Superhero movies have become the norm in Hollywood, but rarely do we get to see something a bit different when it comes to origin stories. That’s where Sri Asih: The Warrior comes in. Directed by Upi from a screenplay co-written alongside Joko Anwar, the socially conscious Indonesian action film combines mythology, MMA, and superhero tropes to bring us a mostly engaging film with slick fight sequences and intriguing, if somewhat hollow, twists that keep our attention. While the story itself is occasionally too stuffed for its own good, and drags a bit after the midway point, Sri Asih delivers clear, sharp action and an empowering story.

The film draws from the 1954 Sri Asih comic book by RA Kosasih, and the titular superhero is considered the first in Indonesia, her determination and sense of justice aiding her journey. Sri Asih follows Alana (Pevita Pearce), an orphan who’s adopted by a wealthy woman and is trained as a MMA fighter. When her mother’s gym is threatened by Mateo (Randy Pangalila), the sleazy, misogynist son of powerful businessman Prayogo Adinegara (Surya Saputra), Alana agrees to fight him in the ring and lose on purpose. But when her anger gets the better of her, Alana beating Mateo in the fight leads to bigger problems. A revelation — from Eyang Mariana (Christine Hakim) — that her abilities are passed down by the goddess Sri Asih leads Alana into the battle of her life, as she must stop the five commanders of the Fire Goddess from rising and destroying everything.

Sri Asih has a good buildup before unleashing the full breadth of its intensity, and it’s at least an hour into its two-hour runtime before Alana finds out about the true power running in her veins. This allows the film to lay the proper groundwork for the story, giving us Alana’s history, and introducing all major characters before giving the mythological exposition that ultimately moves the film toward Alana’s final showdown with her foe. The emotional connection is between Alana and her mother, and it’s that beating heart that keeps the film going.

The action sequences are slick, concise and easy to follow. There aren’t too many stylistic flourishes beyond Alana’s superhero abilities, and the antagonist’s wispy disappearances, but they get the job done. The fight choreography is fantastic, and cinematographer Arfian keeps these scenes lit in a way that highlights the action. We never lose sight of what’s going on, and the fights truly pack a punch, especially when Alana really lets loose. She’s easy to root for and Pearce is good in the role, though there isn’t enough nuance in the characterization. Reza Rahadian as Jatmiko is also a standout, and his frustration, anger and occasional kindness is written in his eyes and facial expressions.

What ultimately holds the film back is its overlong runtime, the lack of depth when it comes to the big villain twist, and Sri Asih’s overly serious tone. At nearly two hours and 15 minutes long, the editing could have cut down on the film’s length, tightening the story and ramping up the urgency as a result. The film takes itself too seriously as well, and though Alana’s childhood friend, Tangguh (Jefri Nichol), brings bursts of humor, there is little levity throughout. This brings the mood down, especially as some of the aspects of the story aren’t entirely fleshed out. To that end, the twist regarding the true identity of Sri Asih’s big bad comes a bit too late, and without much explanation regarding motivations. The actor does a fabulous job playing the character, but there’s little reasoning behind the twist beyond it being a gasp-worthy moment.

Sri Asih may not be the most memorable superhero film out there, but its mix of MMA style fight scenes and mythology offer something unique to the genre. There’s a lot going on, and some things are left by the wayside, but even if the socially conscious aspects are on the nose, they’re at least a central part of the narrative. Occasionally intense and always interesting, Sri Asih is certainly worth a watch.

Sri Asih: The Warrior screened at 2023’s Fantastic Fest. The film is 133 minutes long and currently unrated. It’ll be available on DVD in the US December 5.