Film Orang Ikan
Director Mike Wiluan says the Film Orang Ikan born from his love for classic monster movies such as Creature from the Black Lagoon, Alien, to Predator.
He also sought a creature closer to Indonesian culture and geography.
“I’m a fan of film creature. But I want to find original and related to folklore Indonesia, said Mike Wiluan at CGV Grand Indonesia Central Jakarta, Monday (7/7/2025).
“That’s why I chose the myth of the Fish Orang from the old story of World War II, where Japanese soldiers purportedly saw half-human creatures on the islands of Indonesia.””
” The film is set on a remote island, where two prisoners of war a Japanese soldier and a British soldier struggle to survive. However, they soon realized that they were not alone.
The creatures that inhabit the island not only pose threats, but also store a shocking humanitarian side.
“This is the origin story of monsters born from the human tragedy of World War II,” said Ninin Musa, producer.
Unlike monsters in Western films that are usually savage and superpowerful, the figure of the Fish People in this film is described as a social creature living in groups, like a family.
Despite cooperating with international teams from Japan, Singapore and England, Mike insists that Fish are a very Indonesian work.
“I am most proud of the Indonesian crew. How many times to the festival, many are asking where to produce? I answered, in Indonesia,” Mike said.
The film has received positive receptions at various world film festivals such as the Tokyo International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, and Trieste Science+Fiction Festival. In fact, this year Fish People also air at Overlook Film Festival (USA), Fantasy Filmfest Nights (Germany), and Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Switzerland).
Later the film Orang Ikam will air on the cinema network of CGV Indonesia starting July 11, 2025.
Synopsis
Set in the Pacific, 1942. A Japanese soldier and a British prisoner of war are stranded on a deserted island, hunted by a deadly creature. Two mortal enemies must come together to survive the unknown.
