The Act of Killing

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Lasse L 5d A unique look into some of the very depths of humanity. The documentary accomplishes something extraordinary by so diligently following these people. It's a tough watch, which you have to be prepared for. See more Kyle M Feb 26 While "The Look of Silence" delved into the emotionally traumatizing fear as a plead for help, the preceding second feat in Joshua Oppenheimer’s triadic examination on Indonesia’s authoritarianism is darkly unusual yet studiously deserving as it cautiously treads into the humanity’s succumbing darkness of irrationality and sickness, whilst compelled on whether those actions haunt the soulless perpetrators. Its filmic successor thrived with provocative resonance, while this is comparably ineffective due to the bold, unflinchingly crafted subject that’s hard to watch when little appeal lies by possible humanistic study deep within per directorial intent. (B+) See more Sage C Sep 4 The Act of Killing is a remarkable and absolutely gut-churning, edge of your seat/hidden beneath your blanket documentary. I’ve quite literally never seen anything like it. The film that comes to mind when I think to even try to compare the feeling you get watching it to anything else is Elem Klimov’s “Come and See”. The ability to capture the viewer in such entirety and commit them to the misery and truth of the reality before them is something that’s so rare, it truly holds an otherworldly power over the psyche that continues long after the screen goes black. Depravity and humanity (or lack there-of) go hand in hand in this film. The visceral reaction any viewer has to this is very real, extremely volatile, and eternally lasting. A true testament to Joshua Oppenheimers genius is the ability to capture all of this and more. Hats off and night light on. See more Becky J 02/16/2025 There are some films that stay with you long after the credits roll, and The Act of Killing is one of them. This documentary is unlike anything I’ve ever seen—it doesn’t just tell a story about mass killings in Indonesia, it forces the perpetrators to reenact their crimes in the style of the movies they love. Watching them eagerly stage these violent scenes as though they were action heroes or film stars was deeply unsettling. Anwar Congo, the central figure, initially boasts about his past, proudly demonstrating the methods he used to execute people. But as the film progresses, cracks start to show. Seeing him gradually realize the weight of his actions—without anyone explicitly telling him to—was both fascinating and disturbing. It’s a rare and haunting look at the psychology of those who commit atrocities and how they justify them to themselves. What makes this film so powerful is how it flips the true crime documentary format on its head. Instead of victims or historians recounting the events, we hear everything directly from the killers themselves. It’s shocking, surreal, and at times, almost hard to believe. But that’s what makes it so compelling. This isn’t an easy film to watch, but it’s an important one. The Act of Killing forces you to confront human cruelty in a way that’s impossible to ignore. It’s disturbing, thought-provoking, and completely unforgettable. See more Siao S 05/11/2023 This documentary has no graphic violence, but the perpetrators' nonchalant attitude towards their actions is even more chilling. After watching this documentary, I will think twice before revisit Java Island. See more Georgan G 01/28/2023 This horrific documentary tricked bad guys into filming their confessions. These circa 1965 mass murders had clearly been ok with their government, as no one was ever punished. Also clear that western countries were being complicit. Sad history presented as a movie within a movie. See more Read all reviews

The Act of Killing

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