Mystics in Bali – Mondo Macabro (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Indonesia, 1981
Director: H. Tjut Djalil
Writers: Putra Mada, Jimmy Atmaja
Cast: Ilona Agathe Bastian, Yos Santo, Sofia W.D., W.D. Mochtar, Debbie Cinthya Dewi

Release Date: October 2nd, 2007
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $24.95

"The film tells the story of a young American woman who goes to Asia in search of the secrets of ancient magic. One night in the forest, she encounters a female member of the terrifying cult of Leyak. She agrees to become the Leyak’s disciple and begins to indulge in many strange and savage rites. But the Leyak witch has secret plans for her young acolyte. Plans that culminate in one of the most bizarre and shocking scenes in all horror cinema." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new anamorphic HD transfer from the negative".

Mystics in Bali comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4.6 GB

The source looks great; colors look correct, image clarity is strong, black levels are not always convincing, and any compression-related issues are not a deal-breaker.

Audio: 3.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and this audio track is satisfactory range-wise. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Mondo Macabro preview reel, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a text based extra titled Mystics in Bali & The Indonesian Exploitation Movie written by Pete Tombs, a filmography for director H. Tjut Djalil, and a text based extra titled How to Become a Leak!.

Summary:

H. Tjut Djalil directed Mystics in Bali. He is also known for directing The Warrior and the Ninja, Lady Terminator, and Dangerous Seductress.

An American interested in the exotic world of Asian magic makes a pact with a witch to learn the secrets of becoming a Leyak. Now that she has discovered the secrets of a forbidden and rarely seen world, will she be able to return to her former life?

Black magic is a familiar theme that runs throughout Asian cinema. And just when you thought that you had seen it all when it comes to black magic, along comes a film like Mystics in Bali. The premise of an outsider looking into a world that is foreign to them is superbly realized. That said, if you are looking for action, adventure, romance, horror, and just anything remotely bizarre, then Mystics of Bali is a film that will surely get your juices flowing.

For a film that's filled with the unusual, nothing stands out more than its leading lady, Ilona Agathe Bastian. Reportedly, she was a German tourist with no acting experience who was discovered by the producer's wife. She has an exotic quality about her that makes her stand apart from the rest of the cast. That said, Mystics in Bali is not a film that one watches because of its performances.

Despite featuring a very eastern subject matter, Mystics of Bali was the first Indonesian horror film that was made for a western audience. I have seen about 20 Indonesian films up to now, and all of them showcase an extravagant presentation rather than focusing on realism. This most definitely holds true to Mystics of Bai, a film that has all of these traits in spades.

From a production standpoint, despite there being areas where Mystics of Bali is not flawless, notably when it comes to its special effects sequences, for the most part, Mystics of Bali comes out far ahead of its limited resources. The narrative does an excellent job balancing explosion moments with its more outlandish moments. The most memorable moments are the scenes where the protagonist's detached head floats around and drinks the blood of babies in their mothers womb. Ultimately, Mystics of Bali is a truly unique cinematic experience that deserves its reputation as one of the best films ever to come out of Indonesia.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Indonesian cinema, with Severin Films and Terror Vision releasing several films on Blu-ray. There has even been some talk that Mondo Macabro might be releasing some Indonesian films on Blu-ray. It has been 16 years since Mondo Macabro released Mystics in Bali on DVD. Hopefully it is a film that they might upgrade to Blu-ray, or maybe another boutique label will give it a much-needed updated audio/video presentation.

Written by Michael Den Boer