Pengabdi Setan

This is what horror should be. Movies that are upsetting but have a moral message and to be unique in it's own way. This movie nails both on the head, except the pacing on this movie could of been better. The movie does drag at times. But for the most part it's pretty good.

You know, i was never really a fan of Slashers like Friday the 13th, because both of those films are pointless, and it's just horror for the sake of being horror. Neither of those films have anything unique, it's just the same idea in circles.

This movie however, has a great message; Faith and do not mess with the other side. I would say that this is one of those movies that Teenagers should watch in school alongside Requiem for a Dream, and Apartment 407. All 3 films i just named have great messages, and they really make you think about life.

I can also say another a bit negative is the effects are kinda weak. But i did not really care because that's not the point what makes a good movie good is a good story, and pacing. Everything else can be passed.

Even the father becomes likeable in the end, the man realizes where he went wrong, and follows the footsteps of his daughter and son. I can totally recommend this, with other good horror movies like: Chucky, Martyrs, Cannibal Holocaust, Uzumaki, Hostel, Dead Alive, Reanimator, Cube, Saw 2 & 3, and many other great films out there...

This film essentially begins with a funeral service being held for a woman who has left a husband and two nearly grown children behind. So, mourning the loss of his mother, "Tommy" (Fachrul Rozy) is advised by a friend to visit a local fortune teller who can help guide him through his grief by preparing him for future events. When he does, however, he is told that he and his family are in grave danger and that the only way to protect them is through the use of black magic. That said, he purchases some books and various other objects of an occult nature to help him in that regard. His sister "Rita" (Siska Widowati), on the other hand, chooses a more hedonistic approach to deal with her grief by going to parties with her boyfriend "Herman" (Simon Cader) instead. Not long afterward, both of them begin seeing apparitions of their mother which, as you might expect, begin to frighten them. Yet rather than address their concerns, their father "Munarto" (W. D. Mochtar) hires a housekeeper named "Darmina" (Ruth Pelupessi) to take care of them--and that's when things really get scary. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an interesting film due in large part to the manner in which the use of Islamic spiritualism was used to combat black magic. I say this because, of the horror films I have seen from the Far East, the remedies are typically of a Buddhist or Christian nature. So, this was rather new to me. On a totally separate note, although the plot and some of the horror scenarios were quite good, the special effects tended to be much too basic to really make them stand out. At least, that is how it seemed to me. Be that as it may, while I don't consider this to be a great horror film by any means, I suppose it was good enough for the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

SATAN'S SLAVE is a supernatural / occult film from Indonesia. After the family matriarch dies, a mysterious housekeeper (Ruth Pelupessi) moves in to put things in order. Horror, satanic shenanigans, and unexplained deaths ensue.

Utterly absurd from start to finish, this movie is a lot of fun to watch! It features: Ghosts, vampires, zombies, black magic, a flying, killer chandelier, and an ultimate showdown between good and eeevil. Some of the "terrifying" sequences and the not-so-special effects therein are genuine gutbusters!

Maximum praise must go to Ms. Pelupessi, whose skunk-eyed stare could curdle milk! She's the best part of this hilarious masterpiece...

I've been finding Indonesian horror movies to be pretty enjoyable. This one was no exception, although it doesn't come close to Witch with Flying Head, for example.

This one involves the interplay between good and evil. The movie begins with a Muslim burial, a body in a white shroud being put on its right side facing Mecca, covered with wooden planks at an angle, then covered with dirt. A voice recites Arabic, probably verses from the Quran.

A family has suffered the death of the mother. The father, son and daughter live together with a wheezing old caretaker. The son is visited at night by a corpse-like woman with bulging white eyes lacking irises. In some respects, he thereafter acts possessed. He visits a fortuneteller for help, who says his family is in danger and he can protect them with black magic. He begins reading up on horror and other topics.

The fortuneteller shows up at the house as the new live-in maid, saying nothing of her fortunetelling. The son continues to act odd and see the woman in white, who his sister glimpses as well. The caretaker urges them to pray. The daughter visits an outdoor disco and has a friend who urges her to try a shaman.

There are additional deaths, and a mysterious man whose attempts to speak to the father at his work and at home are rudely put off.

As the DVD box states, the movie "use(s) Islamic beliefs in dealing with the subject of the undead." This makes it somewhat novel, although really one could substitute in a Christian and nothing would have changed much.

The DVD box also calls this "an Indonesian version of the cult horror film PHANTASM." This is a bit hard to figure. They're both low-budget horror movies. However, the most characteristic properties of Phantasm were the tall man, the dwarfs, and the spheres. There's nothing like that here, or the portal or embalming fluid. Some broken glass flies around, there's a scene with a motorbike in a cemetery, and there is an old hearse with relatively short men (but not little people) carrying a casket. Beyond that, I can't figure out what connection was seen.

Regrettably, there are several points in the movie where the DVD was poorly made and the entire screen, including the letterboxing is covered with large colorful pixels (though the subtitles can still be seen).

This little known cinema rarity from Indonesia offers up a real treat for western horror buffs. Claiming to be an Eastern take on Don Coscarelli's Phantasm, it transposes Christian-based horror themes to the Muslim culture. Although, it lacks a bit of luster when compared to Phantasm, those able to look past that will find a very solid and intriguing blend of zombie horror, haunted house tale, and psychological thriller.

Satan's Slave tells the story of a family who, upon the loss of the mother, alienate themselves from religion. Of course, this leaves an open door for evil to come into their lives. It first comes in the form of the mother's nightly spectral appearances (mostly centering around the two youngsters of the household). When a terrorized servant commits suicide, he too makes a return. Then, a newly appointed housekeeper seems to work black magic and have secret diabolical intentions toward the family. After suspecting witchcraft, the children persuade the father to hire a shaman. However, that makes the haunting even worse and the wrath of the evil woman increases ten fold. With more lives claimed in the name of Satan, the evil forces at work get more and more powerful. It is up to the family to band together and accept God into their lives if they want to survive.

Yes, at the heart, this film is like an Islamic morality tale. But, that does not keep it from being an all-around good horror picture. This unique venture is worth a look by any fan of horror from around the world.