Interchange (2016) Review : Malaysian Fantasy Meets Kalimantan Mythology

 

Interchange | 2016 | 1h 42m
Genre: Fantasy / Mystery / Thriller | Country: Malaysia–Indonesia
Director: Dain Said | Writers: June Tan, Redza Minhat, Nandita Solomon
Cast: Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, Shaheizy Sam, Nicholas Saputra, Prisia Nasution
IMDb: 5.2
My Rating: 7/10

Adam, a forensic photographer, becomes caught in a mystery that defies logic when he helps his detective colleague investigate a series of gruesome murders.

Warning:

Contains scenes of murder and disturbing imagery.

 

Synopsis of Interchange

Another horrific murder takes place—one eerily similar to a previous case that was never solved.

Detective Man (Shaheizy Sam) asks Adam (Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin) to help investigate the mysterious glass-like photographic pieces found at the crime scene. Adam is a forensic photographer who worked on the earlier case. However, the experience left him traumatized, and he has temporarily stepped away from his job.

During his break, Adam spends his time taking photographs and observing the people living around him. Then he meets Iva (Prisia Nasution), a mysterious woman who has just moved into the apartment across from his.

Adam eventually discovers that Iva has a connection to the strange photographic pieces found at the crime scene.

He goes to his usual photo studio to have the glass photographs repaired and printed. While Adam is confused and trying to find the studio, Iva suddenly appears and helps him get there. What Adam does not know is that Iva is quite familiar with the owner of the studio.

As Adam begins to investigate further, he realizes that there is something about Iva that goes beyond ordinary logic. His suspicions deepen when he discovers photographs of Iva alongside several murder victims inside an antique book.

Is Iva connected to the serial killings?

 
Review

Interchange is a Malaysian film that also features several well-known Indonesian actors, including Nicholas Saputra and Prisia Nasution.

The premise is quite interesting, drawing inspiration from stories and mythology associated with indigenous communities in Kalimantan. The film presents a fascinating intersection between the modern world and ancient myths, and this contrast is depicted beautifully.

However, there are still many aspects of the story that could have been developed further to make the film more compelling.

The choice of music and sound effects is quite good and feels distinctive. They also support the atmosphere of each scene effectively. The camerawork, camera movements, and color composition are handled well. The film pays close attention to visual details, although some of the AI-assisted imagery and animation feels less polished and smooth. Even so, the overall visual experience is quite satisfying.

The performances from both the main and supporting cast are also impressive. The storyline and conflicts are presented in a relatively systematic way, and the dialogue is interesting.

One thing that may confuse some viewers is the inconsistent use of language, with Malay and English frequently mixed together. This may be a natural and common feature of everyday communication in Malaysia, but from a storytelling perspective, I think it would have been better to establish one dominant language and use the other more selectively.

There are also several questions that arise while watching the film—and even more after it ends.

The story suggests that these characters have existed for hundreds of years. If so, the murders presumably did not happen only once or twice, especially considering the large number of people depicted in the book. So why did the police only begin taking the case seriously after the second murder?

The film also establishes that these characters originate from Kalimantan. How, then, did they eventually end up in Malaysia?

Another issue is Adam's role as the main character. The film does not clearly explain why Adam, among thousands of other people, is so important to the story. His connection to the larger mystery is not established strongly enough, and his background could have been developed further.

There is also a lack of clarity surrounding the owner of the photo studio. How did he become involved in the case? What exactly is his relationship with Iva? And why is he willing to help her?

These questions do not necessarily make the film impossible to enjoy, but they do make the mythology and character connections feel less complete than they could have been.

Overall, Interchange is an interesting film and worth watching, particularly for its visual style and its blending of modern life with indigenous mythology. There are still many aspects that could have been developed further, but the film remains an intriguing experience.

 

Memorable Scene

Belian has to transform himself into a bird before carrying out a murder. During Sani's murder, the transformation is shown in considerable detail.

The visual depiction of the transformation makes the scene particularly striking and memorable.

 

Memorable Dialogue

“Living in eternity is pointless, a waste of time.”

 

Ending

Sad Ending

 

Recommendation

Worth watching.

 

(Aluna Uwie)

Had been published in Alunauwie.com

"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."

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