Satan's Slave (1980 film)

Last updated
Pengabdi Setan
Pengabdi Setan (1980; obverse; wiki).jpg
Indonesian poster
Directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra
Screenplay by
Story bySubagio S.
Produced by
  • Subagio S.
  • Sabirin Kasdani
  • Gope T. Samtani
Starring
  • W.D. Mochtar
  • Siska Widowati
  • Fachrul Rozy
  • I.M. Damsyik
  • Ruth Pelupessy
  • Diana Suarkom
  • Simon Cader
  • Doddy Sukma
Production
company
Distributed byBrentwood Home Video (U.S.)
Release date
  • December 31, 1980 (1980-12-31)(Indonesia)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian

Satan's Slave (Indonesian : Pengabdi Setan) is a 1980 Indonesian supernatural horror film directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra. The plot follows a wealthy family who have stopped practicing their Muslim faith and 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.

Contents

A remake, directed by Joko Anwar, was released on September 28, 2017, and it was a box office success met with mainstream critical acclaim.[ citation needed ] 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]

Plot

Mawarti, a mother who dies from a mysterious illness, leaves behind her workaholic husband Munarto, quiet and introverted son Tomi, party girl and extroverted daughter Rita, and their sickly but religious servant Mr. Karto. On the first night after Mawarti's death, Tomi sees a vision of his late mother, but he does not talk to her. The next day, Tomi 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Tomi becomes strange and withdrawn from his family. Rita's boyfriend, Herman, says that for 40 days after a person dies, that person's spirit will linger at the house. Shortly after Herman’s visit, a new housekeeper named Darminah arrives, 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 woman in white, who claims to be her late mother.

Herman warns that Darminah is not the kind of person to be trusted, 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 kyai at a bookstore, who advises him to begin performing his religious prayers, but when he tries to begin, her late mother's ghost appears and commands him to stop. The next day, Tomi finds Mr. Karto's corpse, hung. Later that day, Herman is also killed when he is run over by a truck after nearly colliding with the mysterious 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. Upon his arrival, the hired shaman is attacked by broken glass and flower petals. Rita, Tomi, and Munarto watched in horror 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 from the grave, 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 dismisses his warning. 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 pursues 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 is revealed that Darminah is a demon who preys on those of weak Islamic 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 the kyai 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, and drags them to hell for eternal punishment. The film ends with Munarto, Tomi, and Rita, all newly re-converted to Islam, returning from the mosque to their car. The camera reveals that the woman in the car next to them is Darminah.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joko Anwar</span> Indonesian filmmaker and actor (born 1976)

Joko Anwar is an Indonesian film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Prior to becoming a filmmaker, he worked as a journalist and film critic.

<i>Tales from the Hood</i> 1995 American black horror anthology film

Tales from the Hood is a 1995 American black horror comedy anthology film directed by Rusty Cundieff and starring Corbin Bernsen, Rosalind Cash, Rusty Cundieff, David Alan Grier, Anthony Griffith, Wings Hauser, Paula Jai Parker, Joe Torry, and Clarence Williams III. The film presents four short urban-themed horror stories based on problems that affect the African-American community: police corruption, domestic abuse, racism, and gang violence. These are presented within a frame story of three drug dealers buying some "found" drugs from an eccentric and story-prone funeral director.

<i>Psychomania</i> 1973 British film by Don Sharp

Psychomania is a 1973 British outlaw biker horror film directed by Don Sharp, and starring Nicky Henson, Beryl Reid, George Sanders, and Robert Hardy.

<i>Pocong</i> Javanese ghost from folklore

Pocong is a ghost that looks like a person wrapped in a funeral cloth. In Islamic funeral, a shroud called a "kain kafan" is used to wrap the body of the dead person. The dead body is covered in white fabric tied over the head, under the feet, and on the neck, and the shroud is firmly tied at multiple junctures to maintain its position during the journey to the grave site. Upon placement into the grave, it is believed that the knots must be undone or the corpse will animate and be known as a Pocong. Pocong is also known in Malaysia as Hantu Bungkus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garin Nugroho</span> Indonesian film director

Garin Nugroho Riyanto is an Indonesian film director.

<i>Satans Slave</i> (1976 film) British horror film by Norman J. Warren

Satan's Slave is a 1976 British supernatural horror film directed by Norman J. Warren. It was written by David McGillivray and stars Candace Glendenning, Michael Gough, Martin Potter, and Barbara Kellerman. Its plot follows a young woman who, after surviving a car accident, stays on the country estate of her uncle and cousin, unaware they are both necromancers who intend to sacrifice her to resurrect the spirit of a supernaturally-gifted ancestor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bront Palarae</span> Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer

Nasrul Suhaimin bin Saifuddin, known professionally as Bront Palarae, is a Malaysian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.

