Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Srigala Blu-ray Movie Review

Srigala is an Indonesian horror film borrowing heavily from Friday the 13^th – so much so that the film gained a cult reputation in part because it is often considered as a knock-off of the classic horror film. Distributed by Rapi Films, Srigala features production by Sabyrinth Kasdani. Released in 1981, Srigala was released only one year after the original theatrical release of Friday the 13^th. Despite Srigala taking influence from Friday the 13^th, the Indonesian slasher film features some unique merits. An entertaining slasher film regardless of the inspirational origins.

Johan (Rudy Salam), Tommy (Barry Prima), and Caroko (S. Parya) are a group of treasure hunters. The treasure hunting travelers have decided to set forth for some lost treasures submerged at a lake. The lake has some unexpected guests, too: two beautiful young college girls and their friend – Hesty (Siska Widowati), Nina (Lydia Kandou), and Pono (Dorman Borisman). It’s camp time and the co-eds decide to get ready for a fun vacation. Sexy swims in the lake are only moments away.

Attempting to get the treasure all for themselves, Johan, Tommy, and Caroko attempt to lure these co-ed girls away from the camp while sharing spooky stories with them. Yet something decidedly sinister lurks in the shadows – potentially threating the lives of everyone at the lake. Could the land actually hold dark secrets – a haunting – or something more sinister lurking to kill them all?

Srigala has a fun cast of characters. The cast does great work in the film. The performances are fun and add a lot to the production. The female protagonists are beautiful babes and these gorgeous ladies add plenty of charm to the filmmaking. There is a lot of sex appeal in the film and there are some fun scenes with the ladies by the lake (which should keep viewers preoccupied). The scream-factor is real, too – the cast delivers on the terror factor in equally good measure.

The cinematography by F.E.S. Tarigan (Sangkuriang, Jaka Sembung) is sublime. Srigala is a beautiful looking film. It is hard to believe the film is even considered a knock-off of anything when one sees Srigala and its beautiful cinematography. The lensing is first-rate – that of a genuine art film in the horror genre.

The score composed by Gatot Sudarto (Escape from Hellhole, Revenge of the Ninja) is a lot of fun and adds charm to the undercurrents of horror in the production. The score provides a good backdrop to everything: enhancing the spooky terror of the dread that comes (especially during the second half). Excellent work by Sudarto.

Written by Imam Tantowi (Queen of the Dark Arts, Brave Death Squad), Srigala might not have the most original script around. In fact, the comparisons to Friday the 13^th are obvious – it is definitely borrowing heavily from the classic horror masterpiece. Yet Srigala still has some fun dialogue and good comedic moments. Not a perfect script by stretch of the imagination but it’s a fun one nonetheless.

Directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra (Satan’s Slave, Perjanjian di Malam Keramat), Srigala provides a far more engaging horror experience than some audiences might expect – if viewers are only expecting to find a cheap knockoff. Srigala is far better than some have claimed it is and the filmmaking is great. A director of great skill in the making, Putra was at the start of his career when he helmed this slasher inspired by Friday the 13^th. The filmmaker would go on to become a popular Indonesian filmmaker with several well received horror films – earning a reputation for horror films with fantastic visuals. Srigala should be considered essential viewing for fans of Friday the 13^th and fans of international horror.

Going into my viewing of Srigala, I was excited to see the film to compare it to Friday the 13^th but I also had incredibly low expectations. Srigala did not sound like something that would necessarily impress. I certainly felt it could be a missed opportunity. With remarkably low expectations going in, I was quite surprised by how entertaining the film is. The film would please horror fans regardless of their own enthusiasm for the original Friday the 13^th (though I highly recommend viewing Friday the 13^th before watching Srigala because the obvious references and allusions are an essential part of the experience).

Srigala Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Terror Vision, Srigala is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The feature-film comes from a brand new 2K restoration. The restoration of the film was completed using the original camera negative. Srigala has received its worldwide disc debut with this release by Terror Vision. The high-definition master has another benefit in being taken from the original camera negative – this presentation provides two minutes of never-before-seen footage previously unavailable with home viewing (two minutes that viewers might have considered previously lost footage). The presentation on the release is simply sublime.

One could easily mistake the restoration of Srigala to be from a 4K master and that says something remarkable about the quality of the original camera negative and the work done by distributor Terror Vision. The print is nearly flawless with little to no wear on the print. The scan impresses in spades and color reproduction on the release is fantastic. There is little doubt that Srigala has never looked better before – and perhaps it looks even better than it did during its original theatrical run.

It is worth noting that it appears Srigala is unavailable on any major streaming video platforms. The only way to experience the film in North America is with the excellent Terror Vision release. Even if the film ever appears on a major streaming service, it is unlikely it will feature the breathtaking 2K restoration. With a top-notch 2K restoration, the release is a must-own for horror enthusiasts with an interest in the title.

Viewers can also remain confident in the superior encoding of the Blu-ray format – streaming video platforms do not offer video with encoding that is equally as good. High-definition video bit-rates are always higher on the Blu-ray format than on streaming video services and by a significant margin, too. Film enthusiasts who value film preservation, restoration, and presentation will find this to be a first-rate release for Srigala. Terror Vision deserves great accolades for their restoration of Srigala.

Srigala Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in the original language Indonesian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio encoding on the release is one of the best things about the presentation. The audio clarity is impressive and engaging throughout. Dialogue is well reproduced. The audio track capably handles both the dialogue and the soundtrack to the film.

The audio track is free from any egregious hiss, crackle, or other distractions that sometimes occur with audio tracks due to age related wear. The source sounds fantastic. The subtitles on the release are excellent and are free from any noteworthy spelling or grammatical errors. The audio encoding is first-rate, providing exceptional detail throughout the presentation of the film.

Srigala Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with an incredible o-card slipcover from Terror Vision. The slipcover artwork is great and delivers fantastic horror vibes. The back art is well selected for the release as well. The inside art showcases more impressive cover art and the inner print features more key art to make the release something truly special in hand. Kudos to Terror Vision for an exceptionally designed release for Srigala.

The release also comes with a selection of brand-new interviews with the following participants:

Interview with Gope Samtani (HD, 7:41)

Interview with Barry Prima (HD, 7:16)

Interview with Lydia Kandou (HD, 7:02)

Interview with Dorman Borisman (HD, 3:24)

Srigala Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Srigala has gained a cult reputation as an Indonesian horror film inspired by Friday the 13^th. The film is so heavily inspired by Friday the 13^th that some consider it a knockoff production. Yet the film has outstanding cinematography and deliriously fun filmmaking. It has enough original elements. Meanwhile, the comparisons to Friday the 13^th add to the fun.

Srigala was the origin of a great Indonesian horror filmmaker who would gain a reputation for making entertaining horror gems. The presentation on the release comes from a brand new 2K restoration as taken from the original camera negative. The release looks incredible and features superb lossless audio.

The release includes a selection of brand-new interviews. The release comes with a fantastic o-card slipcover designed by Terror Vision. Fans of Friday the 13^th who are curious about the film and those who are appreciative of international horror films have a real treat on their hands. Don't miss it. Highly recommended.