Netflix seeks to differentiate itself from other streaming platforms by enhancing the best cinematographic characteristics of each country and showcasing their directors to the world. In this regard, Timo Tjahjanto is the absolute representative of Indonesian horror and action genres at their best.
He has recently been in the spotlight for crafting “The Shadow Strays,” a martial arts and gangster film that is trending in every corner of the globe where the #1 streamer is available. It follows a young assassin prodigy who meets a vulnerable young boy with whom she instantly bonds. When he is abducted by members of a crime syndicate, she won’t hesitate to kill all the kidnappers in order to return him to safety.
Filmed in Tjahjanto’s classic brutal style, many viewers have been left craving more. Luckily, there are four other films with similar themes and impressive action sequences that can also be found on Netflix. Here, learn what they are about!
Four Timo Tjahjanto’s films available to stream on Netflix
- Headshot (2016)
Julie Estelle in “Headshot”. (Source: IMDb)
“Headshot” was highly praised by both critics and the public, as the filmmaker admitted he had never directed an action film before it. So, you could say it’s the beginning of an iconic directorial journey! It revolves around a man who wakes up in a hospital unable to remember his identity and is helped to recover by Dr. Ailin. Due to his past, she is abducted by a crime syndicate, and he becomes determined to clash with the organization to save her life.
- The Night Comes for Us (2018)
Hannah Al Rashid in “The Night Comes for Us”. (Source: IMDb)
Showcasing the best of Tjahjanto’s abilities in the martial arts genre, “The Night Comes for Us” is one of the favorites among his fans. Renowned for its gruesome fight sequences, the production follows a former crime enforcer who sets out to rescue a young girl from a crime syndicate. In response, they send a rising gang prospect and legions of thugs after them.
- May the Devil Take You (2020)
“May the Devil Take You”. (Source: IMDb)
Driving away from the gun fu genre and immersing himself in raw horror, “May the Devil Take You” might not be the typical action film that Tjahjanto’s fans adore, but it is certainly just as gruesome and bloody. In this production, which will make you jump out of your seat a few times, a young girl seeks to uncover the reasons behind her father’s deadly illness by visiting his old house, where she comes face to face with a nightmare from another world.
- The Big 4 (2022)
Abimana Aryasatya, Arie Kriting, Putri Marino and Lutesha in “The Big 4”. (Source: IMDb)
If you loved “The Shadow Strays” but think you might enjoy it more with a little less violence while maintaining the same action content, “The Big 4” should be added to your watchlist. This comedy follows a detective investigating her father’s death, leading her to a remote tropical island. There, she discovers his true identity as the leader of a group of assassins. Now hunted by his enemies, she must team up with the down-on-their-luck retired crooks her father trained.
