: Watching with the original Indonesian dialogue preserves the cadence and "feeling" ( raso ) of the characters, which is central to the film's identity as a product of Indonesian culture. This is particularly evident in the performances of stars like Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, whose physical intensity is matched by their vocal delivery.
Released in 2014, The Raid 2: Berandal — meaning "thug" in Indonesian — is the masterful sequel to Gareth Evans’s groundbreaking 2011 action film The Raid . Picking up immediately after the events of the first film, it follows rookie Jakarta cop Rama (Iko Uwais) as he is forced to go undercover, infiltrating the city’s criminal underworld to expose corrupt officials and protect his family. With a budget of just $4.5 million, the film expands on its predecessor in every way, boasting a deeper plot, more complex characters, and an even more breathtaking array of brutal, balletic fight sequences that blend martial arts with gripping crime drama.
The Raid 2 (Indonesian: The Raid 2: Berandal , lit. 'thug') is not merely a movie; it is an assault on the senses, a masterclass in modern action filmmaking, and a visceral experience that redefined the genre. Written, edited, and directed by Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans, the 2014 sequel to the sleeper hit The Raid: Redemption expands the scope from a single building to the sprawling, corrupt criminal underworld of Jakarta. The Raid 2 Indonesian Audio
Furthermore, research in film studies suggests that subtitles actually increase engagement. You are not "missing" the action; your peripheral vision catches the subtitles while your eyes remain locked on the choreography. The English dub forces you to listen to bad acting while watching mouths move incorrectly—a far more distracting experience.
A special note must be made for Yayan Ruhian, who plays the assassin "Prakoso" (known to fans as "Mad Dog" from the first film). Ruhian is not only the film’s fight coordinator but also its secret weapon. His character’s journey is almost entirely visual and aural. The specific, rhythmic breathing he uses before a strike, the animalistic hisses, and the weary sighs he emits are all part of his performance. In the English dub, these subtle vocal tics are replaced with standard action-movie grunting, effectively neutering one of the film’s most complex performances. : Watching with the original Indonesian dialogue preserves
You haven’t seen the kitchen fight until you’ve heard it in Indonesian. 🔊🇮🇩
To get the absolute best audio experience, look for the following specifications on your media of choice: Picking up immediately after the events of the
Watching The Raid 2 with its original Indonesian audio is the only way to experience this masterpiece of martial arts cinema. While the English dub exists, it often strips away the raw, percussive intensity of the dialogue that Gareth Evans intended.
When characters like Rama (Iko Uwais) or Bangun (Tio Pakusadewo) speak, their vocal grit and emotional weight are tied directly to their physical performances. Dubbed versions frequently struggle to match these precise emotional frequencies, often resulting in flat delivery or mismatched tones that can pull a viewer out of the story. Cultural Nuance