Background & Production
Vina: Before 7 Days is a 2024 Indonesian horror-thriller helmed by director Anggy Umbara. The story is rooted in the real-life murder of Vina Dewi Arsita and her boyfriend Rizky, and was brought to the screen with a screenplay by Bounty Umbara and Dirmawan Hatta, produced by Dee Company WikipediaIMDb.
Premiering on May 8, 2024 in Indonesia, the film became one of the year’s most-watched local features, showing strong box office results with 335,812 viewers on day one and totaling 5.8 million viewers by the end of its theatrical run—making it the second highest-grossing Indonesian film of 2024 Wikipedia.
Plot Overview
The film unravels the horrifying circumstances behind Vina and her boyfriend’s deaths, initially assumed to be a traffic accident. As the family uncovers disturbing inconsistencies, investigation continues. On the sixth day after their death, Vina’s friend becomes possessed and recounts the brutal attack: Vina and Eky were assaulted by a motorcycle gang on an overpass in Talun, a violence that included torture and rape, with one attacker—a man named Egi—harboring past feelings for her Wikipedia. This supernatural revelation builds the climax of the film.
Reception & Critique
Mixed to strong box office, mixed critical reception.
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IMDb Rating: 5.4/10 (over ~10,600 ratings) IMDb.
Positive viewpoints highlight the film’s weighty emotional impact:
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A reviewer on IMDb noted the possession scenes as “the most powerful,” not merely for horror but for conveying the psychological trauma, calling the film a “sobering reflection on violence, justice, and the human capacity for both cruelty and resilience.” IMDb+1.
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Another praised how the tragic, supernatural elements stay grounded due to their basis in real events, making the story disturbingly impactful IMDbIMDb.
Critical voices, however, argue that the film exploits tragedy:
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On Letterboxd, one user condemned it as an exploitative adaptation of a real-life case, criticizing the sensationalism and style as inappropriate Letterboxd.
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Another reviewer on IMDb argued that the film romanticizes violence under the guise of awareness, rendering it “harmful” and tone-deaf toward real gender-based violence IMDb.
Final Thoughts
Vina: Before 7 Days is a polarizing film that straddles the line between true-crime tribute and sensational horror. Its commercial success indicates it struck a chord with audiences, yet its handling of deeply real tragedy fueled intense debate. Whether viewed as a call for justice or an unsettling dramatization, the film underscores the complexities involved when real-world horror is translated to the screen.