Joko Anwar Offers Higher Benchmark In Servant Of Satan 2

JAKARTA - Director Joko Anwar said that he wanted to provide a cinematic experience by setting a standard or benchmark for 'Servant of Satan 2: Communion' to be one level higher than the first film.

“Because we (crew and players) have agreed that 'Servant of Satan 1' is the lowest standard (benchmark), we inevitably have to make 'Servant of Satan 2' a level higher in terms of storytelling, aesthetics, technicality, and so on, "said Joko at the XXI Epicentrum, Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, August 2.

Given the higher standards set, Joko and the production team needed about three years to study and prepare the sequel to “Servant of Satan” to be more mature.

"Everyone agrees that the preparations are long so that later when 'Servant of Satan 2' comes out, it will not only be a horror film as well as entertainment, but it can also be something that Indonesia can be proud of for our presentation to the world because this is our asset," continued Joko.

Furthermore, he views that the horror story literature that starts from folklore to mythology is a strength that Indonesia has to offer to the world. Therefore, said Joko, must be treated with respect.

“One of our greatest assets is the horror library. I have repeatedly said that if we want to make an assessment of what we have, the biggest thing is the horror literature,” he said.

Continuing the story in the first film, “Pengabdi Setan 2” combines old players such as Tara Basro, Endy Arfian, Bront Palarae, Nasar Anuz, and Ayu Laksmi, along with young and senior stars who have recently joined the film such as Ratu Felisha, Jourdy Pranata, Kiki Narendra, and so on.

Told a few years after they managed to save themselves from a terrible incident that made them lose their mother and youngest Ian, Rini and her younger siblings and father lived in an apartment.

The family believed living in the flat was safe because there were a lot of people if something happened, but they soon realized another concern behind it. On a night full of terror, Rini and her family must return to save themselves.

Previously, the first film released in 2017 became the highest-grossing film that year with the number of moviegoers reaching 4,206,103. At the 2017 Indonesian Film Festival, “Servant of Satan” also received 13 nominations and won seven of them.

After the first film received commercial and critical success, “Pengabdi Setan 2” became the first film from Indonesia and Southeast Asia to have undergone the Digital Remastering (DMR) process using IMAX technology and was screened in the ASEAN region.

According to the production team, tickets for the IMAX extra show throughout Indonesia will run out as soon as it opens on July 25. Pre-sale tickets for regular screenings, which opened on July 29, were also immediately invaded by Indonesian audiences. “Servant of Satan 2” is now ready to hit theaters on August 4.