I have always believed that genre is a powerful lens, one that allows us to talk about the world with clarity while still inviting audiences into an experience.
GHOST IN THE CELL grows from that belief. Beneath its supernatural surface lies something very real: the massive deforestation in Indonesia and the way this destruction is too often met with silence or neglect. Forests vanish, communities lose their lifelines, and yet justice frequently seems reserved for those who already hold power. Placing the story inside a prison allowed me to explore another form of confinement, one created by a system that punishes the vulnerable while shielding the corrupt. The ghost in this film is not only a presence haunting the cells, but also a reminder of consequences we choose not to face.
My hope is that the film entertains and unsettles, while quietly leaving the audience with questions about what we permit to happen out of sight and who ultimately pays the price. Genre has always been a way for me to carry difficult truths into popular cinema. This time, I wanted those truths to linger long after the final image.
Joko Anwar
