Hitmaker Studios invests billions in animatronic doll for ‘The Doll Ghawiah’

Hitmaker Studios is producing a new Indonesian horror film, ‘The Doll Ghawiah’, which serves as a prequel to ‘The Doll’ franchise. The production has invested billions of rupiah into the development of the titular character, a doll named Ghawiah, to enhance the cinematic terror through advanced technology.

Producer Rocky Soraya stated that while the exact budget was not disclosed, the investment is equivalent to the cost of producing three standard horror films. The production involves a specialized process where the doll was custom-ordered from Bali, while the animatronic technology was imported from the United States. This technology allows the doll to exhibit more complex movements and facial expressions than previous iterations in the series.

Directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, the film aims to build tension through atmosphere and visual storytelling rather than relying solely on jump scares. The prequel narrative explores the origins of the mystical events surrounding the doll and the threat it poses to a family.