Satan's Slaves

Satan's Slaves (Indonesian: Pengabdi Setan) is a 2017 Indonesian horror film written and directed by Joko Anwar. It is a loose remake-prequel to the 1980 film of the same name directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra based on a story by Subagio S.[5] The plot follows a family who are haunted by the death of their mother, who dies after being bedridden for three years from a strange and debilitating illness.[6][7][8][9]

Satan's Slaves
Theatrical release poster
Pengabdi Setan
Directed byJoko Anwar
Screenplay byJoko Anwar
Based onSatan's Slaves (1980)
Story by Subagio S.
Produced by
  • Gope T. Samtani
  • Sunil Samtani
  • Priya N. K.
Starring
  • Tara Basro
  • Bront Palarae
  • Ayu Laksmi
  • Endy Arfian
  • Nasar Anuz
  • Muhammad Adhiyat
  • Elly D. Luthan
  • Dimas Aditya
  • Arswendi Nasution
  • Timothy Joddy
  • Egi Fedly
CinematographyIcal Tanjung
Edited byArifin Cu'unk
Music by
  • Bemby Gusti
  • Tony Merle
  • Aghi Narottama
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Rapi Films and CJ Entertainment (Indonesia)
  • RLJE Films (United States)
Release date
20 September 2017
Running time
107 minutes
CountryIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian
BudgetRp 2 billion[1]
($150,000)
Box office$16.2 million[2][3][4]

Satan's Slaves is the highest-grossing Indonesian film of 2017 with 4.2 million admissions.[10][11][12] The movie was released in a total of 42 countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Germany, and the United States.[13][14][9][15][16]

A sequel, Satan's Slaves 2: Communion, was released in August 2022.

Plot

The film focuses on a struggling family living in the countryside in 1981: Mawarni, her husband Bahri, his mother Rahma, and the couple’s four children: 22-year-old Rini, 16-year-old Toni, 10-year-old Bondi, and six-year-old Ian, who is deaf. The family live amid financial hardship as Mawarni is ill and bedridden, and the royalties from her former singing career are long gone.

After Mawarni dies, the family are consoled by an ustad and his adult son Hendra, who recently moved to the neighbourhood. Bahri leaves to raise money for mortgage payments in town. At home, the children are haunted by a ghostly presence of Mawarni. Bondi and Rini then find their grandmother Rahma dead inside the well. After finding an unsent letter on Rahma's desk to a man named Budiman, Rini and Hendra deliver it to him downtown to seek his help. Budiman, an occult writer, reveals that when Bahri was going to marry Mawarni, Rahma did not approve due to Mawarni’s career and indications of infertility. Budiman gives Rini his article about a fertility cult of Satan worshippers that target barren women who want to have children, with the caveat that the last child be surrendered voluntarily in seven years. They fear for the safety of Ian, who turns seven in three days. The next day, when delivering an urgent letter from Budiman to Rini, Hendra gets run over by a truck.

Bahri decides to move to town with his children. At night, members of the cult surround the house as a storm rages, but after Bahri tells them he is unwilling to give up Ian, they leave. The moving van fails to show up the next day, forcing the family to stay another night, with the ustad keeping watch. Rini finally opens Budiman's letter, which explains that the last child will be taken by the cult because they are Satan’s own child. It also explains that the cultists' arrival the night before was simply to mark the house for the undead, who will pick up the child. Mawarni and several pocong appear, including Hendra, and kill the ustad. Ian, who just turns seven, cheerfully joins Mawarni and the pocong. Budiman arrives, evacuating Bahri and the other children.

One year later, Bahri and his family live in an apartment in town. A woman named Darminah comes over bringing food and later reports to her husband, who says they must make sure the family never leave. Darminah says it is "time for another harvest" and her husband tells her to be patient.

Cast
  • Tara Basro as Rini, Bahri's and Mawarni's 22-year-old daughter as well as sister to Toni, Bondi, and Ian
  • Bront Palarae as Bahri Suwono, father to Rini, Toni, and Bondi as well as husband to Mawarni
  • Ayu Laksmi as Mawarni Suwono, mother to Rini, Toni, Bondi, and Ian as well as wife to Bahri
  • Endy Arfian as Toni, Bahri's and Mawarni's 16-year-old son as well as brother to Rini, Bondi, and Ian
  • Nasar Anuz as Bondi, Bahri's and Mawarni's 10-year-old son as well as brother to Rini, Toni, and Ian
  • Muhammad Adhiyat as Ian, Bahri's and Mawarni's mute 6-year-old son as well as brother to Rini, Toni, and Bondi
  • Elly D. Luthan as Rahma Saidah, Rini's grandmother
  • Arswendi Nasution as the ustad
  • Dimas Aditya as Hendra, the ustad's son
  • Egi Fedly as Budiman
  • Fachri Albar as Batara
  • Asmara Abigail as Darminah

