunity to harp about the dangers of using porn actresses in non-pornographic films. This means that the only avenue of protest available to the FPI is to protest the screening of any film involving a foreign porn star. This ensures a stack of free publicity for the film, both in Indonesia and abroad, and guaranteeing success for the producers of the film.

Marketing genius or what?

Anyways, here are some additional Miyabi / Maria Ozawa images. Yes, I know you are expecting them.

The Menstrating Ghost of Puncak...

Hantu Puncak Datang Bulan is a horror film that includes a rather large number of 'pornographic' scenes. Pornography in this sense is the Indonesian definition of the term and means that the film includes some skin shots and some sex scenes. For most discerning adults the film might not even make it into the soft porn category, but to each their own. The whole premise of a horror movie with some soft porn seems to be tailor-made for controversy in a nation that is predominantly Muslim such as Indonesia.

To their credit the Muslim Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia / MUI) did not disappoint. They have been vocal in stating that the film is not in-line with Muslim values. However, they acknowledge that if people choose to make these films and they pass the censors, then it is up to the individual Muslims themselves to decide whether or not to watch it. Nevertheless, the MUI is lobbying hard for the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Sensor Film / LSF) to ban the movie.

However, the Islam Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam / FPI) has no such reservations. They have threatened to use violence to prevent the screening of the film if movie theatres do not 'voluntarily' opt to not show the film.

The movie has already passed the LSF and can be screened in Indonesia. This suggests that it does not contravene any prevailing laws and regulations according to the peak body tasked with these decisions. The rumor mill and the controversy is sure to see what is reportedly a very poor B-grade horror flick become a bit of a hit.

There is one thing that you can be sure of, when the MUI, LSF, or the FPI get involved in a discussion about a movie then this is likely to become some of the best free marketing a movie studio could hope for. But, then again, it sometimes signals the death knell for other films such as 'Kidnapping Miyabi'. And, then sometimes, the controversy just disappears such as with the film 'Suster Keramas' starring Rin Sakuragi.

Here is a trailer for the film (courtesy of You Tube):

Celebrities and Drugs -- Sheila Marcia Joseph

The attraction of drugs for some is just too powerful to resist and even more so when you are in a relationship where both people are users (abusers). Drugs and celebrities is not a unique phenomenon in that it is restricted to Indonesia, it can be found throughout the world of celebrities.

Yet, it is sad that Indonesia's younger celebrities are increasingly getting caught up in the world of drugs. The recent arrest of a young rising star, Sheila Marcia (photo), highlights the dangers of letting your demons get the better of you. Sheila Marcia had been making a bit of a name for herself in Indonesian horror films, such as Manggarai Ghost Train (Kereta Hantu Manggarai).

Sheila Marcia was arrested last week allegedly at a drug party in North Jakarta. The party was being held in the Golden Sky Apartment complex in Pluit in room number 8 on the 7th floor. This is the beauty of Indonesia where the information is always available in the scandal pages. I wonder how anyone ever keeps a secret in this part of the world.

Unfortunately, her boyfriend, Roger Danuarta, has gone to ground. It has been suggested that he is in drug rehab. However, this has been denied by his family. Roger is also a celebrity for his Indonesia soap opera appearances. Nevertheless, the going to ground is probably a smart move on his part because if he is using the police will find out. I am sure that this is small comfort to his young girlfriend who could probably do with some support from her man.

However, standard police practice in Indonesia with regards to drug allegations is to do a urine test. He is sure to take some flack for this as he probably will not be paying a visit to his girlfriend anytime soon or at least until any drugs that he has been taking have cleared the system. Although the police have said that they are not looking for him in relation to this case.

The sad part here is that Sheila is only 19 years old. The good thing here is that she is only 19 years old. If she wants to she should be able to recover from this and still have a career. It is being reported that over the last week in detention she has come closer to God. This is always a good ploy but if she really believed in God she probably should have considered getting a little closer a little sooner.

In Australia this offence would probably attract no jail time and perhaps a slap on the wrist in the form of a community service order. As a young starlet she could do a lot of good educating other youngsters about the dangers of drugs and the impact that it can have on your life and the lives of those around you.

Then again, it is Indonesia. I wonder how much jail time she will get?