The latest horror film from Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar, Grave Torture, has raised the bar for on-screen violence with a shocking and gruesome death scene that has left audiences speechless. In the film, a nursing home resident, Nani, is killed in a washing machine, but it’s not just the method that’s disturbing – it’s the prolonged and agonizing nature of the death that makes it truly unforgettable.
The setup for the death scene is simple: Nani is trying to clean her soiled clothes in the washing machine, but she realizes she’s missing her wedding ring. As she searches for it, she accidentally turns on the machine and gets her body stuck. What follows is a slow and agonizing descent into terror as Nani’s body is stretched and contorted by the machine’s rotation, culminating in a gruesome and graphic face-peeling death that is both shocking and mesmerizing.
What makes Grave Torture’s death scene so effective is its unpredictability and ambiguity. Anwar intentionally leaves the audience uncertain about whether the supernatural forces at work in the film are responsible for Nani’s death or if it’s simply a gruesome accident. This ambiguity adds to the sense of unease and tension that permeates the film, making it a truly unsettling viewing experience.
Joko Anwar, Grave Torture (Image via Getty)
Grave Torture is not the first film to push the boundaries of on-screen violence, but it’s arguably one of the most inventive and memorable death scenes in recent horror cinema. With its slow-burning tension, gruesome special effects, and ambiguous context, Grave Torture’s death scene is a masterclass in building shock and unease in the audience.
The film’s use of everyday objects as tools for terror is a hallmark of Anwar’s filmmaking style, and Grave Torture is no exception. From the faulty washing machine that becomes a harbinger of death to the nursing home’s creaky old elevator that seems to develop a mind of its own, Anwar’s films are filled with seemingly innocuous objects that become instruments of horror.
Grave Torture is a must-watch for fans of horror cinema, particularly those who enjoy films that push the boundaries of on-screen violence and explore the darker aspects of the human psyche. With its inventive death scene and slow-burning tension, Grave Torture is a film that will leave audiences gasping in horror and lingering long after the credits roll.
