24 Hours with Gaspar – Netflix Review (2/5)

24 HOURS WITH GASPAR on Netflix is a crime mystery set in a dystopian world. The main genres are thriller, action, and drama. For me, the mood changes were often too abrupt. Read our full 24 Hours With Gaspar movie review here!

24 HOURS WITH GASPAR is a new Netflix movie. A crime mystery adapted from the novel of the same name, which I have not read. I only mention this to highlight that I cannot speak to how well it follows the novel. This is an Indonesian film (org. title: 24 Jam Bersama Gaspar) but the story is universal.

Also, I can say that we are in a dystopian world where human life has very little value and people come together in communities as best they can. Yeah, I know, this sounds very much like our current world, and in many ways, it’s very easy to see that we’re practically in this dystopian setting already.

Continue reading our 24 Hours With Gaspar movie review below. Find it on Netflix from March 14, 2024.

Gaspar has 24 hours left

The title of 24 Hours with Gaspar is due to the main character, private detective Gaspar, only having 24 hours to live. The reason is a faulty heart which cannot be fixed. Actually, the doctor tells Gaspar that he has 24 hours at the most, but obviously, this results in a 24-hour countdown as if his heart was a bomb.

Before his life is over, he wants to solve the mystery of how his childhood friend, Kirana, disappeared. So, when he discovers clues leading to the mysterious disappearance of Kirana, he sets off on an investigation.

This leads to Wan Ali, who’s very much involved with a human trafficking syndicate. In fact, this seems to be how he has made his fortune. Now, Gaspar, along with five other people, is planning to rob Wan Ali’s jewelry store in the last hours of his life to help spread the wealth.

Some abrupt mood changes

While I was excited about watching this Indonesian Netflix movie, I was not a fan of the very abrupt changes in mood. For me, this happened whenever a flashback came. I fully understand that they are an important part of the story.

Especially for the main character of Gaspar. After all, seeing what he experienced in his childhood and his friendship with Kirana before she disappeared is a key element.

Maybe my main issue was the choice of music. The songs are just too happy and fluffy when they intersect with the dystopian present Gaspar lives in. I recognize that this also serves as a method to show the difference between innocent and happy childhood versus the darker sides of adult life.

Still, the change of mood and tone was just way too much. You can choose happier and more innocent tunes without going all the way to cutesy Eurovision-style pop. Full disclosure: I love Eurovision and all its kitsch and crazy ways, but it rarely belongs in a genre movie. Unless it’s a horror comedy, obviously!

Watch 24 Hours with Gaspar on Netflix

24 Hours with Gaspar is directed by Yosep Anggi Noen, who is known for The Science of Fictions (2019). That movie was nominated for the Golden Leopard category at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, so he has already been recognized for his work.

As mentioned earlier, this Netflix movie is adapted from the novel of the same name. The author of the novel is Sabda Amandio and the story of both the book and movie is set in a dystopian future of Indonesia (org. title: 24 Jam Bersama Gaspar).

The screenplay was written by Mohammad Irfan Ramly, who has worked on various genre movies in the past. And this latest Netflix movie certainly does cover a lot of genres. Officially, 24 Hours with Gaspar is in the genres of Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Action, and Crime.

24 Hours with Gaspar is on Netflix from March 14, 2024.

Details

Director: Yosep Anggi Noen
Script: Mohammad Irfan Ramly
Cast: Reza Rahadian, Laura Basuki, Shenina Cinnamon, Sal Priadi, Dewi Irawan, Kristo Immanuel