<![CDATA[The development of Indonesian horror films over the past decade has been marked by an increasing exploration of cinematographic visual language to create viewers' emotional experiences. Existing studies on horror cinematography have primarily focused on lighting, visual composition, and mise en scene, while limited attention has been given to zoom in as an aesthetic device for constructing suspense. This study aims to explain the function of zoom in as an aesthetic cinematographic device in constructing suspense in Waktu Maghrib 2. The study employed a qualitative method with an interpretative approach through visual analysis of scene 38 and scene 46, supported by interviews with the film's director and cinematographer, as well as analysis of test screen documents for data triangulation. The findings reveal that zoom in functions to direct viewers' visual attention (attentional control), manipulate spatial perception (spatial compression), and establish narrative cues through its integration with mise en scene, thereby generating an affective experience of anticipating imminent threats. The study concludes that zoom in constitutes an integral part of cinematographic visual language that constructs suspense through the orchestration of visual attention, spatial perception, and viewers emotional engagement. These findings propose a conceptual framework for understanding the aesthetic function of cinematographic devices in horror film studies.]]>
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