Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516

The Film "Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso" Between
Commercialization or New Direction
Zulfiah Larisu* 1, Dwi Imroatus Sholikah2, Muhammad Salman Alfansuri Jacob3,
Rusmala4, Abdullah Mitrin5
1 Universitas Halu Oleo Kendari, Indonesia. 2 Universitas Boyolali, Indonesia. 3
Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Indonesia. 4 Universita Cokroaminoto Palopo, Indonesia. 5
Universitas Hang Tuah Pekanbaru, Indonesia
zulfiahlarisu_fisip@uho.ac.id

ABSTRACT
The film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso has recently become a controversial
issue in society. One side believes that there are extraordinary irregularities that must be uncovered
in the case of the murder of Wayang Mirna Salihin with cyanide coffee so that this film can be used
as a clue. On the other hand, some people consider this film to be biased, to lead public opinion, and
as a commercialization tool by Netflix. This research aims to analyze the two controversial
perspectives above. The research is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The data used
in this research is secondary data obtained from film quotes, synopses, books, scientific journals and
credible websites. The collected data was analyzed using the stages of data collection, data
selection, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The research results show: 1.) The film Ice Cold:
Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso can indirectly strengthen Jessica Wongso's side in filing for
extraordinary legal action/judicial review which will then be constructed by constructing an
argument as if the application for reconsideration this time is based on public unrest and
complaints. 2.) The film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso has the potential to become a
commercialization tool because the film is paid, viral, and has cheap production costs compared to
action films, horror films, and so on. 3.) Researchers agree with singer and actor Brissia Jodie that
Netflix should make a part two film with a more balanced storyline on both sides.
Keywords: Film, Coffee, New Directiom

INTRODUCTION
Film is an audio-visual communication medium to convey a message to a group
of people gathered in a certain place (Stanley J. Baran, 2012). According to (Asri,
2020)film is a tool for conveying various messages to the general public through the
medium of stories, and can also be interpreted as a medium of artistic expression for
artists and film people to express their thoughts and story ideas. Meanwhile, according
to Law No. 33 of 2009 concerning film, it is stated that a film is a work of cultural art

1089 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
which is a social institution and mass communication media created on the basis of
cinematographic principles with or without sound and can be shown (Undang-Undang
Republik Indonesia Nomor 33 Tahun 2009 Tentang Perfilman, 2009).s
Film is also considered a powerful mass communication medium for the target
masses, because of its audio-visual nature, film is able to tell a lot of stories in a short
time. When watching a film, the audience seems to be able to penetrate space and time
which can tell the story of life and can even influence the audience. There are those who
consider films to be mere entertainment shows, there are also those who consider films
to be a medium that can provide learning for the audience. For filmmakers, it is not
uncommon for them to make films based on personal experiences or real events that
are made onto the big screen. Because basically films always record realities that grow
and develop in a society and then project them onto the screen(Panuju, 2019).
According to Redi Panuju, films can be a good learning medium for the audience,
not only entertaining, films are also able to convey messages directly through images,
dialogue and acting so that they become the most effective medium for spreading
missions, ideas and campaigns, whatever they are. He conveyed this at the book review
event ³Film as a Creative Process¥ at Wisma Kalimetro (Thursday, 14 November 2019)
and also presented Nuruddin as a discussant, who emphasized that the creative process
in films must receive appreciation in various mediums as well. Nurudin explained that
diverse appreciation for films and the industry should be a driving factor in the
progress of films themselves. Communication Science has seriously carried out various
research on films in Indonesia(Panuju, 2019).
According to several mass communication theories, it is precisely at the message
level that the effect on the audience works. Therefore, in the history of Indonesian
cinema, the State often intervenes (regulates) the message of the film. For example,
during the Japanese Colonial period, films were used as a propaganda tool. At that time,
films were made with the aim of influencing the Indonesian population to support
Nipon imperialism with the motto of Asian Brotherhood. Likewise, in the postProclamation period, known as the Old Order period (1945-1966), the New Order
regime considered that the Indonesian revolution had never been completed, therefore
everything, including art, had to be positioned as a tool of revolution. Soekarno banned
American rock music from entering Indonesia, because he thought it could weaken the
revolutionary struggle(Riandy, 2022).
Film as a symptom of communication has a long history. Starting with the
discovery of a photographic tool that can reproduce objects into images; Initially black
and white then it becomes colored, it can even be identical to the color of the object
being immortalized. Then this technology was able to store moving images, now the
technology can combine images with animation, graphics, light effects, and others. The
combination of taking pictures with image engineering cannot be separated from the
findings of digital technology and internet media. So film as a mass communication

