By CRYSTAL GUILLORY

Well, reader, I hope your bags are all packed and you have your passports ready   (not to mention all of your shots) for we are going on a little trip today. Yes, we are leaving the USA for the exotic land of Bali!

(Okay, we aren't really going to be in Bali, but work with me here.)

Today we are covering the obscure Indonesian horror film, Mystics In Bali, aka Balinese Mystic that was directed by H. Tjut Djalil (better known as Jalil Jackson). It was based on the novel Leak Ngagkak and somehow I don't think that I can find it on the shelves of the nearest "Bones and Noble".

Before I talk about this movie, perhaps I should waste some time…ah…use this time to give you some information on the land of Bali, which could help in school this year. For starters, Bali is an exotic place that is virtually a paradise that has managed to retain its unique centuries-old culture in spite of many changes. The folklore and religion are reflected in the many forms of art created on this island. Thus, Mr. Djalil is no different from the other artists preserving the unique culture for he uses film to do this.

The fascinating part of the Balinese folklore that the director has brought to life involves the "leyak" and the "penanggalan."

First off, the "leyak" is a mystic who can shape-shift (such as into a monkey or the demon creature, Rangda) using particularly gruesome methods. One method in particular involved obtaining entrails from the graveyards or from the living so that they could change into a tiger. To become a leyak you had to study a long time, getting to know all the various magic words and say them while meditating. After enduring a few bizarre tests the beginning members could shapeshift to such animals as birds or pigs while the more advanced ones could appear as demons.

The other part of the folklore that is used is the vampire creature called "penanggalan." For starters, this isn’t the type of vampire those of us in Western culture are used to, not by any stretch of the imagination! This creature is a woman whose head separates from her body but takes most of her inner organs with her. Ick, this makes the vampire creature of Nosferatu look like Bela Lugosi in comparison.

This creature is not filmed that often although it is featured in this movie and in the Cantonese-language Hong Kong film Fèi taugh mò néuih--The Witch With Flying Head. This creature has been known to attack women in labor and infants, so keep that in mind because that will be important later.

As we began our "journey," we encounter the lovely American (In some dubbings she is Australian) Cathy Kean who is in this exotic land for some research on the dark art of the Leyak.

After all, she has studied voodoo in Africa so this should be a cinch, right? While there she is accompanied by Mehandra who is willing to show her anything she wants, and we mean anything.

Yep, this rascal takes this gal to a local bone yard where they exchange a smooch among the bones. Ah, nothing like a bunch of skulls to get one in the romantic mood. eh? It must be a really romantic moment for those two make a date to go out to the woods later on that night but not for the reasons you think. Yes, tonight is the night Cathy is going to be hooked up with a member of the Leyak. Not just and member but one of the most vilest--and we can tell that by her evil, maniacal laugh and long nails. Gee, hasn't this woman ever heard of something called a manicure?

Well, Cathy discusses the terms of learning Leyak from this creature and they decide to "shake on it in a Western manner." Why, how sporting for the old gal to literally give a hand to Cathy! Yep, much to Cathy's horror, the hand she was shaking crawls away to
join the rest of the body.

Anyone else might have been freaked out by such a display, but not our Cathy. The next night she arrives with Hendra with the methods of payment, which are jewels, and a six pack of blood. Wow, I'll never complain about the high cost of education here again!)

The Leyak, who is appearing as a huge tongue that would make Gene Simmons envious, greedily takes the jewels and blood and gives Cathy a tattoo. (Gee, couldn't she have gotten a better-looking one for a much lower price in the city?) Cathy's lessons will start the next night, but without Hendra by her side.

Cathy arrives to the appointed spot eager for her first lesson. Now I wonder if she can leave if her teacher doesn't show up in ten minutes just like you can in college? Ah, that'll never be answered for the teacher is prompt and they start their bizarre lessons. Cathy relates the strange tale of turning into a sow that night before to Hendra and that makes him turn to his uncle the holy man.

Hendra's uncle is very concerned for his nephew, for who wants to date a pig? Nevertheless, they have an intense discussion concerning the evil of the Leyak and the ways it could be defeated which we will see later on in the movie. Meanwhile, Cathy is progressing in her lessons but it is taking a toll on her body so she wants to quit. (After all readers, she keeps getting "Bali-aches".)

Well, she is quick to learn that the saying "you can check out anytime, but you can never leave" easily applies with the Leyak for the teacher has an evil idea. The teacher changes poor Cathy into a penanggalan and sends her off to find food for the teacher.

