Following in the footsteps of Indonesian illusionist Demian Aditya, who managed to make it to the semi-finals of this year’s America’s Got Talent with his death-defying escape acts, a very different kind of paranormal performer from the archipelago is making a go of it on this season of Asia’s Got Talent, and if her first appearance is any indication, “The Sacred Riana” might be able to frighten the judges enough to get her to the finals of the regional talent competition.
We’ll give you a quick rundown after the video but it’s best if you watch it first without any more spooky spoilers (forgive for all the wyrd wordplay, it is the day before Halloween).
Riana’s gimmick is definitely a reference to The Ring’s Sadako and similarly scary female spirits, with her long hair falling in front of her face and schoolgirl-like outfit, while her doll calls to mind Annabelle from The Conjuring. Her ability to totally stay in character while still lending her trick a touch humor (and keeping it creepy) shows The Sacred Riana is quite a talented performer.
Of course, much of that humor came from the reactions of the Asia’s Got Talent judges, especially fellow Indonesian Anggun Cipta Sasmi. The celebrated singer-songwriter from Jakarta seemed particularly petrified by Riana’s act.
The trick itself is perhaps not the most technically impressive we’ve seen, and the cynic in us wants to wave off the moving key and cards to magnets and a pre-exposed photograph in the camera for the final twist. But Riana’s overall performance was clearly a winner and, hopefully, she’ll have something more twisted up her sleeves for the show’s next round.
The Sacred Riana did not appear out of thin air on the set of Asia’s Got Talent. Her real name is Marie Antoinette Riana Graharani and she’s been performing in Indonesia, at magic shows and in numerous TV performances, for a few years now. Here are a few more of her performances we dug up online.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIsTSfCAS1G/?taken-by=rianariani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJU42LONHg
We wish you the best of luck, The Sacred Riana, and we promise to root for you in the next rounds as long as you agree not to eat our immortal souls.
