Kuncen Movie Ending Explained And Full Story: What Happens To Devlin And Awindya?

Director Jose Poernomo’s “Kuncen” tells the story of a girl who goes to a distant village in search of her lost boyfriend. In the process, she faces the bitter reality in ways that she never ever imagined. She has to fight against the rough terrain, and then she has to deal with demons and black magic. “Kuncen” is a slow-burning mystery that sets an intriguing atmosphere right from the very beginning with a gruesome death. Instead of being symbolic, the movie keeps it very simple but frightening with its horror elements and the supernatural setting.

Spoilers Ahead

What happens in the film?

“Kuncen” kicks off with the death of Wak Di, the warden of a secluded village, located in the foothills of a volcano. One night, Wak Di cuts his throat with his own hands, and his death leaves the community baffled. As the villagers mourn his death, Wak Har, an infamous shaman, celebrates in the distance. Because in the absence of the warden, Wak Har can now engage in black magic and summon as many demons as he wants from the mystical mountains. In the city, Awindya worries as her boyfriend, Devlin, is not responding to her texts for days. Devlin is an explorer, and he has been busy hiking for the last couple of days. He asked Awindya to come with him, but she refused. As Awindya grows panicked, her father tries to comfort her. The constant worry even distracts her at class as she keeps texting Devlin. During the break, as Awindya’s friend Agnes comforts her, another friend, Mojo, reveals that the village Devlin went to hike has been haunted for years. As a result, all three of them set out for the haunted village. Upon arriving, they find that a lot of hikers are trapped in the mountains. In absence of the village warden, Wak Har and his assistant have blocked anyone from visiting the mountains.

Awindya meets Diska and Yoga, two hikers who are there to rescue their group of friends. Yoga tries to convince Wak Har to let them go to the mountain but fails. As Wak Har’s men try to blame Wak Di’s wife, Mrs. Lakah, Awindya protests, instantly making herself the shaman’s enemy. Later, Awindya, Mojo, Agnes, Diska, and Yoga visit an old traveller’s lodge near the mountain to set up for the night. Even though Awindya is searching for Devlin, Yoga cannot help but like her. While they try to settle, the house shakes with an eerie vibration, and Yoga, who can see demons, senses that something is not right. In reality, Wak Har, who has set his eyes on Awindya and her friends, is causing all this by doing black magic from miles away. As Awindya wants to visit the mountains as soon as possible, Diksa keeps holding her back.

Who Killed Wak Di?

As the village warden, Wak Di kept the village safe from the wrath of the demons. He guarded the key to the Gates of Protection, which, if left open, granted power to the demons to ascend to the village and wreak havoc. Wak Di knew that most of the demons were bloodthirsty, and hence, he kept a close watch. He was also training Panji to secretly become the successor, but before it was completed, Wak Di pass. 

Wak Di’s only enemy in that village was Wak Har. Since Wak Di kept strict control over the evil realm of demons, Wak Har could never practice black magic and rituals freely. Through his skills, Wak Har used to solve problems of other people by black magic, and it gained him a lot of profits. Wak Har hated Wak Di and his guts. He secretly wanted his reign to end. That’s why he sacrificed a part of his own life force to control Wak Di’s mind, and make the warden cut his own throat. There was another reason why Wak Har wanted to establish his monopoly over the village. With no village warden, the demons would be able to haunt the place as much as they want, and the news of the haunting would skyrocket the village’s fame. In Wak Di’s absence, anyone who would visit the village would have to seek help and supplies from no one other than Wak Har. His mentality was so twisted that when he saw Awindya talking against his men and discussing about visiting the mountains, Wak Har immediately set his eyes on her whole group. He never cared about the lives of the tourists stuck in the mountains. Wak Har only wanted to take revenge on Awindya.

Is Something Wrong With Diska?

Every time Awindya talked about going to the mountains to rescue her boyfriend, it was Diska who kept stopping her. Way before she met Awindya, Mojo, and Agnes, Diska had known Yoga. Even though Yoga kept Diska a friend, Diska developed a strong liking for yoga. After their friends were stuck on the mountains, Diska could finally get some free time with Yoga. This was one of the reasons why she always insisted on going back to Jakarta and seeking help there. When Awindya arrived, Diksa could not help but notice that Yoga had started liking her, and quite obviously, she was hurt. Diksa knew that wherever Awindya would want to go, Yoga would be up for accompanying her. However, looking at Yoga and Awindya’s determination, she accompanies them, and all five of them visit the mountains. On their way, they come across a deserted cemetery and a psychiatric ward where all possessed villagers are chained. Things start to turn south when the strong gusts of wind stop the whole group on their way to the mountains, leaving Diksa stunned. Agnes gets hurt, and eventually gets hospitalized. When Agnes comes back to the villa, Diksa promises Awindya that she will look after Agnes purely out of sympathy. She gets so frustrated with everything that she wants to go back home, even if it means going back without Yoga.

Are Devlin and Awindya alive?

Awindya, Yoga, and Mojo leave Diksa home with Agnes to meet Ms. Lakah and Panji, the only disciple of Wak Di and the next probable warden. But, the moment they leave after meeting Panji, Wak Har murders Panji and goes back to his black magic practices. The haunting that follows and the black demon that chases everyone around are all products of Wak Har’s ritualistic practices. He is more powerful this time because Wak Har has sacrificed his own assistant’s hand to gain the favor of the bloodthirsty spirits. Awindya decides that it is time to confront the spirits of the mountain and let them decide who the next warden is. She lies inside the grave and passes out when Yoga covers her with mud. The spirits take her to a goddess who blesses her and wards off all the bad spirits. Wak Har tries to choke Awindya to death, but the soil consumes him from below. In reality, it is the evil spirits who drag Wak Har below.

In the end, when Awindya frees herself, she opens a gate that no one can see except her. Among other travelers, Awindya notices Devlin coming out of the forest. All this time, the demons have stopped Devlin from setting foot into the outside world. Devlin gets surprised because he has not expected Awindya there. Awindya and Devlin’s reconciliation is sweet, but it’s short. Most likely, the distance and days of disconnection have caused Devlin’s liking for Awindya to fade away. Even though Awindya does not feel any strong emotions, her face shows that she is relieved to see Devlin safe. Coming back home, Awindya does not turn Yoga down when he confesses his feelings and asks her out. At the same time, the dilemma in Awindya’s response shows that she is not in a place to commit, which is most likely due to her recent breakup with Devlin.

Is Awindya the new warden?

Near the end of “Kuncen,” a villager visits Awindya and requests her permission to go to the mountains and perform a ritual. This sets up a future for Awindya, who is now the warden, or Kuncen, of the village. The big cliffhanger with a nice fourth wall break where Awindya turns her head and directly looks at the camera proves that her journey is not over yet. In her upcoming days, Awindya might have to even guard the village against anyone who practices black magic. Awindya has always been an ideal fit for the role of a kuncen. She has deep knowledge of Indonesian culture and history, which is one of the most needed qualities of a warden, as Ms. Lakah said. Despite facing an uphill battle against the demons, Awindya has never submitted to evil. Even when she stood on the verge of losing all hope, Awindya never gave up. This makes her an ideal warden, who never gives up protecting the village.

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