Beyond the acting, The Raid 2 Indonesian audio offers a superior sound mix engineered by the film’s original team. The film uses a unique sound design where dialogue is intentionally mixed slightly lower than the bone-crunching foley effects. In the Indonesian track, the dialogue sits naturally within the 5.1 or Atmos soundscape.
When you switch to a dubbed track, audio engineers must "duck" (lower) the original music and effects to fit the new voices. This results in a flatter, less dynamic range. The iconic electronic score by Joseph Trapanese and Fajar Yuskemal loses its punch. The famous "Razor & Hammer" fight scene sounds anemic on the English dub because the terrifying swish of Julie Estelle’s hammers is partially masked by poorly placed voice lines.
The Raid 2 is a symphony of violence. Gareth Evans composed it with Indonesian actors, an Indonesian crew, and the Indonesian language. To watch it with an English dub is to watch a beautiful painting with a cheap plastic filter over it.
Whether you are a first-time viewer or a longtime fan preparing for a re-watch, hunting down The Raid 2 Indonesian audio is the single most important technical decision you can make. It honors the actors’ performances, preserves the dynamic sound mix, and respects the cultural context of the story.
So, turn off the English dub. Set your audio to Bahasa Indonesia. Turn on the subtitles. Turn up the volume. And prepare for one hour and thirty minutes of the most punishing, authentic action cinema has to offer. You will never go back to dubbing again.
Final Verdict: The Indonesian audio track is the only canonical version. Everything else is a compromised imitation. Selamat menonton (Enjoy the movie).
When Gareth Evans released The Raid: Redemption in 2011, it sent shockwaves through the global action cinema landscape [1]. But it was the 2014 sequel, The Raid 2: Berandal, that truly expanded the universe into a sprawling, operatic crime epic [1, 2].
For purists and cinephiles alike, experiencing The Raid 2 in its original Indonesian audio is not just a preference—it is the definitive way to watch the film. 🎧 Why Audio Matters in Action Cinema
Sound design is the unsung hero of martial arts films. In The Raid 2, the audio landscape is just as meticulously crafted as the breathtaking fight choreography.
Authentic Impact: The original mix captures the raw, guttural intensity of the actors' performances.
Cultural Nuance: Indonesian dialects and street slang provide a layer of gritty realism that dubbing simply cannot replicate.
Pencak Silat Rhythm: The native dialogue matches the frantic, rhythmic pacing of the traditional Indonesian martial art featured in the film. 🎬 The Plot: Expanding the Chaos
While the first film was a claustrophobic survival horror disguised as an action movie, The Raid 2 blows the doors off that apartment building.
The story follows Rama (played by the incredible Iko Uwais), the rookie cop who survived the original bloodbath [2]. To protect his family and root out the corrupt police force, Rama must go deep undercover in the Jakarta underworld [2]. He lands himself in prison to befriend Uco, the ambitious son of a powerful mob boss [2].
What follows is a two-and-a-half-hour masterclass in tension, betrayal, and violence. 💥 Legendary Set Pieces
Watching these iconic scenes with the original Indonesian audio preserves the incredible vocal strain and physical exertion of the actors. 1. The Prison Yard Riot
A massive, muddy brawl involving dozens of inmates. The squelching of mud mixed with the bone-crunching sound design creates a visceral sensory overload. 2. The Car Chase
A masterclass in editing and stunt work. Rama fights off attackers inside a speeding vehicle while a massive shootout occurs simultaneously on the streets of Jakarta. 3. The Kitchen Finale
Considered by many to be one of the greatest cinematic fights ever filmed. Rama goes toe-to-toe with "The Assassin" (Cecep Arif Rahman) in a pristine white kitchen that quickly turns red. The clanging of karambit knives against the environment is a masterstroke of sound editing. 🔊 Subtitles vs. Dubbing: The Great Debate
If you are looking to watch The Raid 2, you will likely have to choose between an English dubbed version and the original Indonesian audio track with English subtitles. Here is why you should always choose the latter:
Voice Acting Integrity: Dubbing often uses voice actors who were not on set, leading to a disconnect between physical exertion and vocal output.
Tone Preservation: Crime dramas rely heavily on tension. Dubbed tracks can sometimes sound cartoonish or overly dramatic, breaking the immersion of Evans' dark world.