Production

Development

Director Joko Anwar had wanted to direct a remake of Pengabdi Setan ever since starting his film-making career, as the film had moved him to become a filmmaker. Rapi Films already had a remake of the film in the works with a different director attached, but Anwar managed to successfully pitch his own vision for the film to producer Sunil Samtani and was attached to the project soon after.[5][9][17] Samtani granted the film a budget exceeding Rp 2 billion, far more than the average films produced by Rapi, in order to fully realize director Anwar's vision for production design.[1]

Filming

The production team took four months to search for a filming location to accurately represent the 1980's era in which the film takes place. The original filming location was located in Puncak Bogor, West Java, but the owner did not give them the proper permissions to film there. The team continued searching until they found an old house in the Pangalengan area which they redesigned to fit the aesthetic of the era.[5][9][17]

Music
Pengabdi Setan
Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released2017
GenreSoundtrack
LabelMusic Kickup
Singles from Pengabdi Setan
Original Soundtrack
  1. "Kelam Malam"
    Released: October 19, 2017
  2. "Karma"
    Released: October 19, 2017
  3. "Kelam Malam (Vinyl Version)"
    Released: October 19, 2017

The film soundtrack is directed by Aghi Narottama, Tony Merle, and Bemby Gusti. Director Joko Anwar said that there are at least five songs that will be on the album plus 16 others so there will be a total of 21 tracks. Three of them were released on October 19, 2017, on Spotify and iTunes.[18][19]

Pengabdi Setan (Original Soundtrack)[20][21]
No.TitleLyricsMusicPerformerLength
1."Kelam Malam" (Dark Night)Joko AnwarTony MerleThe Spouse2:42
2."Karma"AnwarThe SpouseThe Spouse3:46
3."Kelam Malam" (Vinyl Version)AnwarMerleThe Spouse2:42
4."Serenade"Bemby GustiGustiThe Spouse 
5."Mala Pujaan Hatiku" (My Darling Mala)GustiGustiAnwar 
6."Di Wajahmu Kulihat Bulan" (I See the Moon on Your Face; originally by Sam Saimun)Sam SaimunGustiThe Spouse3:10

Release

Satan's Slaves premiered in Indonesia at the Epicentrum XXI, Kuningan, South Jakarta on September 20, 2017.[22] The film was released in all Indonesian cinemas on September 28, 2017, and in Malaysia and Singapore on November 23, 2017.[23] The film also to be released in 42 countries.[3][15][24]

Reception

Box office

As of the end of 2017, Satan's Slaves has grossed Rp155 billion ($11.5 million) in Indonesia,[2] and RM6 million ($1.5 million) in neighboring Malaysia,[3] the latter country giving it its place as the highest grossing Indonesian film of all time beating Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? 2's record collective gross of RM4.6 million in 2016.[25] In Mexico, it was released as Los Huerfanos and ranked at 6th place on Mexico Box Office on March 2–4, 2018; grossing $233,763 on its first weekend.[4] As of September 2, 2018, it grossed $147,962 in Colombia.[26] On April 3, 2018, it opened at No. 1 in Hong Kong.[27] Back in its home country in Indonesia, Satan's Slaves became the best-selling Indonesian film of 2017[28] as well as the best-selling Indonesian horror and fourth best-selling Indonesian film of all time.[29]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 90% approval rating based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 6.80/10.[30]

