directed by: Mouly Surya, year: 2017
actors: Marsha Timothy

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a stylized revenge drama from Indonesia. Marlina, a quiet newly widowed ranch hand, is assaulted by four men in a remote village. After killing one of the attackers, she sets out on a calculated, ritualized pursuit of justice, carried out across a barren island landscape. The story unfolds in four acts, blending arthouse pacing with precise violence, deadpan humor, and social critique of patriarchy. A female-led Western-meets-folk tale with universal resonance. The film uses long takes, natural lighting, and a spare soundtrack to heighten tension, borrowing from Spaghetti Western and Indonesian folklore, while its arid cinematography and non-linear beats create a hypnotic mood that invites reflection on gender, violence, and justice beyond traditional genre boundaries.

Misogyny, Indonesian Cinema, Neo Western, Revenge Thriller, Crime Drama, Female Led