Mondo Macabro’s “Mystics in Bali” Blu-ray booklet review

Written by Matt Long

A review of the booklet included as part of Mondo Macabro’s Blu-ray release of Mystics in Bali (1981), which they released in 2025. This booklet was only included with the limited “red case” edition version of the release.

The cover of the booklet included with the limited edition Blu-ray of Mystics in Bali (1981).

Professionalism and production quality

This is a 20-page saddle stitch bound booklet that lines up with what physical media collectors have come to expect from booklets via Criterion’s conditioning. The images included, which are a nice variety of stills, posters, and relevant photos, are all printed clearly and given room to breathe. I also appreciated the leading used, which allowed for easy readability without seeming like they were just trying to fill space, along with the font size (even if older eyes might want it a point bigger).

The only “issue” I noted was inconsistency in punctuation and other similar issues that could have been fixed with a light edit. My impression of Mondo paints them as more punk or Beat-aligned than most other boutiques, so those issues did not seem as glaring compared to errors in booklets that have a more premium presentation.

Grade: A-

Text-to-image ratio

There are ten pages with images and fifteen pages with text. Given the short page count, this felt like a very nice balance. Both components were given the space they needed and completed each other.

Grade: A

Content

The booklet has two primary pieces of content, with another small third feature. The first is an article titled “Anatomy of a Shocker” that covers a variety of topics, including a history of horror and exploitation cinema in Indonesia, how this film came to be, what makes it special among the popular horror films of Indonesia, and the differences in the two versions of the film included on the release. It’s an informative, well-written essay that deftly shows the unnamed author’s deep knowledge of the subject. This impressive nine-page (including pictures) essay covers a wide scope of information from conception to release, which left me satisfied and better prepared to rewatch the film and more like it with a better understanding of the material.

The second article is called “How to Become a Leyak,” and it “follows the experience of one individual who decided to become a Leyak.” Mondo Macabro offers a serious warning that they cannot be held responsible if anyone decides to follow the course provided. What follows is a four page account of the process of undergoing the transformation that is central to Mystics in Bali. I’m heeding Mondo’s warning not to test this out, so I can’t verify the effects, but I appreciated the article nonetheless.

The last thing I want to call out is a printed list of the filmography of Tjut Djalil, the film's director along with the director of another Mondo Macabro classic, Lady Terminator (1988). Given most of us don’t know Djalil’s filmography by heart like they might a Paul Thomas Anderson, this was a very helpful feature to provide necessary context on the filmmaker in a style that meets the readers where they’re at.

Very strong content overall that didn’t quite blow me away, but it collectively made for a worthwhile read.

Grade: A-

Creativity

As is likely clear from my review so far, I appreciated the effort Mondo put in to make this booklet stand out. It elevates it above just a standard booklet, which is impressive given the small page count. The filmography and the “How to become a Leyak” article were very nice touches.

Grade: A-

Grade summary

Professional and production quality grade: B+

Text-to-image ratio grade: A

Content grade: A-

Creativity grade: B+

Final thoughts

I loved this booklet for its use of creative and relevant articles that elevated the material and provided necessary context for a Western viewer watching the film without much historical understanding.

Overall grade: A-

The Mystics in Bali limited edition is sold out from Mondo Macabro, but a standard edition is available directly from Mondo Macabro along with your favourite independent retailers.

If you liked this, a review of Mondo Macabro’s Marquis Blu-ray booklet review was printed in issue 33 (September 2026) of The Physical Media Advocate.

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