John Lui of The Straits Times gave Pengabdi Setan 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote that "the scares are carefully timed and spaced between plenty of character-building moments, showing the closeness of the family. These soap opera bits have aged the least well, but there is a low-key feel to these moments of filial piety that is thoroughly modern."[31] Variety's Richard Kuipers wrote that the film has "high marks when it comes to the fundamental horror movie task of sending shivers up the spine and quickening the pulse."[32] James Marsh of the South China Morning Post gave the film 3/5 stars, saying "a slow-burning tale that builds to a chaotic and somewhat muddled conclusion, Satan’s Slaves is bursting with ideas."[33] Jonathan Barkan of Dread Central gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, writing "without a doubt, Satan's Slaves is certainly creepy. This Indonesian occult horror remake gets it right".[34] Writing for SciFiNow, Anton Bitel gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, saying "Mirrorings, repetitions and doppelgängers are fitting images for a film that is itself a reprise (with considerable variations) of Sisworo Gautama Putra’s 1980 film of the same name—the very film that inspired Anwar to become a writer/director of genre films."[35]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient(s)/Nominee(s) Result
2017 37th Citra Awards Best Film Satan's Slaves Nominated
Best Director Joko Anwar Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Best Cinematography Ical Tanjung Won
Best Film Editing Arifin Cu'unk Nominated
Best Art Direction Allan Sebastian Won
Best Visual Effects Heri Kuntoro
Abby Eldipie		 Won
Best Makeup Darwyn Tse Nominated
Best Costume Design Isabelle Patrice Nominated
Best Sound Khikmawan Santosa
Anhar Moha		 Won
Best Original Score Aghi Narottama
Tony Merle
Bemby Gusti		 Won
Best Theme Song "Kelam Malam" by The Spouse Won
Best Child Actor Muhammad Adhiyat Won
2017 1st Tempo Film Festival Best Picture Satan's Slaves Nominated
Best Director Joko Anwar Nominated
Best Actress Tara Basro Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Bront Palarae Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Ayu Laksmi Won
Best Screenplay Joko Anwar Nominated
Best Child Performer Muhammad Adhiyat Won
Nasar Anuz Nominated
2017 6th Maya Awards Best Feature Film Satan's Slaves Nominated
Best Director Joko Anwar Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Satan's Slaves Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Ayu Laksmi Nominated
Best Cinematography Ical Tanjung Nominated
Best Editing Arifin Cu'unk Won
Best Art Direction Allan Sebastian Nominated
Best Special Effects Finalize Studios Nominated
Best Makeup & Hairstyling Darwyn Tse Nominated
Best Costume Design Isabelle Patrice Nominated
Best Sound Design Anhar Moha
Khikmawan Santosa		 Won
Best Film Score Aghi Narottama
Tony Merle
Bemby Gusti		 Nominated
Best Theme Song "Kelam Malam" by The Spouse Won
Best Young Performer Muhammad Adhiyat Won
Nasar Anuz Nominated
Arifin C. Noer Award for Memorable Brief Appearance Joko Anwar Nominated
2018 Indonesian Box Office Movie Awards Best Box Office Movie Satan's Slaves Won
Best Director Joko Anwar Won
Best Screenwriter Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Bront Palarae Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Endy Arfian Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Ayu Laksmi Won
Best Newcomer Muhammad Adhiyat Won
Best Movie Poster Satan's Slaves Nominated
Best Movie Trailer Won
Best Original Soundtrack "Kelam Malam" by The Spouse Won
Box Office Movie of the Year Satan's Slaves Won
Top 10 Box Office Movie of 2017 Won
2018 Overlook Film Festival Feature Film Jury Prize Won
2018 Cinepocalypse Best Director Joko Anwar Won
2018 Popcorn Frights Film Festival Jury Prize for Scariest Film Satan's Slaves Won
2018 Toronto After Dark Film Festival Best Horror Film Won
Most Scary Film Won

Sequel
Main article: Satan's Slaves 2: Communion

In a 9 October 2017 interview with The Jakarta Post, director Anwar revealed that the film was a prequel to the original and that a sequel was planned, with the original film now being the third part in a trilogy.[5] On 18 December 2017, executive producer Sunil Samtani said Rapi Films has been discussing the project plan of the sequel of Pengabdi Setan. The film is planned for release in 2019 and Joko Anwar will still be involved.[36] On 23 March 2018, Samtani revealed that they had not come up with a script yet but filming would commence in 2019. He added that the stars of the existing film had expressed their interest but it's up to Anwar to decide on the actors.[37]

The first trailer for the sequel, titled Satan's Slaves: Communion, was released in February 2022, and the second trailer on June 16 the same year. The film was released theatrically on August 4, 2022.[38]