1090 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
medium becomes increasingly interesting, detailed and precise. Even films as part of
works of art cause films not only to be a medium that describes, but also visualizes.
Reality, thoughts and feelings can be contained in film works(Pratiwi, 2018).
All arts that are universal are considered to be detrimental to the country.
Through cultural institutions (Manikebu, abbreviation for Cultural Manifesto), fostering
the spirit of art through social realism. Ultimately, the imaginative film genre could not
grow. In contrast, during the New Order era (1966-1998), the Soeharto regime actually
considered social criticism in art as a threat, therefore films containing messages of
Marxist socialism would not pass censorship (by the Film Censorship Board) and would
not receive production permits from the Minister. Lighting. After the New Order
collapsed, the Reformation Order emerged (1998 until now), there was almost no State
interference in matters of content, so that the existence of a film was determined by
market dynamics. Taking the example of the sequel Dilan which had box office success
due to good promotion, using various channels. Even the Governor of West Java, Ridwan
Kamil immortalized the character Dilan as the name of a park in the city of
Bandung(Alfajri et al., 2015).
The film Ice Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso is a film that presents
unanswered questions about the trial that Jessica Wongso went through. By presenting
a new perspective, this film comes years after the death of Jessica's best friend, Wayan
Mirna Salihin. This film depicts how Jessica invites her friends, including Mirna, to meet
after not seeing each other for a long time. The meeting at a cafe in the capital's mall
went smoothly, before Mirna finally fainted shortly after drinking the coffee that Jessica
had previously ordered. This documentary also presents CCTV footage at the time of the
incident, various news footage during the trial, and exclusive interviews with several
sources, including Jessica Wongso(Amanah, 2023).
Based on the explanation above, this research aims to analyze the film Ice Cold:
Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso, whether it is just a commercialization that can
benefit Netflix or whether it is a new clue that can become a new source in revealing
irregularities in the Mirna Salihin murder case. According to the KBBI,
commercialization is the act of making something into merchandise. This means that
Netflix is using the film Ice Cold: Murder Coffee, and Jeissica Wongso as a tool to seek
profit in material form(Indonesia, 2022).
RESEARCH METHODS
From the introductory explanation above, the researcher made the decision to
use qualitative research with a descriptive approach, namely describing each part of the
film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso(Imam Gunawan, 2014). In the end, the
researcher drew a conclusion as to whether the screening of this film on Netflix could be
a reference for the judge to accept the request for judicial review from attorney Jessica
Wongso to prove anything odd in this case or whether it was just a commercialization

