Satan's Slaves

When you see in IMDB a 8.1/10 rating from more than two thousand viewers for a new horror film, which also happens to have a very atmospheric trailer, the expectations go a notch higher. Pengabdi Setan may not be the ultimate horror miracle, but it’s still a superbly executed film and probably the best by Joko Anwar so far. He’s a master of the horror craft and capable to scare very effectively. His two previous genre films were based on overly messy scripts, which isn’t the case here, fortunately. His latest work is basically a traditional ghost story. What was missing to make me fully happy? Anwar can put together atmospheric, creepy scenes standing on his head, but when it comes to a bit more action (for instance, the motorcycle and van accident or the kid unnaturally fluttering in the wind), you can see his limitations, which make clear that this isn’t Hollywood, but Indonesia. I don’t think it’s anything important, but it does affect the experience a little. In a fairly generous run of 107 minutes, there are a couple of redundant passages that should have been left out, while at the same time, I would extend the ending a bit, and also make it a little more tense. (03/03/2018)

Joko Anwar, the acclaimed Indonesian director of films such as The Forbidden Door and the atmospheric Ritual, delivers one of the most frightening horror films of the year according to critics, and a foreign rating of 78% from 2500 people is truly admirable. The story revolves around a poor family where the mother has been suffering from a strange illness for three years and can't get out of bed let alone speak (the scenes with the sick mother in particular are among the very disturbing ones), and when she suddenly dies, she returns as a ghost for her children. I'm not exactly blown away by the film, since me and ghost stories are not really friends, but I definitely have to admit that a few scenes were decently chilling, the scares are not spared, the atmosphere is dense, visually it's not bad (although there are a few flaws, but still hats off by Indonesian standards), and the finale is solid. Fans of ghost stories will probably change their underwear here, others will acknowledge the solid craftsmanship and move on. The bell is an effective haunting method though! 70% (05/03/2018)

I may have slightly overrated the film, but I did it out of sheer joy. Unlike many so-called horror films that used to be a dime a dozen, in which a group of students gets increasingly smaller with no added value, the Indonesians know how to make films with eerie atmosphere. It makes no difference if they do it alone or if it’s a coproduction like in this case. Sure, you may notice some logic holes; and if you don’t like Asian-style horror movies, you’ll obviously be disappointed (then again, why even watch it?). Me, I thoroughly enjoyed this Far Eastern film and even got really scared a few times, which doesn't normally happen to me. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s the second horror film directed by Joko Anwar with Tara Basro in it to get four stars from me. / Lesson: If you die, don't ring the bell. (10/04/2022)

The Indonesian-Korean movie Satan's Slave is a fine example of Asian horror movies when they are done well. There is no feeling it is like a poor man's Japanese horror movie. It has its own unique atmosphere and setting, so it is its own thing. It manages to convince you that Asian horror is not on the wane yet, that there are probably more interesting movies yet to come. (06/10/2020)