Atmospheric Sound: Dubbed tracks sometimes alter the balance of the background noise, dampening the incredible foley work of the original sound team. 📌 How to Watch The Raid 2 with Original Audio
To ensure you are getting the best possible experience, follow these steps when setting up your viewing: The Raid 2 Indonesian Audio
Check the Settings: Before pressing play on your streaming service or Blu-ray, navigate to the audio settings.
Select 'Indonesian': Look for the original language track (often labeled as Indonesian DTS-HD or Dolby Digital).
Enable Subtitles: Turn on English (or your preferred language) subtitles.
💡 Quick Tip: Look for the "Director's Cut" or unrated versions if available, as they preserve the full, gory vision of the film without censorship!
The Indonesian audio in The Raid 2 (2014) is a core component of the film’s identity, blending gritty realism with a hyper-stylized approach to sound design. While international audiences often first encounter the film through subtitles or dubs, the original Indonesian track is widely considered the definitive way to experience Director Gareth Evans’ vision.
Here is a detailed look into the significance, technical execution, and cultural context of the film's Indonesian audio. 1. Cultural Authenticity and "Bahasa Indonesia"
The use of the original Indonesian audio preserves the specific cadence and intensity of the performances. Slang and Dialect:
The film features a mix of formal Indonesian and Jakarta "street" slang ( Bahasa Gaul
). This linguistic contrast helps establish the hierarchy between the organized crime syndicates (who often speak with a cold, calculated formality) and the gritty, chaotic world of the undercover police and low-level thugs. Emotional Weight:
Iko Uwais (Rama) and the rest of the cast delivered their lines with a physical intensity that matches the choreography. Dubbed versions often struggle to capture the breathiness and guttural strain of a fighter who is exhausted or injured, which is clearly audible in the original track. 2. Sound Design: "The Sound of Impact" The audio team for The Raid 2
treated sound as a physical character. The Indonesian track is famous for its "wet" and "heavy" foley work: Hyper-Realism:
Every punch, bone break, and blade slice is amplified. The sound of Silat (the Indonesian martial art featured) is characterized by rapid-fire slaps and thuds. The audio track emphasizes the contact of skin-on-skin and the crunch of concrete, making the violence feel visceral rather than cartoonish. The Kitchen Fight:
In the legendary final kitchen sequence, the audio transitions from the clanging of metal utensils to the muffled, heavy thumping of bodies hitting the floor, creating a rhythmic, almost percussive experience that is best preserved in the uncompressed original audio. 3. Musical Integration (The Hybrid Score)
The audio experience is inseparable from its score. Interestingly, The Raid 2 features a collaboration between Indonesian composer Fajar Yuskemal Aria Prayogi , alongside Joseph Trapanese Indonesian Traditional Influence:
While the score is largely electronic and orchestral, it incorporates subtle Indonesian rhythmic structures that pulse beneath the dialogue. Sonic Space:
The original audio mix balances the loud, industrial music with the Indonesian dialogue, ensuring that the guttural commands and screams aren't lost in the wall of sound. 4. Why Fans Prefer the Original Audio Avoiding the "Uncanny Valley":
English dubs for martial arts films often suffer from a mismatch between the speed of the Indonesian language and English phonetics. This can lead to a "floaty" feeling where the voice doesn't seem to come from the body. The "Hammer Girl" and "Baseball Bat Man" Moments:
These characters have very little dialogue, but the sounds they make (the scraping of hammers, the "ping" of the bat) are mixed specifically to complement the Indonesian environmental audio, creating a seamless atmosphere. Technical Availability
For home media collectors (Blu-ray/4K UHD), the film is typically presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Dolby Atmos
for the Indonesian track. Audiophiles recommend the Indonesian track over the English dub because the original mix was designed with the specific frequencies of the actors' voices in mind, providing a more balanced and immersive soundstage. technical settings
to optimize the audio on your home theater, or are you more interested in a translation comparison between the Indonesian dialogue and English subtitles?
The 2014 action masterpiece The Raid 2 (Indonesian title: Berandal) is widely considered one of the greatest martial arts films ever made. While international audiences often first encountered it via subtitles or dubbing, experiencing The Raid 2 in its original Indonesian audio is the only way to truly capture the film’s visceral intensity, cultural nuance, and bone-crunching realism.
