Drama Cult Classic

An Indonesian folk horror where vengeance returns with a gaping wound—and a score to settle.

GHOST WITH HOLE

1981 · 1h 42m · NR · Drama / Fantasy / Horror · IMDB TMDB

An honest woman falls for a model agency scam, and is then brutally murdered by mindless thugs. She rises from the crypt as a Sundel Bolong (a mythological Indonesian revenge ghost) to exact vengeance in very gruesome and interesting ways

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Quick Answer

What is Ghost with Hole about?

Ghost with Hole is a 1981 Indonesian drama, fantasy, and horror film directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra about a woman who, after suffering brutal violence and taking her own life, returns as a vengeful Sundel Bolong ghost to seek retribution against her tormentors.

Programmer's Pick

Indonesia’s answer to the revenge ghost genre, Ghost with Hole brings the Sundel Bolong myth to bloody, uncanny life. The film’s lurid mix of taboo, female rage, and folk horror delivers supernatural justice that’s both fascinating and grotesque. It’s the gaping wound that won’t be ignored.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Ghost with Hole (originally Sundel Bolong) is a haunting foray into Indonesian supernatural lore. The film follows a newly-married woman whose life takes a tragic turn after her husband departs to sea. Vulnerable and pressured back toward her former life as a prostitute, she endures a violent assault and, overcome by despair, takes her own life. However, death is only the beginning: she returns as a Sundel Bolong—a mythic Indonesian ghost with a rotting hole in her back—turning her pain into vengeance. As those responsible for her suffering start dying in alarming ways, her husband and the local police grow desperate to end the cycle of violence. Expect a somber, eerie blend of folk horror with supernatural and slasher elements rooted in cultural legend.

Details & Specs

Director: Sisworo Gautama Putra
Writer: Darto Joned
Release: 1981
Runtime: 1h 42m
Country: Indonesia
Language: Indonesian
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Also Known As: Ghost with Hole, Devil Woman, Sundel bolong, Sundelbolong, Sundel Bolong, Original title: Sundelbolong

Why This Matters

This cult Indonesian horror film features the Javanese mythical ghost Sundel Bolong and stars Suzzanna; its enduring impact is reflected in a 2018 remake, Suzzanna: Bernapas dalam Kubur.

— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Sisworo Gautama Putra Writer: Darto Joned

Suzzanna Alisa Hendarto / Shinta

H.I.M. Damsyik (as I.M. Damsyik) EH Eddy Hansudi RH Rukman Herman EK El Koesno (as El Kusno) B Bokir Ceking

Dorman Borisman Amin

Bambang Siswanto KS Ktut Suwite BA Bram Adrianto (as Bram) AM Adang Mansyur BR Belkiez Rachman (as Belkies) RT Rengga Takengon (as Ringga Takengon) EB Eddy Bakar Pare (as Eddy Baker Pare) YR Yustine Rais DS Diana Suarkom AA Ali Albar

S. Parya JJ Jack John

Explore More

Slasher Horror Supernatural Horror Revenge Prostitute 1980s Slasher Horror School Supernatural Horror Folk Horror Sundel Bolong

Why Cult

Sundel Bolong Mythology

Experience Indonesian folk horror through the lens of the Sundel Bolong—an undead woman with a chilling backstory and ghastly appearance.

Revenge-Driven Horror

A violent act sets off a relentless supernatural vengeance narrative, as the protagonist returns to punish her assailants in grisly fashion.

Slasher & Supernatural Fusion

Combines slasher horror with ghostly folklore, piling supernatural kills on a foundation of real-world brutality.

Female Empowerment Twist

The film subverts victimhood by transforming its protagonist from prey to avenger, channeling trauma into folklore-fueled wrath.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Brutal assault and suicide

Threat

Vengeful Sundel Bolong ghost

Effect

Targets and kills those responsible for her suffering

Setting

Indonesian urban and social environments

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Ghost with Hole? +

Ghost with Hole was directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra.

How long is Ghost with Hole? +

Ghost with Hole has a runtime of 102 minutes.

What genre is Ghost with Hole? +

Ghost with Hole is a drama, fantasy, and horror film.

When was Ghost with Hole released? +

Ghost with Hole was released in 1981.

What makes the Sundel Bolong's vengeance distinct in this film? +

Her retribution is marked by her supernatural return as a ghost with a rotting hole in her back, using her terrifying appearance and folklore powers to exact gruesome revenge on those involved in her tragedy.