Ranty Maria Struggled to Hold Back Laughter Behind the Horror Scenes of 'Warga Rusun 609'

JAKARTA – Actress Ranty Maria shared an unusual experience during the filming of the latest horror-comedy film titled Warga Rusun 609. Instead of feeling an eerie atmosphere, she had to hold back laughter several times on set. According to her, the other cast members often acted funny, putting her focus as an actress to the test.

At a press conference at XXI Epicentrum, Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Thursday (24/9/2026), Ranty recounted that one of the most challenging scenes was when her character had to undergo a rukiah process. However, the horror nuance expected by director Herwin Novianto vanished because the person playing the exorcist appeared in a comical style. "On set it wasn't that scary because the person doing the rukiah on me was a weird guy," she said.

Even so, Ranty still tried to maintain her professionalism. She admitted she had to keep reminding herself not to break out of the character Bunga, a woman living in unit 609 of the apartment block. "Several times I had a hard time holding back laughter because it was so funny. So I had to stay as Bunga," she added.

The story of Warga Rusun 609 centers on Bunga, a resident of an apartment block. Her life changes after she meets Arka and they enter a serious relationship until Bunga becomes pregnant. But that happiness cracks when Arka has to obey his parents' wish to continue his education abroad, leaving Bunga in uncertainty.

The combination of horror and comedy is nothing new in Indonesian cinema. In recent years, the genre has often been a favorite because it can draw audiences of all ages. The presence of big names such as Morgan Oey, Aming, and Sarah Sechan in the cast signals that the film targets a broad market, not just horror fans.

"Several times I actually had a hard time holding back laughter because it was so funny. So on set I still had to remind myself not to break character, to stay as Bunga." — Ranty Maria

For Indonesia's entertainment industry, the success of a horror-comedy film can be an indicator of the post-pandemic recovery of the cinema market. If Warga Rusun 609 manages to draw a large audience, it is not impossible that it will encourage similar productions next year. Cinema operators and investors in the creative sector should pay close attention to the market's response to this film.

As of this news being published, there is no official information about the premiere date. However, given the cast's enthusiasm and the marketing strategy that has begun, Warga Rusun 609 has the potential to be one of the most anticipated releases. Will this horror-comedy formula once again pull in millions of Indonesian viewers?