Here is an in-depth look at why the Indonesian audio track is essential for fans and how it elevates the cinematic experience. 1. Linguistic Authenticity and "Indo-Noir" Beyond the acting, The Raid 2 Indonesian audio
Directed by Gareth Evans, The Raid 2 expands the world of the first film into a sprawling crime epic. The dialogue is rooted in a specific Jakarta underworld dialect. When listening to the original Indonesian audio, you hear the rhythmic flow of "Bahasa Indonesia," which ranges from formal, chilling threats issued by crime bosses to the gritty, slang-heavy banter of street thugs.
Subtitles provide the meaning, but the audio provides the soul. The harsh consonants and specific intonations used by characters like Rama (Iko Uwais) or the terrifying Hammer Girl carry a weight that English dubbing simply cannot replicate. 2. The Sound of Pencak Silat
The Raid 2 is a showcase for Pencak Silat, the traditional Indonesian martial art. In the original audio mix, the sound design is meticulously synchronized with the movements of the actors.
The Impacts: The thuds, cracks, and swipes are balanced against the actors' original vocalizations—the breathing patterns and grunts of exertion are authentic to the physical performance.
The Kitchen Fight: In the legendary final kitchen sequence, the clinking of Karambit blades against tile and the frantic dialogue in Indonesian create a claustrophobic atmosphere that defines the "Raid" style. 3. Iconic Performances in their Native Tongue
Watching The Raid 2 with Indonesian audio allows you to appreciate the full range of the cast’s acting:
Iko Uwais (Rama): You hear the desperation and growing rage in his voice as he goes deeper undercover.
Arifin Putra (Uco): His performance as the volatile son of a mob boss is legendary. His vocal delivery in Indonesian captures a sense of spoiled entitlement and sociopathic tendencies that feels much more menacing than any dubbed version.
Yayan Ruhian (Prakoso): Even with limited dialogue, the gravelly, soft-spoken nature of his Indonesian delivery adds a layer of tragedy to his character. 4. Technical Quality of the Original Mix
The Blu-ray and high-end streaming versions of The Raid 2 typically feature a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or 7.1 track for the Indonesian audio. This mix is the "director's intended" soundscape.
Atmospheric Immersion: From the echoing halls of the prison to the rain-slicked streets of Jakarta, the original audio track uses the surround sound field to place you directly in the environment.
The Score: The pulsing, industrial-electronic score by Joseph Trapanese, Aria Prayogi, and Fajar Yuskemal is mixed specifically to weave through the Indonesian dialogue, ensuring that neither overpowers the other. 5. Why You Should Avoid the English Dub
While dubbing makes films more accessible to some, it often sanitizes the experience of The Raid 2.
Lost Emotion: Dub actors often record in booths far removed from the physical intensity of the set. This creates a "disconnect" between the brutal violence on screen and the vocal energy.
Mismatched Pacing: Indonesian is a faster-paced language than English in many contexts. English dubbing often has to stretch or compress sentences to fit lip movements, which ruins the "staccato" timing of the action scenes. How to Watch
If you are looking for The Raid 2 with Indonesian audio, ensure your media player or streaming service (like Netflix, Hulu, or physical Blu-ray) is set to: Audio: Indonesian (Original) Subtitles: English (or your preferred language) Conclusion
To watch The Raid 2 is to witness a ballet of violence. To hear it in its original Indonesian audio is to understand the cultural heart of that violence. It transforms a standard action movie into an immersive, Shakespearean tragedy of the Jakarta underworld.
The original Indonesian audio for The Raid 2 (also known as The Raid 2: Berandal) is widely considered the definitive way to experience the film, offering a superior mix and more authentic performances compared to international dubs. Audio Technical Specifications
For collectors, the high-fidelity Indonesian track is best accessed through physical media or specific digital storefronts:
Format Options: Standard Blu-ray releases typically feature the original Indonesian/Bahasa 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Some regional editions also include an Indonesian LPCM 2.0 track.
Performance Comparison: Critics often describe the original Indonesian track as a "tour-de-force" with flawless 1080p visual pairing. In contrast, the English dub is frequently criticized for being desynchronized, flatly mixed, and using voices that do not fit the characters.
Accessibility: You can find versions with the original audio on Apple iTunes, Vudu, and Movies Anywhere.
