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[5] to the 1980 film of the same name directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra. The plot follows a now-poor and hapless family 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]

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

As of November 7, 2017, the movie has been watched by 4.2 million moviegoers, making Pengabdi Setan the highest-grossing domestic Indonesian film of 2017.[10][11] The movie was released in a total of 42 countries including Malaysia,[12][13] Singapore, Japan, Germany, and the United States.[9][14][15]

Plot

Set in 1981, Rini lives in the outskirts of Jakarta in a large house with her mother, Mawarni Suwono; her wheelchair-bound grandmother, Rahma Saidah; her father, Bahri; and her three younger brothers; Tony, Bondi, and Ian, who is mute. The family live amid financial hardship as her mother Mawarni is ill and bedridden and royalties from her former singing career have long dried up. Her mother uses a bell to signal for assistance as she is unable to yell or walk.

Late one night, Rini sees her mother standing by the window. Shocked, she approaches her, and her mother collapses. Bahri solemnly declares her mother dead. The family is acquainted with the Ustad, who does Mawarni's funeral, and his son Hendra. The next day, Bahri leaves for the city to settle a financial dispute. The brothers experience paranormal activities and witness apparitions resembling their mother.

One day, Hendra reveals to Rini that he saw a figure resembling Mawarni at her window. He informs her that it's something else that has assumed her form and is not actually her mother. Meanwhile, the grandmother is penning a letter in her room, but is later shown in another room, looking distressed as she stands from her wheelchair. Rini and Bondi are shocked to discover their grandmother's corpse inside the well. After her funeral, Rini discovers her grandmother's letter, addressed to Budiman Syailendra. She visits the address with Hendra. Budiman informs her that he is her grandmother's childhood friend and reveals that her grandmother did not originally approve of his father's marriage to Mawarni. Artists were not seen as respectable prospects, and she was thought to be infertile before giving birth to Rini and her siblings. Budiman hands Rini a booklet with information he wrote that would help explain her situation.

Tony, reading Budiman's article on Satan's slaves, pieces together information from his childhood memory of accompanying his mother at events and coming across individuals who rarely spoke with other guests, inferring they were watching over their mother. He tells Rini that their mother may have been connected to this Satanic sect, who allow barren women to bear children through the worship of Satan but with the condition that the last child be handed over to the cult at the age of seven. The Ustad advises they pray to Allah regularly. That night, while Rini practices Salah, she is haunted by the ghostly figure and they all run to the Ustad's house for refuge.

The next day, Tony reveals to Rini that based on the article, their mother wasn't impregnated by her husband but by members of the cult. Hendra dies in an accident with a truck. His body is taken to the Ustad's home and Rini finds the letter from Budiman he was coming back with. Her father returns and the family becomes victim to the worst poltergeist experience so far, the house surrounded by figures from the Satanic cult. The poltergeist attempts to drag Ian out but he is saved by Bondi.

The next day they wait for a truck to move out of the house, a day before Ian's 7th birthday. The truck fails to arrive. As darkness falls, they experience a blackout. As they go to sleep, with the Ustad staying over for protection, Rini wakes Tony up after reading the letter, which states the last child isn't actually a sacrifice but an offspring of Satan. Their father wakes up to see Mawarni's corpse next to him in bed, while Bondi sees Ian speaking unintelligibly in a trance. They witness the Ustad being killed by the undead and see Ian go to his mother's undead corpse in the backyard, with dozens more behind them. Tony drags him inside and the spirit of their grandmother slows down the undead by holding back the door; Budiman arrives to rescue the family who run into his van.

A year later, the family have settled in an flats and are visited by a neighbor who gives them food. The neighbor returns to her apartment and talks to Batara, and it's revealed that she is Darminah, the antagonist of the original film.