See also

References
  1. Priherdityo, Endro (27 September 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan' Berbujet Lebih dari Rp2 Miliar" [‘Pengabdi Setan’' is budgeted more than Rp2 billion]. CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. "Data Penonton 2017" [Moviegoers Data in 2017]. FilmIndonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  3. Pangerang, Andi Muttya Keteng (13 December 2017). "Tayang di Malaysia, Film 'Pengabdi Setan' Raup 6 Juta Ringgit" [Released in Malaysia, 'Pengabdi Setan' film got 6 million Ringgit]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. "Los Huerfanos (Satan's Slaves) - Mexico Box Office". Box Office Mojo. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. Valentina, Jessicha (11 October 2017). "Joko Anwar spills the beans on 'Pengabdi Setan'". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. Amirio, Dylan (30 September 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan': Right way to respect art and the past". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. Brown, Todd (12 June 2017). "Joko Anwar Unveils "Satan's Slaves"". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. Dante, Valerie (21 September 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan': Film daur ulang dengan horor yang mencekam" [‘Pengabdi Setan’: Remake film with terrifying horror]. Rappler (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. S., Bissme (22 June 2017). "For love of a classic horror". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  10. Setiawan, Tri Susanto (29 September 2017). "Rilis Sehari, "Pengabdi Setan" Raih 91.070 Penonton" [One day release, "Pengabdi Setan" gained 91,070 viewers]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  11. Setuningsih, Novianti (24 December 2017). "Wah, 7 Film Ini Paling Laris Sepanjang 2017" [Wow, these are top 7 of best-selling Indonesian film of 2017]. Jawa Pos (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. "Data penonton tahun 2007-2022". filmindonesia.or.id. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  13. "'Pengabdi Setan' is the Best Selling Indonesian Movie in Malaysia". Tempo. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  14. Juniman, Puput Tripeni (5 December 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan' Jadi Film Indonesia Terlaris di Malaysia" ['Pengabdi Setan' became Indonesian best-selling film in Malaysia]. CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  15. Ginanjar, Dhimas (18 December 2017). "Berjaya Pada 2017, Bukti Jika Film Horor Indonesia Akhirnya Berkelas" [Glorified in 2017, proof that Indonesian horror movie are getting improved]. Jawa Pos (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  16. Setiawan, Tri Susanto (7 November 2017). "Gusur 'Warkop DKI Reborn Part 2', 'Pengabdi Setan' Jadi Film Terlaris 2017" [Defeat 'Warkop DKI Reborn Part 2', 'Pengabdi Setan' became the best-selling film of 2017]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  17. Khoiri, Agniya (26 September 2017). "Perjuangan Joko Anwar Cari Lokasi Syuting 'Pengabdi Setan'" [Joko Anwar struggle to find the location of filming 'Pengabdi Satan']. CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  18. "Album Film 'Pengabdi Setan' Segera Dirilis" [The soundtrack album of 'Pengabdi Setan' to be released soon]. Jawa Pos (in Indonesian). 22 September 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  19. Alpito, Agustinus Shindu (6 October 2017). "Di Balik Musik Mencekam 'Pengabdi Setan'" [Behind gripping music of 'Pengabdi Setan']. MetroTV (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  20. "OST Pengabdi Setan - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  21. Pangerang, Andi Muttya Keteng (7 October 2017). "Berkenalan dengan "Kelam Malam", Soundtrack Seram 'Pengabdi Setan'" [Getting to know "Kelam Malam", the spooky soundtrack of 'Pengabdi Setan']. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  22. Lestari, Puput Puji (2 October 2017). "5 Alasan Joko Anwar Pilih Tara Basro Bintangi 'Pengabdi Setan'" [5 reasons Joko Anwar chose Tara Basro to star in 'Pengabdi Setan']. Bintang (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  23. Setiawan, Tri Susanto (11 October 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan' Akan Tayang di Bioskop Malaysia dan Singapura" ['Pengabdi Setan' will be released in Malaysia and Singapore]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  24. Adi, Muhammad (2 January 2018). "'Pengabdi Setan' Jadi Primadona, Ini Deretan Film Horor Indonesia 2017" ['Pengabdi Setan' to be the most favorites, these are Indonesian horror films in 2017]. News Media (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  25. Puput Tripeni Juniman (5 December 2017). "'Pengabdi Setan' Jadi Film Indonesia Terlaris di Malaysia". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  26. "Los Huerfanos (Satan's Slaves) - Colombia Box Office". Box Office Mojo. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  27. Yosephine, Liza (3 April 2018). "'Pengabdi Setan' opens at No. 1 in Hong Kong". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  28. Yuniar, Nanien (29 December 2017). "Lima film Indonesia terlaris sepanjang 2017" [Top 5 of best-selling Indonesian films in 2017]. Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  29. Ginanjar, Dhimas (18 December 2017). "Drama Dominasi Film Indonesia Terlaris Sepanjang Masa" [Drama films dominate best-selling Indonesian films of all time]. Jawa Pos (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  30. "Satan's Slaves (Pengabdi Setan) (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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  32. Kuipers, Richard (30 January 2018). "Rotterdam Film Review: 'Satan's Slaves'". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  33. Marsh, James (19 March 2018). "Satan's Slaves film review: Indonesian horror hit goes from haunted house to zombie apocalypse". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  34. Barkan, Jonathan (2 April 2018). "What The Fest!? 2018: Satan's Slaves Review – Indonesian Occult Horror Remake Gets it Right". Dread Central. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  35. Bitel, Anton (23 June 2018). "Satan's Slaves Film Review Cinepocalypse 2018". SciFiNow. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
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  37. "The sequel of Pengabdi Setan film will be made in 2019". 26 March 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
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