Songko Review: Slow-Burn Minahasa Folklore Short on Scares

This Songko review begins with a promise: a horror film rooted in a regional legend from North Sulawesi, rarely seen on screen. Director Gerald Mamahit trades loud shocks for atmosphere and family tension. The result is a quiet, thoughtful film that will frustrate anyone expecting constant fright.

Songko Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Songko plot is set in the late 1980s in Tomohon, Minahasa. Mikha (Annette Edoarda) lives with her family until villagers accuse her stepmother, Helsye, of being able to transform into the Songko of local folklore. The accusation gets the whole household expelled.

From there, the story becomes Mikha's fight to clear their names. She loves her stepmother and refuses to accept the village's verdict. That tension between loyalty and suspicion drives the first act.

The film is a mix of horror, thriller and mystery. It keeps one question hanging over every scene: are the villagers right, or are they simply afraid?

What Works in Songko

The biggest strength is the setting. Reviews from Indonesian critics single out how well the film uses the natural landscape of Minahasa, and the green, misty surroundings give the story a strong sense of place. The 1980s village setting also feels lived in rather than decorative.

Mamahit's slow-burn approach is the other highlight. Instead of leaning on jump scares, he focuses on character psychology and on how fear spreads through a small community. Suspicion, gossip and exile become the real source of dread.

The folklore angle matters too. Songko comes from a regional legend, and the film introduces it to a wider audience without turning it into a generic monster story. For viewers who like mystery with a cultural flavour, that freshness counts.

• A distinctive North Sulawesi setting and legend

• Atmosphere over cheap shocks

• A clear emotional centre in Mikha's bond with her stepmother

Songko Cast and Performances

The Songko cast is led by Annette Edoarda as Mikha, who carries the story as a determined girl facing a hostile village. Imelda Therinne plays Helsye, the stepmother at the centre of the accusations, and the role depends on keeping the audience unsure what to believe.

Fergie Brittany appears as Lina, Tegar Satrya as Ekel, and Priscilla Raintung as Ester. Iskak Khivano rounds out the credited ensemble. The film leans on its family dynamics, so the ensemble chemistry matters more than any single scare.

The writing, credited to Mamahit and Salsa Wahyudi, gives the performers room to play quiet, tense scenes. That suits the slow pace, though it asks the cast to carry a lot through looks and silences.

Where Songko Stumbles

The main complaint is balance. One Indonesian review argues the film feels more like a family drama dressed up as horror, and that criticism is fair. Viewers who come for creature scares may wait a long time.

Another critic notes that the film is still shy about delivering intense jump scares, even though it has room for broader drama and thriller elements. The slow build is deliberate, but the payoff may feel too restrained for some.

Critical response so far is thin and mixed. Early scores on Indonesian sites sit in the middle to low range, from a 2 out of 5 rating on one page to a 4.5 critics score on another, though each rests on a very small sample. Treat them as a rough signal, not a verdict.

Is Songko Worth Watching?

Songko is worth watching if you like patient, atmospheric folk horror and are curious about Indonesian regional legends. It is less satisfying if you want a creature feature or a steady stream of scares.

The film's value lies in its setting, its emotional core and its willingness to treat a local myth seriously. Its weakness is a cautious approach to the genre it belongs to. With a 108-minute runtime, it moves steadily rather than briskly.

The Songko release date in Indonesia was 23 April 2026. For background on the film, its TMDB page is a handy starting point. If you enjoy this kind of rural spookiness, our review of Hasut is a good companion read, and you can browse more thriller reviews too.

Who Will Enjoy Songko

• Fans of slow-burn folk horror who value mood over jump scares

• Viewers curious about North Sulawesi and Minahasa culture

• Audiences who like family drama mixed with a touch of mystery