A part of numerous cultures, the use of folk stories involving returning curses and malevolent spirits for a multitude of purposes has existed as a means of unleashing a torrent of over-the-top or disturbing content at viewers. While mostly associated with Hong Kong and China due to efforts like “Black Magic” or “Bewitched,” other countries have delved into the subject matter as well, with Thailand contributing the “Art of the Devil” franchise and Malaysia contributing the stellar “Dukun” just a few such examples. Indonesia’s latest stab at the genre, Tommy Dewo‘s “Curse of the Seven Oceans,” might be a formulaic take on the style but is no less enjoyable as viewers can decide for themselves with it appearing on Netflix.
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Since his father found a mysterious package and hears the voices of a group of creepy tribes, Ardi (Ari Irham) and his family experience strange events. Sucipto (Christian Sugiono), Marni (Sara Wijayanto), and Arif (Khafi Al-Juna) fall ill one by one. Ardi and his younger sister, Syifa (Sandrinna Michelle), believe that this is a black magic attack and that they will both suffer the same fate. A high-level black magic from outside Java called Seven Seas Black Magic eventually forced him to rely on Rustam (Agus Firmansyah), a source familiar with such magic, to help the family combat it and save themselves.
For the most part, “Curse of the Seven Oceans” has a lot going for it. Riheam Junianti’s twisting storyline incorporates several intriguing elements that keep the narrative engaging. The film opens strongly, with the setup of a black magic curse targeting a family, followed by eerie hints of supernatural activity. From Ardi receiving the gift of a spiritual third eye after a life-saving surgery in childhood, to his unsettling visions of ghosts and spirits, the story builds steadily. As a teenager, the haunting escalates with direct attacks on his family, adding urgency and tension. The film does a good job of briefly filling in the years in between, giving us just enough insight into the family dynamics and planting the idea that someone may have cursed them out of jealousy over their successful shop. The time spent exploring the type of black magic used and showing Rustam’s attempts to counter it adds a layer of depth. His investigation gradually unveils the true culprit, leading to a climactic confrontation that ties the story together and gives the family a chance to fight back against the dark forces threatening them.
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Beyond its story, “Curse of the Seven Oceans” doesn’t hold back when it comes to its brutal and high-intensity hauntings. Early scenes featuring demonic visions and mysterious strangers lurking around Ardi and his family lean into more traditional supernatural horror. But as the film progresses, the hauntings become more physical and violent—shifting from eerie presence to direct attacks. The tension ramps up when Sucipto becomes the first victim of the curse, with its effects quickly spreading through the rest of the family. Ardi’s continued ability to see the spirits as they torment his loved ones helps maintain the film’s urgent, frenetic pace. The manifestations of the curse grow increasingly disturbing: nails erupting from within bodies, limbs twisted by invisible forces, bones breaking, and horrifying sequences where characters vomit insects or animals. These intense visuals not only keep the viewer on edge but also deepen the film’s oppressive, supernatural atmosphere.
The final half, where the black magic battles take place, includes both positive and negative factors. As Ardi and Syifa are the only ones left alive, their battle to retrieve the various ingredients to stop the black magic unfolding is awkward and clunky. Rather than going for the spirits to impede progress, they stand by watching it go down, waiting for something to happen instead of preventing anything. It also feels rushed and doesn’t have the adventure or quest-like feel of setting off on a journey to gather the means of stopping the curse from taking over their family as it misses a big sense of urgency required. Still, the physical confrontations are quite fun once they return to the house and try to put it into motion as that requires the spirits to finally interact with them, providing some solid action along the way. That’s only if you’re able to overcome the shoddy CGI work for the creatures, who come off impressively in concept but silly in execution.
Where “Curse of the Seven Oceans” stumbles most is in its rather formulaic storyline. Junianti’s core narrative, centering on a family cursed as payback for past misdeeds against a vengeful figure, follows a well-worn path and doesn’t bring much new to the table. The inclusion of secondary characters whose sole purpose is to deliver exposition or guide the protagonists toward solutions feels obligatory, adding to the overall sense of familiarity. A deeper exploration of the original incident that triggered the curse could have gone a long way; as it stands, the motivation behind the supernatural revenge feels overly petty and somewhat implausible. While the curse’s consequences and retaliatory strikes are engaging and logically executed, the spark that sets everything off lacks emotional weight and complexity. It’s this thin foundation, missing the personal depth needed to fully justify the horror, that ultimately holds the film back.
Graced with plenty of likable factors and some outright brutal aspects alongside some negatives, “Curse of the Seven Oceans” makes for an enjoyable if slightly flawed genre effort that keeps the scene going along rather nicely. Viewers with an interest in this aspect of Asian horror or are curious about it will have a lot to like here.