1091 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
tool to seek income and attract public attention considering the case(Sugiyono, 2019).
This was the most viral case of its time. This research uses secondary data obtained
from credible films, books, scientific journals, laws and regulations, websites and
others(Manzilati, 2017). The data that the researchers managed to collect were
analyzed using the stages of data collection, data selection, data reduction, and drawing
conclusions(Lexy J. Moleong, 2018).
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Film is an audio-visual communication medium to convey a message to a group
of people gathered in a certain place (Stanley J. Baran, 2012). According to (Asri,
2020)film is a tool for conveying various messages to the general public through the
medium of stories, and can also be interpreted as a medium of artistic expression for
artists and film people to express their thoughts and story ideas. Meanwhile, according
to Law No. 33 of 2009 concerning film, it is stated that a film is a work of cultural art
which is a social institution and mass communication media created on the basis of
cinematographic principles with or without sound and can be shown (UNDANGUNDANG REPUBLIK INDONESIA NOMOR 33 TAHUN 2009 TENTANG PERFILMAN,
2009).
Film is also considered a powerful mass communication medium for the target
masses, because of its audio-visual nature, film is able to tell a lot of stories in a short
time. When watching a film, the audience seems to be able to penetrate space and time
which can tell the story of life and can even influence the audience. There are those who
consider films to be mere entertainment shows, there are also those who consider films
to be a medium that can provide learning for the audience. For filmmakers, it is not
uncommon for them to make films based on personal experiences or real events that
are made onto the big screen. Because basically films always record realities that grow
and develop in a society and then project them onto the screen(Panuju, 2019).
According to Redi Panuju, films can be a good learning medium for the audience,
not only entertaining, films are also able to convey messages directly through images,
dialogue and acting so that they become the most effective medium for spreading
missions, ideas and campaigns, whatever they are. He conveyed this at the book review
event ³Film as a Creative Process¥ at Wisma Kalimetro (Thursday, 14 November 2019)
and also presented Nuruddin as a discussant, who emphasized that the creative process
in films must receive appreciation in various mediums as well. Nurudin explained that
diverse appreciation for films and the industry should be a driving factor in the
progress of films themselves. Communication Science has seriously carried out various
research on films in Indonesia(Panuju, 2019).
According to several mass communication theories, it is precisely at the message
level that the effect on the audience works. Therefore, in the history of Indonesian
cinema, the State often intervenes (regulates) the message of the film. For example,

1092 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
during the Japanese Colonial period, films were used as a propaganda tool. At that time,
films were made with the aim of influencing the Indonesian population to support
Nipon imperialism with the motto of Asian Brotherhood. Likewise, in the postProclamation period, known as the Old Order period (1945-1966), the New Order
regime considered that the Indonesian revolution had never been completed, therefore
everything, including art, had to be positioned as a tool of revolution. Soekarno banned
American rock music from entering Indonesia, because he thought it could weaken the
revolutionary struggle(Riandy, 2022).
Film as a symptom of communication has a long history. Starting with the
discovery of a photographic tool that can reproduce objects into images; Initially black
and white then it becomes colored, it can even be identical to the color of the object
being immortalized. Then this technology was able to store moving images, now the
technology can combine images with animation, graphics, light effects, and others. The
combination of taking pictures with image engineering cannot be separated from the
findings of digital technology and internet media. So film as a mass communication
medium becomes increasingly interesting, detailed and precise. Even films as part of
works of art cause films not only to be a medium that describes, but also visualizes.
Reality, thoughts and feelings can be contained in film works(Pratiwi, 2018).
All arts that are universal are considered to be detrimental to the country.
Through cultural institutions (Manikebu, abbreviation for Cultural Manifesto), fostering
the spirit of art through social realism. Ultimately, the imaginative film genre could not
grow. In contrast, during the New Order era (1966-1998), the Soeharto regime actually
considered social criticism in art as a threat, therefore films containing messages of
Marxist socialism would not pass censorship (by the Film Censorship Board) and would
not receive production permits from the Minister. Lighting. After the New Order
collapsed, the Reformation Order emerged (1998 until now), there was almost no State
interference in matters of content, so that the existence of a film was determined by
market dynamics. Taking the example of the sequel Dilan which had box office success
due to good promotion, using various channels. Even the Governor of West Java, Ridwan
Kamil immortalized the character Dilan as the name of a park in the city of
Bandung(Alfajri et al., 2015).
Researcher's View of the Film Ice Cold: Murder, Cofffee, and Jessica Wongso as a
tool for Commercialization or New Directions
The film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso is a documentary that
examines various unanswered questions surrounding Jessica Wongso's trial years after
the death of her best friend, Mirna Salihin. This film was directed by Rob Sixsmith, a
director from the United States who often makes international documentaries. He
collaborated with Beach House Pictures, the largest independent production house in
Asia, to take a deeper look at the mystery behind the death case of Wayan Mirna
Salihin(Dwi, 2023).
1093 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
The film Ice Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso presents unanswered
questions about the trial that Jessica Wongso went through. By presenting a new
perspective, this film comes years after the death of Jessica's best friend, Wayan Mirna
Salihin. This film depicts how Jessica invites her friends, including Mirna, to meet after
not seeing each other for a long time. The meeting at a cafe in the capital's mall went
smoothly, before Mirna finally fainted shortly after drinking the coffee that Jessica had
previously ordered. This documentary also presents CCTV footage at the time of the
incident, various news footage during the trial, and exclusive interviews with several
sources, including Jessica Wongso. This documentary explores various unanswered
questions surrounding Jessica Wongso's trial. Some of these questions include: 1). Is
Jessica Wongso really the perpetrator of the murder? 2). Is there strong evidence that
proves that Jessica is guilty? 3). Are there any irregularities in the trial process?(Sayyaf,
2023)
These questions aroused the public's enthusiasm to reveal the irregularities in
the film. The question is whether this film can be a new clue as material for Jesica
Wongso's umpteenth judicial review application or whether it is just a
commercialization tool considering that this case is a case that has gone viral in society.
Based on the explanation above, the researcher believes that the film can be an
encouragement for Jessica Wongso to submit further extraordinary legal action/judicial
review. In this PK application, the arguments are constructed as if they were supported
by public complaints. On the other hand, researchers assess that films have the potential
to be a tool for Netflix to earn income because paid films and have high potential to sell
very well if they are sold with capital that is not as big as action films, horror films, etc.
compared to documentaries. Brissia Jodie, a singer and actor, considers this film to be
one-sided and not neutral. Please make part 2, so it doesn't lead public opinion to
improve your reputation”. (Sayyaf, 2023).
CONCLUSION
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that:
1. The film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso can indirectly strengthen
Jessica Wongso's side in filing for extraordinary legal action/judicial review which will
then be constructed by constructing an argument as if the application for
reconsideration this time is based on public unrest and complaints. .
2. The film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso has the potential to become a
commercialization tool because the film is paid, viral, and has cheap production costs
compared to action films, horror films, and so on.
3. Researchers agree with singer and actor Brissia Jodie that Netflix should make a part
two film with a more balanced storyline on both sides.