<i>Paganini Horror</i> 1989 Italian film

Paganini Horror is a 1989 Italian horror film directed by Luigi Cozzi. The film tells the story of a largely female rock band who acquires an unpublished score by composer Niccolò Paganini and decides to record it. When the band films a music video for the song in Paganini's ancient home, it awakens the spirit of the deceased composer and unlocks a portal to Hell.

<i>Satans Slaves</i> 2017 Indonesian horror film

Satan's Slaves is a 2017 Indonesian supernatural 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. 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.

<i>Dilan 1990</i> Film by Fajar Bustomi and Pidi Baiq

Dilan 1990 is a 2018 Indonesian coming of age romantic drama film. It is based on the novel Dilan: Dia adalah Dilanku Tahun 1990 by Pidi Baiq. The film stars Iqbaal Ramadhan and Vanesha Prescilla as the main roles, with some high-profile names in supporting, minor, or cameo roles; Farhan, Happy Salma, Adhisty Zara of idol group JKT48, and Ridwan Kamil, the then-Mayor of Bandung. The film has been watched by 6.3 million people. It is the best-selling Indonesian film of 2018 and the second best-selling Indonesian film of all time, just behind Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1 with 6.8 million viewers. The film is followed by a sequel, Dilan 1991, which was released on 28 February 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara Basro</span> Indonesian actress

Tara Basro is an Indonesian actress and musician.

<i>Roh</i> (film) 2020 Malaysian Malay-language horror film

Roh, or known as Soul, is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language independent folk horror film directed by Emir Ezwan in his directorial debut. Set in the past, a family living in a forest is visited by a strange little girl, who comes with a frightening prediction.

<i>Impetigore</i> 2019 film directed by Joko Anwar

Impetigore is a 2019 horror film written and directed by Joko Anwar. The film stars Tara Basro, Marissa Anita, Christine Hakim, Asmara Abigail, and Ario Bayu. The film follows Maya (Basro), who travels with her friend Dini (Anita) to her remote ancestral village seeking an inheritance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folk horror</span> Subgenre of horror film

Folk horror is a subgenre of horror film and horror fiction that uses elements of folklore to invoke fear and foreboding. Typical elements include a rural setting, isolation, and themes of superstition, folk religion, paganism, sacrifice and the dark aspects of nature. Although related to supernatural horror film, folk horror usually focuses on the beliefs and actions of people rather than the supernatural, and often deals with naïve outsiders coming up against these. The British films Blood on Satan's Claw (1971), The Wicker Man (1973) and Witchfinder General (1968) are regarded as pioneers of the genre, while The Witch (2015) and Midsommar (2019) sparked renewed interest in folk horror. Southeast Asian cinema also commonly features folk horror.

<i>The Queen of Black Magic</i> 2019 Indonesian supernatural horror film

The Queen of Black Magic is a 2019 Indonesian supernatural horror film directed by Kimo Stamboel and written by Joko Anwar. The film is a loose remake of the 1981 Indonesian horror film of the same name also produced by Rapi Films. It stars Ario Bayu, Hannah Al Rashid, Adhisty Zara, Ade Firman Hakim, Muzakki Ramdhan, and Ari Irham. Hakim received a posthumous Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fachri Albar</span> Indonesian actor and musician

Fachri Albar is an Indonesian actor and musician. He is best known for starring in Joko Anwar's Neo-noir thriller Dead Time: Kala in 2007 and psychological thriller The Forbidden Door in 2009.

Indonesian horror are the films of the horror genre produced by the Indonesian film industry. Often inspired by local folklore and religious elements, Indonesian horror films have been produced in the country since the 1960s. After a hiatus during the Suharto era in the 1990s, when censorship affected production, Indonesian horror films continued being produced following Reformasi in 1998.

Satan's Slaves 2: Communion also referred to as Satan's Slaves 2 is a 2022 Indonesian supernatural horror film written and directed by Joko Anwar. It is the sequel to the 2017 film Satan's Slaves, itself based on the 1980 film Satan's Slave. It is the first Indonesian film to be released in IMAX format. Upon its release, Anwar indicated plans for a possible third installment in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asmara Abigail</span> Indonesian actress (born 1992)

Asmara Abigail is an Indonesian actress, dancer, and model who rose to prominence after starring on Joko Anwar's horror films Satan's Slaves (2017) and Impetigore (2019). She was nominated for three Citra Awards for her performances in Homecoming (2019), Yuni (2021), and Till Death Do Us Part (2024).

References

  1. ↑ Juniman, Puput Tripeni. "Joko Anwar Bikin Hantu Seram 'Pengabdi Setan' Tanpa Komputer". Cnnindonesia.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "Satan's Slave Blu-ray Review (Severin Films)". Cultsploitation. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.