Beyond language, the mix itself is different. The sound design of The Raid was built for Indonesian. The Foley artists (who create sound effects) worked to the original dialogue. The English dub is a second-hand overlay, often lowering the volume of ambient sounds to fit new voice tracks.
If you have a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system, the Indonesian audio track will use the rear speakers for ambience (rain, distant screams, radio chatter). The dub often narrows this to a stereo front. the raid redemption indonesian audio
The emotional core of The Raid rests on the relationship between Rama (Iko Uwais) and his squad leader, Jaka (Joe Taslim). Both actors are Indonesian, and their chemistry is palpable. When they speak in their native tongue, there is a natural cadence and urgency to their delivery. Beyond language, the mix itself is different
In the English dub, Rama often sounds like a stereotypical action hero—detached and overly calm. In the original audio, Iko Uwais’ performance feels desperate. You can hear the exhaustion in his voice. He isn't an invincible super-soldier; he is a husband and a soon-to-be father who just wants to get home. The fear in his voice during the opening truck scene adds a layer of tension that the dub simply glosses over. If you have a 5
Let’s be blunt. The English dub of The Raid Redemption is bad. Not "so bad it’s good" like a classic kung-fu movie. Just bad. Here’s why:
Fans who have compared both versions unanimously agree: watching with the original Indonesian audio (and English subtitles) preserves the director’s intent. Gareth Evans, who speaks Indonesian fluently, wrote the dialogue to fit the rhythm of the language.