Well, Cathy finds it in the home of this family where the wife is going through a long and difficult labor. In a non- graphic but really disturbing scene Cathy acquires the food for the teacher. (Ick!) When she returns the teacher returns Cathy back to normal, with no memory of what just happened.

Sometime later Cathy returns to the teacher (who is considerably younger now) and they turn into snakes. Well, the next day Cathy gets violently ill after one of Hendra's kisses (that must have done wonders for his ego) and she barfs up green slime and live mice.
Now wouldn't this be a clear sign to Hendra and Cathy that something is really wrong here? Hendra has to go off to work leaving Cathy alone. Well, Cathy has no time to miss her man because her teacher has her on another gruesome food run. Of course Cathy has no recall of such events but she has dried blood around her mouth for some odd reason. Now wouldn't that be a warning sign to you, readers?

People are starting to talk about the deaths and the word gets to Hendra's uncle and his council of holy men. The men brainstorm on how to defeat the evil creature before another death occurs.

Meanwhile, Cathy is in her abode when she is rudely interrupted by her teacher (who's younger appearing now). The teacher is there to collect her payment for the lessons or she will have to turn Cathy's name into  the collection agency! Cathy tries to stall, telling her she can get the blood later but the teacher is very impatient and Cathy loses her head again. However, this mission is not so successful, since the torch-wielding villagers stop the Penanggalan. Wow, no matter the culture, angry torch-wielding, monster-hunting villagers are there!

The uncle is trying to find the headless body that is the unfortunate host of the flying creature and he found it in Cathy's apartment. He then sticks some toothpicks into the neck but is interrupted by his nephew, Hendra. To Hendra's horror, he sees the headless body of his girlfriend but he still thinks she could be saved.

Meanwhile the creature returns and tries to reconnect with the body but is getting annoyed with those durn toothpicks. Frustrated, the creature gives up and flies off, leaving the corpse for a while. Hendra's uncle wants to bury Cathy's corpse and pray over the grave so that the monster could be vanquished. Ah, we all know its not going to be that easy is it?

So Cathy's headless body is buried and the holy men are saying prayers and smoking over it. Well, the Leyak teacher and Cathy's head return to the grave, miffed because she wanted the no smoking section!

So the teacher and Hendra's uncle decide to duke it out while Cathy decides to reconnect with her body. Hendra wants to help so he pulls out the sacred dagger his uncle gave him earlier, but he drops it cause he fell for the "I'm a monster but you still love me" trick.

Alas, this proves fatal for Hendra's uncle and the teacher begins to gloat over the victory. However, while the teacher was doing her celebratory dance, a woman comes out of nowhere to attack her. The witch is surprised at first but soon vanquishes the young woman who we discover is an old girlfriend of Hendra's. Wow, I do get along with a few of my ex-boyfriends but I don't know if I would battle an otherworldly creature for them. To be honest there are some exes I would let the monster attack, but that is a matter reserved for my entries.

Well, all looks very bleak for our friend Mehandra right now. Gee, before Cathy changed he probably wouldn't have minded her nibbling on his neck but things are definitely different now! Oh, look, stepping into the wrestling ring (so to speak) is another uncle of Hendra's who then battles this creature. Yes, the two engage in a barbed wire, steel cage match that could thrill any wrestling fan.

The holy man has to fight the leyak teacher while she's in various forms such as a pig and a demon. The elder holy man keeps up with the witch and gives her an arse whupping that keeps her up ‘til sunrise, which burns her up (literally)!

Gee, you'd think the witch could have conjured up some sunscreen but no such luck. Well, the Penanggalan is destroyed as well and Hendra must live with the guilt for the rest of his life. Oh my, what a light hearted ending indeed.

That poor girl got more then she bargained for didn't she? If she wanted to learn magic why didn't she go to Hogwart's? Yes, she may be a little too old for admission, but maybe she could have signed up for the adult education classes. After all, the worst thing that would have happened to her there was possibly chewing on a vomit or earwax-flavored Bertie Botts jelly bean.

Well, that was an interesting little trip wasn't it, readers? While I will admit that this movie can be a tad cheesy in parts (the dubbing comes to mind) it does deliver in some eerie and disturbing scenes. The scenes of the flying penanggalan were particularly effective as was the scenery. I have to say that despite of some of the cheesiness, fans of the Asian horror genre will like this movie.