Satan's Slave (1980 film)

Satan's Slave (Indonesian: Pengabdi Setan) is a 1980 Indonesian horror film directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra. The plot follows a wealthy family who have stopped practicing their Muslim faith are tormented by the undead after their mother dies. It has achieved cult status among fans of Asian horror films; principally because it has been unavailable for many years except as an obscure Japanese VHS pressing with no English subtitles. In 2006, Brentwood Home Video, a specialist US label, released an uncut print on DVD for retail release as part of its Eastern Horror series.[1] Among Western fans It is notable for being one of the few classic horror films to substitute Christian or Buddhist themes for Muslim beliefs. The film bears a resemblance in plot to Don Coscarelli's 1979 film Phantasm. A remake, directed by Joko Anwar, was released on September 28, 2017 and it was a box office success and was met with critical acclaim. In May, 2020, Severin Films released Satan's Slave on Blu-ray with a new scan of the original negative and new interviews with Producer Gope T. Samtani, Screenwriter Imam Tantowi, and remake director Joko Anwar.[2]

This article is about the 1980 Indonesian film. For the 1976 British film, see Satan's Slave (1976 film). For the 2017 remake, see Satan's Slaves.

Pengabdi Setan
Indonesian poster
Directed by	Sisworo Gautama Putra
Produced by	Subagio S. Sabirin Kasdani Gope T. Samtani
Screenplay by	Imam Tantowi Naryono Prayitno Sisworo Gautama Putra
Story by	Subagio S.
Starring	Ali Albar Simon Cader Adang Mansyur
Production company	Rapi Films
Distributed by	Brentwood Home Video (U.S.)
Release date	1980 (1980) (Indonesia)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	Indonesia
Language	Indonesian

Plot

Mawarti, the mother, who dies from mysterious illness, leaves behind Munarto (her husband, a businessman obsessed with his job), Tomi (her son, a quiet boy), Rita (her daughter, a party girl), and Mr. Karto (a sickly but religious servant). On the first night after Mawarti's death, Tomi sees his dead mother but does not talk to her. The next day, he takes the advice of his friend and visits a fortune teller, who warns that his whole family is in great danger and may die, and advises him to fortify himself with black magic.

Tomi becomes strange and withdrawn. Rita's boyfriend, Herman, says that for 40 days after a person dies, that person's spirit will linger at the house. Shortly after that, a housekeeper arrives – Darminah, allegedly sent by an acquaintance of their father to look after the house. That night, after a party, Rita is scared when she sees a kuntilanak.

Herman says Darminah is not a good person, and offers to consult a shaman about the situation the next day. Mr. Karto also begins to notice her strange and suspicious behavior. Tomi meets with a kiai at a bookstore, who advises him to begin performing his religious prayers, but when he tries to begin, a kuntilanak appears and tells him to stop. the next day, Tomi finds Mr. Karto's corpse, hung. Later that day, Rita's boyfriend is also killed when he is run over by a truck after nearly colliding with a woman – Darminah. That night, Tomi and Rita agree that the ghosts in their home must be removed. When Rita leaves, she is chased by the now-undead Herman. The next morning, Rita and Tomi tell their father to call a shaman, who does so. The hired shaman is attacked by broken glass and flower petals. Rita, Tomi, and Munarto watch as the shaman's head is impaled and pelted by a spinning chandelier.

When everything is over, Darminah sneaks out, but Tomi follows her to the cemetery, where the sinister housekeeper meets with the now-undead Herman and Mr. Karto and then raises Mawarti, ordering her to kill her family. When they notice Tomi spying on them, they give chase, but he escapes. At home, Tomi immediately warns his father and sister about Darminah. Rita believes him, but their father does not. He takes them to check Darminah's room, but she is somehow already there.

The next day, the siblings dig up their mother's grave to confirm that her body is still there. When they return, the entire family is assaulted by the undead - Herman goes after Rita, Mr. Karto haunts Tomi, and Mawarti harasses Munarto. They escape into the dining room, only to find Darminah there holding a skull and frizzy hair. It turns out that Darminah is a demon who attacks those of weak faith. After being terrorized and dying without repentance, those people become slaves to the devil in hell.

The family runs to the front door and opens it to flee, only to discover a kiai and his supporters there to help. Together, they confront Darminah and the three zombies with the letter of the Qur'an, which sets them all on fire. The film ends with Munarto, Tomi, and Rita, all newly re-converted, returning from the mosque to their car. The camera reveals that the woman in the car next to them is Darminah.

Cast

• W.D. Mochtar as Munarto
• Siska Widowati as Rita
• Fachrul Rozy as Tomi
• I.M. Damsyik as Pak Karto
• Ruth Pelupessy as Darminah
• Diana Suarkom as Mawarti
• Simon Cader as Herman
• Doddy Sukma as Pak Kiai

References

1. http://www.cnnindonesia.com/hiburan/20170421180243-220-209327/joko-anwar-bikin-hantu-seram-pengabdi-setan-tanpa-komputer/
2. "Satan's Slave Blu-ray Review (Severin Films)". Cultsploitation. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-09.

External links

• Satan's Slave on IMDb