Kuntilanak
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The Kuntilanak (Indonesian name), also called Pontianak (Malay name), or Yakshi in Hinduism/ Hindu mythology is a mythological creature in
The Pontianak is often depicted as a long-haired woman dressed in white. She lures in unsuspecting men to incite fear and enact revenge. Signs that a Pontianak is nearby include the sound of an infant crying and the smell of a decaying corpse or the plumeria flower.[citation needed]
Etymology
Kuntilanak or Pontianak is often described as an astral female spirit; another version of this figure is a woman spirit with long sharp fangs and fingernails. It is similar to the spirit of a woman unable to give birth while her stillborn child was inside her womb. This figure is mainly known to reside in the Kalimantan region containing the city of Pontianak.
The Pontianak can disguise herself using the appearance of a beautiful woman to lure her prey. In Malaysia, lore depicts them as "vampiric" blood-suckers that disect through the internal organs of men. [1]
The Pontianak is derived from myths and folktales, some of which are particularly popular in
Physical appearance and behavior
This article possibly contains original research. (May 2021) |
The Kuntilanak (Pontianak) is often depicted as a beautiful woman with pale skin, red eyes, and long black hair. She is often dressed in a blood-smeared white dress. The Kuntilanak is also described as changing into a more monstrous form when she captures her prey which is typically men or helpless people. Because she is bloodthirsty and has a carnivorous nature, a Pontianak can also appear as a beast or a ghost, resembling the Dracula vampire.
Pontianak only appears under the full moon and typically announces her presence with the cries of infants or feminine laughter. It is said that if the sounds are quiet, she is nearby, but if they are loud, she is far away. Some sources also state that a dog howling at night indicates that a Pontianak is present, but not too close; if the dog whines, then a Pontianak is near. Its presence is also said to be heralded by a floral fragrance, identifiable as that of the Plumeria flower, followed by a stench similar to that of a decaying corpse.
The Pontianak kills her victims by using her long fingernails to physically remove their internal organs to be eaten. In cases where the Pontianak desires revenge and retribution against a man, it is said to eviscerate the victim with its hands. If a victim has their eyes open when a Pontianak is near, she will suck them out of their head. The Pontianak is said to locate her prey by the scent of their clean laundry; because of this, some Malaysians refuse to leave any piece of clothing outside their house overnight.
The Pontianak is associated with banana trees, and her spirit is said to reside in them during the day. According to folklore, a Pontianak can be fought off by driving a nail into the hole on the nape of her neck, which causes her to turn into a beautiful woman and a good wife until the nail is removed.
The
In popular culture
The Kuntilanak has been portrayed in Indonesian and Malaysian
- Malaysian films:
- Pontianak (1957)
- Dendam Pontianak (1957)
- Sumpah Pontianak (1958)
- Anak Pontianak, also known as The Pontianak Child (1958)
- The Return of Pontianak (1963)
- Pontianak Musang Cave (1964)
- Pontianak[3] (1975)
- Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam (2004)
- Perempuan, Pontianak dan Dot Dot Dot (2004)
- Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2 (2005)
- The Scream of Pontianak (2005)
- Anak Pontianak TV Series (2007)
- Ponti Anak Remaja (2009)
- Ponti Anak Remaja Mini Series (2010)
- Help! My Girlfriend Is A Pontianak (2011)
- Pontianak vs Oily Man (2012)
- The Nail of Pontianak (2013)
- Misteri Bisikan Pontianak (2013)[4]
- Pontianak Sesat Dalam Kampung Telemovie (2016)
- Dendam Pontianak (2019)
- Ex Aku Pontianak, also known as My Ex Is A Pontianak (2022)
- Pulau (2023)
- Indonesian films:
- Kuntilanak (1962)
- Kuntilanak (1974)
- Lawang Sewu (2007)
- Casablanca Tunnel (Red Kuntilanak) (2007)
- Kuntilanak's Nest (2008)
- Kuntilanak (2006), Kuntilanak 2 (2007), Kuntilanak 3(2008)
- Kuntilanak's Morgue (2009)
- Kuntilanak Beranak (2009)[5]
- Nail Demon (2009)[6]
- Santet Kuntilanak (2012)[7]
- Kuntilanak (2018)
- Indonesian Video Games:
- Singaporean films:
- Return of Pontianak, also known as Voodoo Magic (2001)
- Dendam Pontianak, also known as Revenge of the Pontianak (2019)[9]
- Hong Kong films:
- The Demon's Baby (1998)
- Malaysian fiction:
- Singaporean fiction:
- Folklore: "Nobody"
- American fiction:
- Supernatural: "Cold Fire"
- Internet Subculture:
See also
- Churel
- Keres
- Lang Suir
- Leyak
- Madam Koi Koi
- Mavka
- Onryō
- Tai Thong Klom
- Ubume
- Indonesian horror
- List of ghosts
- Malay folklore
References
- JSTOR 26916440.
- ^ Suara kuntilanak ketawa / Jurig Jurig, retrieved 2023-04-09
- ^ Pontianak (1975) =https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3305344/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
- ^ Misteri Bisikan Pontianak (2013)=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3145626/?ref_=fn_al_tt_17
- ^ Nuala, Nayato Fio (2009-02-12), Kuntilanak Beranak (Horror), Garneta Haruni, Monique Henry, Dion Wiyoko, Vikri Rahmat, Mitra Pictures, retrieved 2021-03-02
- ^ Purwono, Findo (2009-07-23), Paku Kuntilanak (Horror), Dewi Perssik, Heather Storm, Keith Foo, Kiwil, Maxima Pictures, retrieved 2021-03-02
- ^ Santet Kuntilanak (2012) - IMDb, 8 March 2012, retrieved 2021-03-02
- ^ "pamali - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ "Revenge of the Pontianak". IMDb. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "The House of Aunts". 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
External links
- Article by Singaporean paranormal investigators about pontianaks
- "Pontianaks and the Issue of Verisimilitude in Singaporean Cinema" (requires a login and password) — an essay by Dr. Timothy White of the National University of Singapore about the important role played by 1950s and 1960s horror films in the evolution of Pontianak mythology