Cast
  • Tara Basro as Rini, 22-year-old sister
  • Bront Palarae as Bahri Suwono, father
  • Ayu Laksmi as Mawarni Suwono, mother
  • Endy Arfian as Tony, 16-year-old brother
  • Nasar Anuz as Bondi, 10-year-old brother
  • Muhammad Adhiyat as Ian, 6-year-old brother
  • Elly D. Luthan as Rahma Saidah, grandmother
  • Dimas Aditya as Hendra, the Ustad's son
  • Arswendi Nasution as the Ustad
  • Egy Fedly as Budiman
  • Fachry Albar as Batara
  • Asmara Abigail as Darminah

Production

Director Joko Anwar had wanted to direct a remake of Pengabdi Setan ever since starting his filmmaking 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][16] The production team took four months to search for a filming location to accurately represent the 1980s 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][16] Producer Samtani ensured the film's budget exceeded Rp2 billion, far more than many films produced by Rapi, in order to fully realize director Anwar's vision for production design.[1]

Soundtrack
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 Pengabdi Setan 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.[17][18]

Pengabdi Setan (Original Soundtrack)[19][20]
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

Pengabdi Setan premiered in Indonesia at the Epicentrum XXI, Kuningan, South Jakarta on September 20, 2017.[21] The film was released in all Indonesian cinemas on September 28, 2017, and in Malaysia and Singapore on November 23, 2017.[22] The film also to be released in 42 countries.[3][14][23]

Reception

Box office

As of the end of 2017, Pengabdi Setan grossed Rp155 billion ($11.5 million) in Indonesia,[2] and RM6 million ($1.5 million) in neighbouring 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.[24] In Mexico, Pengabdi Setan (known as Los Huerfanos) ranked at 6th place on Mexico Box Office on March 2–4, 2018; grossed $233,763 on its first weekend.[4] As of September 2, 2018, it grossed $147,962 in Colombia.[25] On April 3, 2018, it opened at No. 1 in Hong Kong.[26] Back in its home country in Indonesia, Pengabdi Setan became the best-selling Indonesian film of 2017,[27] and ranked at the fourth place of best-selling Indonesian films of all time.[28]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 90% approval rating based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 6.82/10.[29]

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."[30] 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."[31] 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."[32] 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".[33] 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."[34]

Accolades
Award Date of Ceremony Category Recipient(s)/Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Indonesian Film Festival
(Citra Awards)		 11 November 2017 Best Film Pengabdi Setan Nominated [35][36]
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 Finalize Studios (Heri Kuntoro and Abby Eldipie) Won
Best Makeup Darwyn Tse Nominated
Best Costume Design Isabelle Patrice Nominated
Best Sound Khikmawan Santosa and Anhar Moha Won
Best Original Score Aghi Narottama, Tony Merle, and Bemby Gusti Won
Best Original Song "Kelam Malam" by The Spouse Won
Best Child Actor Muhammad Adhiyat Won
Maya Awards 16 December 2017 Best Film Pengabdi Setan Nominated [37][38]
Best Director Joko Anwar Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Pengabdi Setan 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, and 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 Non-Effective Brief Appearance Joko Anwar Nominated
Indonesian Box Office Movie Awards 23 March 2018 Best Box Office Movie Pengabdi Setan Won [39][40]
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 Pengabdi Setan Nominated
Best Movie Trailer Won
Best Original Soundtrack "Kelam Malam" by The Spouse Won
Box Office Movie of the Year Pengabdi Setan Won
Top 10 Box Office Movie of 2017 Won
Overlook Film Festival 25 April 2018 Feature Film Jury Prize Satan's Slaves Won [41]
Cinepocalypse 29 June 2018 Best Director Joko Anwar Won [42]
Popcorn Frights Film Festival 16 August 2018 Jury Prize for Scariest Film Award Satan's Slaves Won [43]
Toronto After Dark Film Festival 28 October 2018 Best Horror Film Satan's Slaves Won [44]
Most Scary Film Won

Sequel

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.[45] 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.[46]

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.
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  9. S., Bissme (22 June 2017). "For love of a classic horror". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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  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. "'Pengabdi Setan' is the Best Selling Indonesian Movie in Malaysia". Tempo. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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  19. "OST Pengabdi Setan - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
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  41. Aldrich, Ryland (25 April 2018). "Overlook 2018 Awards wrap: Top Prize for "Satan's Slaves", big win for all attendees". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
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