The Act of Killing
Former Indonesian death-squad leaders turn memories of mass murder into cinematic spectacle, revealing the grotesque psychology of impunity.
Overview
A chilling exploration of the human capacity for violence and the absurdity of evil.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- confrontational
- surreal
- serious film discussion
- history study
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a formally radical, haunting, and confrontational documentary masterpiece, while acknowledging its painful difficulty and ethical controversy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Anwar Congo and fellow death-squad leaders recreate the 1965 killings in gangster films, westerns, and musicals.
The death-squad leaders boast about executions and remain socially empowered within contemporary Indonesian political life.
Lavish musical numbers and classic Hollywood crime scenarios become indirect testimony about mass murder.
The film examines how the 1965-66 Indonesian killings remain celebrated or unspoken while survivors remain frightened.
Films like The Act of Killing, and why
Shoah
Confrontational documentary examining political violence and its perpetrators through unsettling firsthand testimony.
The Look of Silence
Investigates historical atrocity through archival evidence, testimony, and morally challenging documentary form.
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
Explores the psychology and social legacy of genocide through intimate encounters with perpetrators and survivors.
Waltz with Bashir
Uses experimental documentary methods to interrogate state violence, memory, and impunity.
Movie Details
- Director
- Joshua Oppenheimer
- Release Date
- 2012-11-01
- Runtime
- 159 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (790)
Cast
- Anwar Congo
- Herman Koto
- Syamsul Arifin
- Ibrahim Sinik
- Yapto Soerjosoemarno
- Safit Pardede
- Jusuf Kalla
- Adi Zulkadry
- Suryono
- Haji Marzuki
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Act of Killing about?
- Former Indonesian death-squad leaders turn memories of mass murder into cinematic spectacle, revealing the grotesque psychology of impunity.
- What is The Act of Killing like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Act of Killing as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Act of Killing violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Act of Killing as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Act of Killing?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a formally radical, haunting, and confrontational documentary masterpiece, while acknowledging its painful difficulty and ethical controversy.
- Which films are like The Act of Killing?
- Films with a similar feel include Shoah, The Look of Silence, S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine, and Waltz with Bashir.
- How long is The Act of Killing?
- The Act of Killing runs 159 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Act of Killing?
- In United States, The Act of Killing is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
