Pabrik Gula, from Indonesia

It is the Hotel Cecil of sugar factories. However, seasonal workers keep coming every year, because the factory keeps hiring. Admittedly, the management does their best to keep the evil spirits at bay. The weird curfew is for the workers’ own protection. Unfortunately, the new contingent of laborers unknowingly riles up the demonic forces in Awi Suryadi’s Pabrik Gula (a.k.a. Sugar Mill), which opens today in select theaters.

Years ago, several workers burned to death when fire engulfed one of the warehouses. Somehow, they saved the warehouse, but not the people. Since then, most workers shun the building, especially at night. It’s not like they have a choice. The mill maintains a strict 9:00 curfew. Not even porch-sitting is allowed once the night whistle blows.

Unfortunately, Endah did not understand the importance of curfew on her first night. Ill-fatedly, she follows her new housemate Rani, who appears to be under some outside influence, to the infamous warehouse, where the spirits are conducting a sinister ceremony.

Endah came with a group of college-aged friends, but the provincial twentysomethings are sadly not going to college. Harvesting and milling sugarcane seemed like a decent opportunity to them. It should help pay for Hendra’s wedding to the extremely modest and devout Wati. In contrast, Naning is definitely on the hunt for an eligible man. Sadly, that does not include the schlubby, torch-carrying Franky, which his awkward sidekick Dwi often needles him about.

Honestly, the core group could have been better defined and distinguished. They are basically the good Muslim girl, the slutty one, the potential final girl, and three dudes. However, the atmosphere is extremely dark and awfully thick. This place feels profoundly evil and only too real.

Suryadi is not above springing jump scares, but he also uses the full frame, to sugestively show things lurking in corners and reflected in mirrors. This is the kind of eerie stuff Indonesian horror films really do well.

In this case, the characters’ Islamic faith is largely incidental, but the folk horror elements are organically rooted to the setting. Screenwriter Lele Laila (adapting a viral “SimpleMan” story) refreshingly eschews anti-corporate class warfare. Frankly, the mill management goes to great lengths to prevent the horrors that that this season’s workers tragically unleash. Regrettably, dumb Gen-Z’ers are still dumb Gen-Zer’s, even in Indonesian.

The ensemble is entirely serviceable, with Ersya Aurelia and Erika Carlina standing out somewhat above the rest, as Endah and Naning, respectively. Regardless, this is the kind of film in which vibe trumps everything else. In this case, that vibe is massively creepy. Highly recommended for horror fans, Pabrik Gula opens today (4/18) in select theaters, including the AMC Mission Valley in San Diego.