Satan's Slaves
The family of Rini is financially broken and she lives with her father, her mother that is ill, her grandmother that is crippled, and her brothers Tony, Bondi and the mute six year-old Ian in an old house in the countryside nearby a cemetery. Her mother, who was a successful singer, is dying from a mysterious disease and her father does not have money to support the family. When her mother dies, her father needs to travel to the city to sell the house and weird things happen in the house. The skeptical Rini befriends Hendra, son of the religious Ustadz, and they learn that her mother was infertile and joined a cult that worships Satan to have children. And now, when Ian will be seven, they will take the boy with them. What can they do to protect Ian?
Despite its extremely modest budget of $120K, Satan's Slaves became a runaway success, earning $9.0M worldwide—a remarkable 7428% return. The film's innovative storytelling attracted moviegoers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Satan's Slaves (2017) reveals carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Joko Anwar's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The family lives in their isolated rural home, caring for their bedridden mother who is dying from a mysterious illness. The house is filled with an atmosphere of dread and financial hardship.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when The mother dies after a terrifying final moment where she seems possessed. Her death triggers supernatural phenomena in the house, with the bell in her room ringing on its own.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Rini decides to actively investigate her mother's past and the supernatural occurrences rather than flee. She commits to uncovering the truth and protecting her siblings, crossing into a world of dark supernatural reality., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The family discovers the horrifying truth: the mother promised her children to a demonic entity in exchange for success. The stakes are raised as they realize they are all targets for sacrifice, not just haunted witnesses., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The youngest child Ian is taken by the cult into the underworld beneath the house. The father is killed by supernatural forces. The family unit is shattered, and Rini loses all hope of saving everyone., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Rini realizes she must descend into the literal hell beneath the house to rescue Ian. She accepts her role as protector and confronts the demonic realm directly, armed with faith and familial love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Satan's Slaves's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Satan's Slaves against these established plot points, we can identify how Joko Anwar utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Satan's Slaves within the drama genre.
Joko Anwar's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Joko Anwar films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Satan's Slaves takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joko Anwar filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Joko Anwar analyses, see Satan's Slaves 2: Communion.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The family lives in their isolated rural home, caring for their bedridden mother who is dying from a mysterious illness. The house is filled with an atmosphere of dread and financial hardship.
Theme
A family member mentions that the mother's past is catching up with them, suggesting that sins of the past cannot be escaped and will haunt the present.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the family dynamics: Rini as the eldest daughter, her three younger siblings, and their struggling father. The rural 1980s setting, financial troubles, strange occurrences around the mother, and the family's isolation are introduced.
Disruption
The mother dies after a terrifying final moment where she seems possessed. Her death triggers supernatural phenomena in the house, with the bell in her room ringing on its own.
Resistance
The family debates what to do as supernatural events escalate. The children experience terrifying encounters with their mother's ghost. The father struggles with whether to stay or leave the house, and they discover the mother's mysterious past as a singer.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rini decides to actively investigate her mother's past and the supernatural occurrences rather than flee. She commits to uncovering the truth and protecting her siblings, crossing into a world of dark supernatural reality.
Mirror World
Ustaz, a religious figure, arrives and represents the spiritual/moral dimension that contrasts with the family's dark supernatural predicament. He hints at the mother's covenant with dark forces and the price that must be paid.
Premise
The family investigates the supernatural mystery while experiencing escalating horror. They discover the mother made a pact with a satanic cult, uncover her hidden past as a performer in occult rituals, and face increasingly violent demonic manifestations.
Midpoint
The family discovers the horrifying truth: the mother promised her children to a demonic entity in exchange for success. The stakes are raised as they realize they are all targets for sacrifice, not just haunted witnesses.
Opposition
The demonic forces intensify their attacks on the family. The children are separated and tormented. The father's attempts to protect them fail. The cult members and supernatural entities close in, isolating the family completely.
Collapse
The youngest child Ian is taken by the cult into the underworld beneath the house. The father is killed by supernatural forces. The family unit is shattered, and Rini loses all hope of saving everyone.
Crisis
Rini and her remaining siblings face absolute despair in the darkness. They confront the reality that their mother's sins have doomed them and contemplate whether escape is even possible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Rini realizes she must descend into the literal hell beneath the house to rescue Ian. She accepts her role as protector and confronts the demonic realm directly, armed with faith and familial love.
Synthesis
Rini ventures into the underground lair, confronts the cult and demonic entities, retrieves Ian, and fights to escape with her surviving siblings. They flee the cursed house as it becomes fully consumed by evil forces.
Transformation
The surviving family members escape to an apartment building, seemingly safe. But in the final image, Rini realizes the evil has followed them—the nightmare is not over. The family is transformed from naive victims into marked survivors perpetually hunted.