Memburu Pemangsa Highlights Child Abuse Issue

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com— Child abuse is at the heart of Memburu Pemangsa, a film by Sinemaku Pictures set to hit Indonesian cinemas on September 24, 2026. The film follows four female journalists as they track down a predator who preys on children.

Directed and produced by Umay Shahab, the film combines horror, crime, and action. Laura Basuki, Prilly Latuconsina, Taskya Namya, and Yasamin Jasem star as the four women who embark on an investigation to expose crimes against children.

Umay said the issue of child abuse was one of the key reasons behind the making of Memburu Pemangsa. He said crimes against children remain an issue that needs continued public attention and discussion.

“This film addresses an important issue: crimes against children, which remain alarmingly prevalent. I hope Memburu Pemangsa can also make an impact on an issue that is so important to keep discussing,” Umay said in Jakarta recently.

The film portrays four female journalists on the front lines of an investigation into crimes against children. The threat they face comes from human perpetrators who are depicted as working with the devil.

For Laura Basuki, who plays Agnes, the issue explored in the film was one of the reasons she joined the project. She said the film goes beyond horror by incorporating an investigation into crimes committed against children.

“You will experience the full cinematic experience as horror, crime, and action come together, and this is a new experience for me,” Laura said.

Laura hopes the film will create space for discussions about child abuse, including where victims can seek help when faced with similar situations.

“I also hope this film can create a space for people to discuss these issues and become more aware of where they should seek help when something like this happens to them,” she said.

Prilly Latuconsina, another lead cast member, highlighted another issue surrounding child sexual abuse: how society responds when such cases come to light.

According to Prilly, information about child sexual abuse is already widely available. However, she said a culture of silence still exists in some communities when such cases occur.

“I don’t think the issue of child sexual abuse in Indonesia stems from a lack of media coverage. There is already plenty of information, but we also need to recognize that there is a culture of silence,” Prilly said.

She said people sometimes do not know what action to take when they come across information about child abuse. As a result, public attention to a case may fade once the story goes viral.

“It goes viral for a day or two, but there is no proper follow-up. There needs to be action when these stories emerge. This issue needs all of us to speak up and respond appropriately,” she said.

Meanwhile, Yasamin Jasem plays Anya, a journalist who conducts research and has a keen interest in demonology. The cast also met with the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (Komnas Perlindungan Anak) during the production of the film.

According to Yasamin, the meeting helped encourage the cast to speak out about the issue of child abuse addressed in Memburu Pemangsa.

The film also stars Teuku Rifnu Wikana, Andri Mashadi, Septian Dwi Cahyo, Shareefa Daanish, and Jordan Omar.

Before its nationwide release, Memburu Pemangsa held advance screenings in Jakarta, Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, Yogyakarta, Medan, and Makassar. Most tickets for the screenings were reported to have sold out.

Memburu Pemangsa is scheduled to open in Indonesian cinemas on September 24, 2026. Tickets for the opening day are available through M-TIX, CGV, Cinepolis, and TIX ID, as well as at Kota Cinema Mal, Sam’s Studios, and New Star Cineplex.