1094 | Volume 6 Nomor 2 2024

Reslaj: Religion Education Social Laa Roiba Journal
Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
REFERENCES
Alfajri, I., Irfansyah, I., & Isdianto, B. (2015). Analisis Web Series dalam Format Film
Pendek (Studi Kasus Web Series ’Malam Minggu Miko Episode Nissa’). Wimba :
Jurnal Komunikasi Visual, 6(1), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.5614/jkvw.2014.6.1.3
Amanah, N. (2023). Sinopsis Ice Cold: Murders, Coffee and Jessica Wongso, Kisah
Pembunuhan
Kopi
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Asri, R. (2020). Membaca Film Sebagai Sebuah Teks. Jurnal Al Azhar Indonesia Seri Ilmu
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Tempo.Co.
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Manzilati, A. (2017). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif Paradigma, Metode, dan Aplikasi.
UB Press.
Panuju, R. (2019). Buku Ajar Film Sebagai Gejala Komunikasi Massa.
http://repository.unitomo.ac.id/2095/1/Buku Ajar Film Sebagai Gejala Sosial.pdf
Pratiwi, A. F. (2018). Film Sebagai Media Dakwah Islam. Aqlam: Journal of Islam and
Plurality, 2(2), 111–128. https://doi.org/10.30984/ajip.v2i2.523
UNDANG-UNDANG REPUBLIK INDONESIA NOMOR 33 TAHUN 2009 TENTANG
PERFILMAN, 5 1 (2009). http://eprints.uanl.mx/5481/1/1020149995.PDF
Riandy, A. P. (2022). Pengertian Fil, Jenis, dan Fungsinya. Kompas.Com.
https://entertainment.kompas.com/read/2022/10/19/150302666/pengertianfilm-definisi-jenis-dan-fungsinya
Sayyaf, M. A. (2023). Sinopsis dan Review Film Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica
Wongso.
Sonora.Id.
https://www.sonora.id/read/423909050/sinopsis-danreview-film-ice-cold-murder-coffee-and-jessica-wongso
Stanley J. Baran. (2012). Pengantar Komunikasi Massa Literasi Media dan Budaya.
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Volume 6 No 2 (2024) 1089-1096 P-ISSN 2656-274x E-ISSN 2656-4691
DOI: 10.47476/reslaj.v6i2.5516
Salemba Humanika.
Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, R&D.

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