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Indonesian horror ranges from psychological urban dread to haunted-family stories, village curses, revenge tales and older cult films. These 12 picks are a starting point, not a definitive ranking: choose by the kind of horror you want, and note which titles are remakes or sequels.
Start with contemporary supernatural horror
Satan’s Slaves (2017)
Written and directed by Joko Anwar, this film draws inspiration from the 1980 Indonesian cult film of the same name. A family faces supernatural consequences and the occult secrets of its deceased mother. It is a strong entry point if you want a domestic haunting built around family history. Gizmodo’s 2022 guide identifies the 2017 film as inspired by the earlier movie.
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Impetigore (2019)
A woman leaves Jakarta for her ancestral village to claim an inheritance, only to encounter a curse tied to her family. The village setting and inheritance mystery make this a natural choice for viewers drawn to rural supernatural stories. Indonesia selected Impetigore as its submission for the Best International Feature Film Oscar; it was a submission, not a nomination or win. Gizmodo’s entry describes the premise and submission.
The Queen of Black Magic (2019)
Kimo Stamboel directs this supernatural revenge story, written by Joko Anwar. It is a remake of the 1981 film, not a sequel; watching the earlier version first is optional, but pairing them gives you two different eras of Indonesian horror. The 2022 Gizmodo article said both films were streaming on Shudder then, which does not establish their availability now. Gizmodo’s recommendation notes the relationship between the films.
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Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion (2022)
This sequel continues the Satan’s Slaves story. A 2025 study of three contemporary Indonesian horror films interpreted Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion through family and sacrifice. That is the study’s reading of this film, not a claim that all Indonesian horror shares those themes. The study in the Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics explains its selected-film analysis.
KKN: Curse of the Dancing Village (2022)
This contemporary supernatural film draws on a village setting and local beliefs. The same 2025 study connected KKN di Desa Penari with local myths and collective fears. Treat that as an interpretation of one film rather than a description of Indonesian culture as a whole. The study sets out its approach.
For psychological dread and darker turns
The Forbidden Door (2009)
Joko Anwar’s psychological thriller has horror elements rather than following a straightforward ghost-story formula. Its sculptor protagonist is drawn into a taboo underworld while his marriage is in trouble, making it a good fit for viewers who prefer surreal, urban unease. Gizmodo reported Shudder availability in 2022, but that is a historical note, not a current listing. Gizmodo’s entry describes the film and its then-current platform mention.
Rank #2
Macabre (2009)
A useful pick when you want a different mode from curses and hauntings: this title appears in a separate Indonesian horror curation alongside supernatural and folklore-driven films. That range is the point of including it here; the available description does not establish further plot details. The independent curation includes Macabre among its selections.
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This newer selection broadens the list beyond the better-known Joko Anwar titles. It is included in the same separate curation, though the available description does not provide enough detail to summarize its plot or specify its intensity. The curation page lists the film.
Explore older cult horror and supernatural revenge
Mystics in Bali (1981)
For an older cult-era option, try this title rather than treating contemporary Indonesian horror as the whole story. It appears in a separate curated list of Indonesian horror films; the available description does not establish a fuller synopsis. The list includes the 1981 film.
Rank #3
- Studio Name: Mill Creek Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 10/13/2008
- Rating: PG
- Run Time (in minutes): 300 minutes
- Language: English
Satan’s Slaves (1980)
This is the cult film that inspired Joko Anwar’s 2017 Satan’s Slaves. The two share a title, but they are distinct films from different years; the 2017 movie is not the original. Pairing them is a useful way to compare horror from separate periods. The separate curation lists the 1980 title.
May the Devil Take You (2018)
This supernatural horror title offers another route into the genre beyond the village-curse and haunted-family stories. It is listed in a separate selection, but the available source material does not support a more detailed plot description here. The curation page includes it.
May the Devil Take You Too (2020)
The title signals its relationship to May the Devil Take You: this is the follow-up, not an unrelated film. Watch the 2018 movie first if you want the series in release order. The separate curation includes both titles. Its list identifies the 2020 entry.
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How to choose your first watch
- Psychological and urban: The Forbidden Door.
- Family haunting: Satan’s Slaves (2017), followed by Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion.
- Ancestral village and curse: Impetigore.
- Supernatural revenge: The Queen of Black Magic (2019); compare it with the 1981 original if you want an older counterpart.
- Older cult horror: Mystics in Bali or Satan’s Slaves (1980).
- A connected follow-up: May the Devil Take You Too, after the 2018 film.
These are viewing paths, not a ranking. Indonesian horror cannot be reduced to one folklore formula: the selected films move between domestic conflict, psychological crisis, rural settings, supernatural threats and revenge. A 2025 academic study, for example, connects family and sacrifice to one contemporary film and local beliefs and collective fears to another, while emphasizing a small sample rather than making a universal claim. Read the study’s scope and interpretations.
Where to look for the films
Gizmodo mentioned Shudder and Netflix in 2022 as part of Indonesian horror’s international exposure, and reported Shudder availability for some titles at that time. Streaming rights change by country and date; those mentions do not confirm that any particular film is available now. Search the exact title in your local service catalog and verify it there before subscribing. Netflix’s catalog page is region-specific and does not verify every film in this list. Browse Netflix’s horror catalog for your region; check Shudder’s local catalog directly as well.
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