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Satan’s Slaves: Communion Might Be the Scariest Movie of the Year

Joko Anwar’s 2022 sequel mixes gothic atmosphere, supernatural threats, suspense and gallows humor. Whether it is the year’s scariest film depends on what frightens you.
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Is Satan’s Slaves: Communion scary? It can be, especially if you respond to creeping dread, supernatural threats and the fear of being trapped among people who may not be safe. But “the scariest movie of the year” is a subjective verdict, not an established ranking. Joko Anwar’s 2022 Indonesian sequel builds its horror around a family seeking safety in a crowded apartment building—and finding that the crowd offers no protection.

What is Satan’s Slaves: Communion about?

Several years after an incident killed their mother and youngest sibling, Rini and her brothers Toni and Bondi live with their father in an apartment building. They expect a crowded home to offer safety. Instead, during a night of terror, the family faces danger from both neighbors and non-human entities. AMC+ sums up the premise as a move from the family’s home to an apartment building where “a new terror awaits Rini and her family” (AMC+).

The setting gives the film a pointed horror contrast: an apartment building is full of other people, yet proximity does not guarantee trust or help. The threat is not confined to an isolated house; ordinary shared spaces and the family’s neighbors become part of the danger. The story’s emotional center is still Rini and her siblings, trying to survive together after an earlier family tragedy.

Why might it be frightening?

The fear comes from a mix of suspense, supernatural horror and sudden danger rather than from any objectively measurable “scariest” status. The family’s plan to live among others seems sensible, but the building’s crowdedness becomes a source of uncertainty. Viewers who find isolation frightening may respond to the way the film turns shared surroundings into a threat; those who prefer horror driven by atmosphere and mounting tension may find its gothic approach effective.

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#1 Best Overall
Avatar: Fire and Ash - 4K + Blu-ray + Digital
  • Return to Pandora for the third chapter of Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully and his family. Reeling from one death, the Sullys set out to prevent another — aided by the Wind Traders. But on the way, they’re attacked by the Ash People, who blame Eywa for their ravaged home. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes may affect photosensitive viewers.
  • Suspense: The family’s safety is uncertain as threats emerge around them.
  • Supernatural imagery and action: The non-human danger gives the story its horror engine.
  • Gallows humor: The film’s tone is not unrelentingly grim; humor sits alongside the scares.
  • Family peril: The danger is personal because Rini and her siblings are trying to protect one another.

Variety critic Richard Kuipers described the film as, “Serves up suspense, scares and gallows humor with considerable style.” His review was published November 4, 2022, as reproduced by Rotten Tomatoes. That assessment captures the film’s blend of tension and tonal variation, but it does not settle whether it will be frightening for a particular viewer.

Is it the scariest movie of the year?

There is no established official ranking in the available sources that names Satan’s Slaves: Communion the scariest movie of its release year. The headline works as an opinionated hook: the answer depends on what frightens you and which horror qualities you value.

Rank #2
Avatar: Fire and Ash - Blu-ray + Digital
  • Return to Pandora for the third chapter of Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully and his family. Reeling from one death, the Sullys set out to prevent another — aided by the Wind Traders. But on the way, they’re attacked by the Ash People, who blame Eywa for their ravaged home. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes may affect photosensitive viewers.

For a useful personal measure, consider the kind of scare you want. If you value atmosphere, suspense and supernatural threats, the film has several reasons to appeal. If you mainly want nonstop jump scares, or prefer horror without humor or action, the mix may not match your ideal. A 2022 review excerpt from James Mudge of easternKicks.com, also reproduced by Rotten Tomatoes, praises Anwar’s supernatural action and calls the film one of the better genre films from anywhere around Asia that year. That is one critic’s assessment, not a universal verdict.

Do you need to watch the 2017 film first?

Satan’s Slaves: Communion is a sequel to Joko Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves (2017), as identified by the Busan International Film Festival’s 2022 catalogue. The premise makes the family’s situation understandable, but the sequel relationship means returning viewers will have context from the earlier film. If you want the story in order and to avoid missing that context, watch the 2017 film first. This overview does not reveal plot details from either installment.

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Runtime, language and content guidance

The Busan International Film Festival lists the runtime as 119 minutes. Apple TV’s Australian listing specifies Indonesian audio with English subtitles; language and subtitle options can differ by territory and service, so check the local listing before watching. Its Australian advisory lists strong horror themes, violence, nudity, drug references or use, language, and sexual references or scenes. AMC+’s US-facing page gives the film a TV-MA rating. Ratings and content labels are market-specific; consult the service available where you live for current details.

Cast and credits

Joko Anwar wrote and directed the film. The principal cast includes Tara Basro as Rini, Endy Arfian as Toni, Nasar Annuz as Bondi, Bront Palarae as the father, and Ayu Laksmi as the mother. The Busan catalogue describes it as a gothic horror film.

Rank #4
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Where can you watch it?

Streaming and physical-media listings vary by region and can change. AMC+ has a film page, and Prime Video search results have surfaced DVD and Blu-ray formats as well as subscription access options such as AMC+ or Shudder. Those listings do not establish current availability in every country. Check your local streaming catalogue or retailer for the edition, region coding and stock before purchasing.

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