Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah Review: Dark Premise, Unproven Scares

This Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah review covers the 2026 Indonesian horror sequel from director Rizal Mantovani. It follows two Catholic priests who face a demon born from a blood pact made for wealth. The film arrives as a follow-up to Kuasa Gelap (2024), which was released internationally as Dominion of Darkness.

Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The plot starts with a ritual that goes catastrophically wrong in a remote Indonesian province. Something ancient is released, and the church responds by sending two exorcist priests, Romo Thomas and Romo Rendra, to deal with it. The entity is named Rephaim, and it springs from an ancestral pact made in exchange for illicit riches.

The case reaches the priests through Sister Aloysia, who contacts Rendra about Daniel, a young man in the grip of a baffling possession. That is the setup, and the film is built around the question of how far the evil reaches. We will leave the rest for you to discover.

The script comes from Robert Ronny and Andri Cahyadi. It runs 117 minutes, which is generous for a horror film.

What Works in Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah

The central idea is strong. A pact for money that curses a bloodline taps into a theme Indonesian horror knows well: the price of shortcuts to wealth. Pairing that with Catholic exorcism gives the film a recognisable mix of local folklore and church ritual.

A Clear Pair of Leads

The two-priest structure gives the story a simple engine. One exorcist can doubt while the other carries experience, and that contrast keeps the investigation moving. It is a familiar setup for a horror film, but a dependable one.

Sequel Ambition

Promotional press from the distributor side says this entry is darker and more tense than the first film. That is a marketing claim rather than a critic's verdict, so treat it with caution. Still, the premise does raise the stakes from a single possession to something older and larger.

Horror fans who like exorcism stories can find more in our horror movie reviews.

Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah Cast and Performances

The Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah cast is led by Jerome Kurnia as Romo Thomas and Lukman Sardi as Romo Rendra. Sardi is a seasoned name in Indonesian cinema, and he suits the role of the more experienced priest. Kurnia anchors the other side of the partnership.

The supporting players include:

• Lydia Kandou as Sister Aloysia

• Venly Arauna as Daniel, the possessed young man

• Ferry Salim as Halim

• Feby Febiola as Linda

Kandou's role is the one that sets the story in motion, and Arauna carries the physical burden of the possession. The cast is solid on paper and gives the film the weight a serious exorcism tale needs.

Where Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah Stumbles

The main concern is length. At 117 minutes, an exorcism story needs steady escalation, and many horror films in this vein sag in the middle. Directors working with a demon-and-pact premise often lean on loud jump scares instead of dread.

There is also very little independent critical feedback yet. We found no critics' consensus, and audience numbers are thin: Letterboxd shows an average of 3.01 out of 5 from about 2,494 ratings, while TMDB's 6.7 out of 10 rests on only three votes. That points to a middling, mixed response rather than a breakout hit.

Finally, the premise is familiar. Possession, a cursed bloodline and a demon with an ancient name are well-worn tools, so the film has to win on execution. For a comparison with other local scares, see our Alas Roban review.

Is Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah Worth Watching?

It is worth watching if you love Indonesian horror and exorcism stories, but temper your expectations. The premise is sturdy, the cast is respected, and Rizal Mantovani is an experienced horror director. Yet the early audience response is only lukewarm, and the idea is not new.

If you saw the 2024 film, this sequel is a natural next step. If you did not, the setup is explained clearly enough that you can likely follow it, though that is based on the premise, not on a guarantee. The Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah release date is 8 October 2026 in Indonesia. Check local listings for where to watch Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah, as we have no confirmed streaming details.

You can read more about the film on its Indonesian Wikipedia page.

Who Will Enjoy Kuasa Gelap: Perjanjian Darah

• Fans of Indonesian horror who like religious and folkloric scares

• Viewers of the first Kuasa Gelap who want the story continued

• Exorcism-movie lovers who enjoy a two-priest investigation

If you prefer gore, our Tumbal Proyek review may suit you better.