Note: Some users have reported that Amazon Video and HBO Max have occasionally defaulted to forced English or Spanish dubs without an option to switch back to the original Indonesian. Soundtrack and Sound Design When you switch to a dubbed track, audio
The sonic atmosphere of The Raid 2 is a collaboration between international and local Indonesian talent:
To fully appreciate The Raid 2: Berandal (2014), experiencing it with its original Indonesian audio
is essential. While an English dub exists, it is widely criticized for masking the nuanced performances and atmospheric weight that the native dialogue provides. Audio & Linguistic Significance The film's dialogue is primarily in Indonesian , with significant portions in
to reflect the tension between the local Jakarta syndicates and the Yakuza. Performance Authenticity
: Using the original audio preserves the intensity of lead actor Iko Uwais (Rama) and the chilling delivery of villains like Arifin Putra (Ucok). Translation Precision
: Academic analyses show that while English subtitles use complex strategies like paraphrase , they maintain a high clarity score of
, ensuring the plot's intricacies—far more complex than the first film—remain accessible to international viewers. Sound Design & Impact
: The audio track is not just dialogue; the Foley work and sound design for the martial arts style Pencak Silat
are legendary. The sound of every strike, bone snap, and blade slice was meticulously recorded to create a "visceral" and "kinetic" experience that an English dub often fails to balance correctly. Plot & Scope Overview Picking up just hours after the first film, The Raid 2
transforms from a "siege movie" into a sprawling crime epic.
Welsh director Gareth Evans returns with Indonesian action sequel
Why You Must Experience The Raid 2 with the Original Indonesian Audio
If you’re a fan of high-octane action, you’ve likely seen The Raid 2. But if you’ve only watched the English-dubbed version, you’re missing out on half of the intensity. To truly appreciate Gareth Evans' masterpiece, switching to the original Indonesian audio is a non-negotiable upgrade. 1. The Raw Intensity of Pencak Silat
The Raid 2 is more than just an action movie; it’s a showcase of Pencak Silat, the traditional Indonesian martial art. When you watch the film with the original audio, the rhythm of the dialogue matches the visceral nature of the choreography. According to Wikipedia, the fight scenes are meticulously designed to highlight this specific fighting style, and the native vocal performances add a layer of grit that dubbing simply can’t replicate. 2. Emotional Authenticity
Dubbing often struggles to capture the subtle nuances of a character’s voice. In a film where undercover officer Rama (played by Iko Uwais) is navigating the treacherous criminal underworld of Jakarta, every whisper and snarl counts. The original Indonesian track conveys the desperation, anger, and tension of the characters exactly as the director intended. 3. Cultural Immersion
The film is deeply rooted in its setting. By listening to the original audio, you get a better sense of the atmosphere of Jakarta’s criminal underbelly. The linguistic flow of the language contributes to the film's pacing—making the quiet, dialogue-heavy scenes just as engaging as the explosive prison yard brawl or the iconic kitchen fight. 4. Technical Quality
Dubs often feel "detached" from the environment because they are recorded in a sterile studio long after filming. The original Indonesian audio is mixed to sit perfectly within the soundscape of the movie. You’ll hear the background noise, the foley work, and the dialogue all working in harmony, rather than a disembodied voice floating over the action. Final Verdict: Subs Over Dubs
While subtitles require a bit more focus, the payoff is a significantly more immersive and powerful viewing experience. If you want to see Rama’s journey to expose corrupt officials as a true piece of Indonesian cinema, go into your settings right now and select Indonesian (Original).
What’s your favorite fight scene in The Raid 2? Let us know in the comments!
If you are convinced that the Indonesian audio is the only way to watch, your next question is: Where can I get it?
The safest bet for uncompressed The Raid 2 Indonesian audio is physical media:
Director Gareth Evans insisted on the original audio for a reason:
Iko Uwais delivers a career-defining performance as Rama. However, an actor’s craft is half-verbal. The grunt of exhaustion after a machete swing, the whispered prayer before a fight, or the desperate scream for a fallen ally—these sounds are unique to the original performance. English dubbing, even when well-synced, often flattens these vocal nuances.
When you listen to The Raid 2 Indonesian audio, you hear the specific cadence of Jakarta’s criminal underworld. You hear the menace in Julie Estelle’s voice as Hammer Girl (it is sharp, cold, and immediate). You hear the weary defeat in Arifin Putra’s portrayal of Uco. These are not characters speaking lines; they are people living a nightmare. The English dub, by contrast, often sounds like actors in a recording booth reading a script.
To test if you have the correct audio, skip to the scene where Bejo speaks to his son in the car (approx. 45 minutes in). If Bejo sounds like a New York gangster, stop the playback and find a different source. If you hear Alex Abbad’s natural, silky Indonesian voice, you have the holy grail.