Reny Rahmalina, Wawan Gunawan, Aceng Ruhendi Saifullah, Nuria Haristiani
This study explores how semiotic systems operate in contemporary Indonesian horror cinemas to construct meaning and provoke emotional responses, particularly fear. Horror films often draw from socio-cultural contexts, embedding local values, anxieties, and collective memory into their narrative and aesthetic choices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how multimodal elements—visual, auditory, and narrative—interact to create a heightened sense of horror and reflect deeper cultural concerns. Focusing on three prominent films: Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion, KKN di Desa Penari, and Sebelum Iblis Menjemput: Ayat 2, this research employs a multimodal analytical framework to examine the interplay of lighting, image composition, symbolism (visual mode); soundtrack, sound effects, and non-verbal cues (audio mode); and cultural themes involving social and supernatural issues (narrative mode). The methodology involved a qualitative analysis of selected scenes from each film, identifying key semiotic cues and their affective functions. The findings reveal that horror is constructed through the synergistic interaction of visual darkness and tension, unsettling audio layers, and culturally resonant narratives. These elements work together not only to elicit fear but also to express societal anxieties related to religion, tradition, family, and the unknown. The conclusion emphasizes that Indonesian horror films function as cultural texts that both entertain and offer socio-cultural commentary. By highlighting the communicative power of horror cinema, this study contributes to film and cultural studies while opening pathways for future interdisciplinary research on genre, identity, and audience reception. Copyright © 2025
Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka Kampus Air Tawar, Kota Padang, West Sumatra Barat, 25132, Indonesia; School of Postgraduate Studies, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Kecamatan Sukasari, Kota Bandung, West Java, Isola, 40154, Indonesia; Faculty of Languages and Literature Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Kecamatan Sukasari, Kota Bandung, West Java, Isola, 40154, Indonesia
