Mystics in Bali – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

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: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 85 Minutes 59 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Indonesian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.99

"A young American woman on holiday in Bali becomes fascinated by tales of the local black magic cult known as the Leyak. She seeks out a Leyak witch and attempts to learn her secrets. Needless to say, it all goes horribly wrong!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Widely recognized as a benchmark of Asian horror movies, this is the first Blu-ray release of the film and is digitally restored from the original negative. The disc also includes a rare extended version of the film with more than 40 minutes of extra footage."

Mystics in Bali comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.2 GB

Feature: 24 GB

This new transfer is a massive improvement over Mondo Macabro’s 2007 DVD. Outside of some special effects insert shots, which come from a lesser source, the bulk of the transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Indonesian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an introduction by filmmaker Joko Anwar (8 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), an interview with director H. Tjut Djalil (14 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Indonesian with English voiceover translation), a video essay by Jake Gallo titled Monsters, Movies, and Myth (10 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an extended 2-hour cut of Mystics in Bali (118 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Indonesian with removable English subtitles).

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 an 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' wombs. 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.

Mystics in Bali gets an exceptional release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, an extended version of the film, and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Extended Version—Screenshot Examples of Insert Shots.

Written by Michael Den Boer