Taiwanese Horror Franchise Expands to Indonesia, Embraces Local Folklore

In 2025, Taiwan's most successful horror franchise, "The Rope Curse," is heading to Indonesia for its fourth installment. The new film, "The Rope Curse 4," has commenced principal photography in Jakarta, with director Shih-Han Liao returning to helm the project.

The move signals an ambitious pivot for the series, which has become a box office powerhouse in its home territory. The three previous "Rope Curse" films have collectively grossed over NT$200 million ($6.5 million) at the Taiwanese box office, making it the highest-grossing horror franchise in the country. The series' most recent entry, "Rope Curse 3," also found additional success on Netflix, reaching the Number 1 or Number 2 spot in the streamer's film rankings across multiple territories.

For the fourth installment, the franchise is incorporating the local "Kuntilanak" folklore into its established supernatural mythology. The story centers on a man who travels to Pontianak, carrying his deceased sister's remains, and encounters the Kuntilanak, a vengeful spirit from regional folklore, as he searches for answers.

"With 'Rope Curse 4,' we are seeding the curse into new lands," said producer Jeff Tsou. "Indonesia holds deep spiritual and supernatural traditions -- it's fertile ground for horror that resonates locally and globally. We believe this film will not only thrill fans of the franchise, but also introduce 'Rope Curse' to a whole new audience across Southeast Asia and beyond."