TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
‘Creepy Case Club’ Preteen horror series with Indonesian twist
Teenage adventure: Rizal Iwan's successful series has been acquired for a movie adaptation, which is still in early development
Change Size
T
eenage adventure: Rizal Iwan's successful series has been acquired for a movie adaptation, which is still in early development. (Courtesy of Kiddo Publishing)
Rizal Iwan’s horror series follows the adventures of three 10-year-old friends and budding detectives who discover that there’s more truth to Indonesia’s supernatural tales than they realized.
Authors who take on the challenge of writing horror novels seem to have developed an interest in the macabre genre from an early age.
One of the most famous horror writers of all time, Edgar Allan Poe, went on to influence H.P. Lovecraft, who later heavily influenced the venerated Stephen King.
Indonesian copywriter-turned-author Rizal Iwan had a similar interest growing up. He was engrossed by horror movies such as The Omen and Poltergeist and liked to read mystery novels by Enid Blyton and Robert Arthur.
“Horror stories have always fascinated me since I was little,” Rizal wrote in an email interview with The Jakarta Post.
The two genres that fascinated him so much during his childhood recently inspired him to dabble in the art of supernatural, mystery-writing himself. His venture has proven successful.
Rizal has written a series of three books titled Creepy Case Club. The first two books, Kasus Nyanyian Berhantu (The Case of the Haunted Song) and Kasus Si Anak Indigo (The Case of the Indigo Boy) were released last year.
The third and most recent book, Kasus Kutukan Congklak (The Case of the Congklak Curse), was released earlier this month.
The series follows a 10-year-old trio of best friends, Namira, Vedi and Jani. As they deal with the normal pressures of growing up, paranormal occurrences lead the three to investigate and explore while also relying on one another for support.
While the books have the appeal of the supernatural and solving mysteries, they also have an Indonesian twist that focuses on local superstitions and culture.
For example, in the most recent installation, Jani is caught in a curse from a mysterious congklak (traditional Indonesian board game). The group soon comes face to face with an ancient kingdom centered around the lore of the game.
Indonesian themes are widespread throughout the books, whether it comes in the form of traditional board games or nursery rhymes. Each book leads the group on a thrilling journey to crack the case of elaborate mysteries. Although the books mainly focus on the world of ghosts and ghouls, there is a very real duality to their themes.
“The stories are questioning our perception of horror and fear,” Rizal wrote. “In addition, the books’ themes also talk about friendship, the anxiety of growing up and tensions with their parents.”
Even in the most supernatural of circumstances, this variation in motifs allows the books to remain grounded in reality. The three main characters become relatable to children and pre-teens reading. Adults who enjoy the series might also feel some nostalgia for their youth.
The series, published by Gramedia’s Kiddo Publishing, also make the readers question the often-assumed polarization of good and evil.
“We grow up with fairy tales that have heroes and villains to defeat, but is it really that black and white?” Rizal wrote. “I think it is interesting to look at these things from a different perspective at a very young age, using a fun vehicle like horror-adventure stories.”
Rizal is a longtime freelance writer who has worn many different hats throughout his career. He has been a film reviewer, copywriter and has contributed his fiction work to several different publications.
He had the vague idea for these novels during his childhood, but due to his other writing endeavors, he put it in the back of his mind. When he found the inspiration and time, he fleshed out the idea and what was initially supposed to be just one book turned into a series of three.
Namira, Vedi and Jani will soon be jumping off the page and onto the big screen as the film rights for the first two books were recently acquired. The film adaptation is currently in development.
Although the series has been successful both in reception and sales, Rizal has no plans of stopping the trio’s adventures anytime soon.
“There are so many interesting things to explore about Indonesian superstitions and the supernatural, and also, I am getting more attached to the young detectives now,” Rizal wrote.
— The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post
