When Fear Haunts the Familiar: Unraveling the Horror of Pengabdi Setan (2017)

 

Release Information

Pengabdi Setan — known internationally as Satan's Slaves — is a 2017 Indonesian supernatural horror film written and directed by Joko Anwar. The film was produced by Rapi Films in collaboration with CJ Entertainment. It has a runtime of approximately 107 minutes. The movie premiered in Indonesian theaters on 28 September 2017. The main cast includes Tara Basro as Rini, along with Bront Palarae, Ayu Laksmi, and several others playing her family members. 

Synopsis (Spoiler Light)

Pengabdi Setan tells the story of Rini and her family, who struggle financially while caring for their mother, Mawarni, a former singer suffering from a mysterious debilitating illness. After Mawarni dies, the family returns to live in an old ancestral house — only to find themselves haunted by terrifying supernatural occurrences. The haunting escalates: strange apparitions, poltergeist-like activity, and looming threats stir fear and paranoia. The siblings eventually uncover dark secrets tied to their mother’s past and a sinister cult connection. 

Personal Analysis and Impressions

Many horror fans and critics view Pengabdi Setan as a milestone in Indonesian horror cinema. The film earns praise for its ability to revive classic horror tropes with modern filmmaking — from setting and atmosphere to sound and visual design. For example, one review describes the movie as “creepy as hell,” noting that it does not rely solely on jump-scares but builds a slow-burn dread reminiscent of classic ghost stories. Another reviewer argues that the movie “transcends its genre and geo-specific context,” blending cultural horror elements with a universally unsettling family-haunting narrative. 

Compared with many contemporary horror films — local or international — Pengabdi Setan stands out thanks to its strong sense of place and period. The 1980s aesthetic, the old family house, and traditional horror motifs lock the film in a cultural and temporal reality that makes terror feel more personal. For viewers, it offers more than cheap scares: it’s a story about grief, guilt, and how secrets from the past can haunt a family for decades.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Effective horror atmosphere through setting, cinematography, sound design, and classic haunted-house elements. Many scenes leverage fear of the unknown rather than gore or over-the-top effects.

• Cultural and period authenticity: the film uses 1980s Indonesia as backdrop, giving it a nostalgic yet eerie vibe that resonates with local and foreign audiences alike.

• Strong ensemble performances — particularly by Tara Basro — that ground the horror in realistic family emotions: grief, desperation, confusion. 

• Successful balance between remake and fresh storytelling: while it draws inspiration from the 1980 original, the movie expands and reimagines the horror narrative for modern audiences. 

• Commercial and critical success: the film became the highest-grossing Indonesian film of 2017, with millions of admissions, showing that horror can also be mainstream and widely appreciated. 

Weaknesses

• For some viewers, certain narrative elements may feel predictable — the haunted house setup and ghost tropes follow familiar horror structure. 

• Some plot details and back-story of the cult/occult aspects may feel ambiguous or underexplored, leaving room for interpretation but risking confusion on first watch. 

• The combination of horror, family drama, and occult might feel heavy or overwhelming for viewers expecting lighter horror; the emotional weight can be intense. 

Who Should Watch the Movie

Pengabdi Setan is ideal for:

• Fans of supernatural horror and haunted-house stories with a cultural or folkloric twist.

• Viewers who appreciate horror that builds tension through atmosphere, mood, and emotional conflict rather than relying solely on gore or jump scares.

• Anyone interested in Indonesian cinema or horror films from Southeast Asia that mix local context with universal fear themes.

• Watchers who enjoy horror that also explores family, grief, and the past catching up — horror with a human core, not just scares.

If you prefer horror films with minimal cultural or emotional baggage and straightforward scares, this film might feel heavy; but if you seek a story that lingers after the credits, this one delivers.

Conclusion

Pengabdi Setan (2017) is more than just a horror film — it is a powerful revival of classic Indonesian horror, reimagined with modern cinematic tools. It blends cultural horror motifs, period authenticity, strong performances, and genuine emotional stakes to deliver a chilling family-haunting narrative. While it does employ familiar horror tropes and occasionally leaves some occult mysteries vague, its strengths far outweigh its flaws. Considering both critical reception and audience response, a fair final score would be 8 / 10. For horror fans open to emotional depth, dread, and ghosts that feel real, Pengabdi Setan remains a benchmark of Indonesian horror.