Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- propulsive
- gritty
- adrenaline charged
- action movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a compelling Indonesian martial arts breakthrough, highlighting its explosive action choreography and genuine emotional impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Yuda fights using Silat Harimau, with the film built around highly physical Indonesian martial arts sequences.
Yuda leaves his Minangkabau farming village to undertake the community's Merantau tradition.
Yuda defends Astri and Adit from a human trafficking network led by Ratger and Lars.
Yuda's idyllic West Sumatran village experience is sharply contrasted with Jakarta's criminal underworld.
Films like Merantau, and why
The Raid: Redemption
Indonesian martial arts action, brutal close-quarters combat, and a determined protector confronting criminal violence
The Raid 2
Stylized martial arts choreography, relentless pursuit, and emotionally grounded action spectacle
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
Martial arts heroism, human trafficking stakes, and high-intensity physical set pieces
Chocolate
A lone fighter protecting vulnerable people while navigating criminal underworld violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Gareth Evans
- Release Date
- 2009-08-06
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (251)
Cast
- Iko Uwais
- Chika Jessica
- Christine Hakim
- Mads Koudal
- Yusuf Aulia
- Alex Abbad
- Yayan Ruhian
- Laurent Buson
- Ratna Galih
- Donny Alamsyah
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Merantau about?
- A village silat practitioner’s rite of passage becomes a ferocious Jakarta survival mission when he protects two siblings from a human trafficking ring.
- What is Merantau like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Merantau as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Merantau violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Merantau as graphic.
- What did critics think of Merantau?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a compelling Indonesian martial arts breakthrough, highlighting its explosive action choreography and genuine emotional impact.
- Which films are like Merantau?
- Films with a similar feel include The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2, Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, and Chocolate.
- How long is Merantau?
- Merantau runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch Merantau?
- In United States, Merantau streams on Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel.
