Watch May the Devil Take You

May the Devil Take You is a horror-thriller film from Indonesia, directed by Timo Tjahjanto. The film stars Chelsea Islan, one of Indonesia's most popular actresses, and Ray Sahetapy, a well-known veteran actor. It tells a story of family secrets, dark magic, and demonic possession. The story centers around a young woman named Alfie (Chelsea Islan), who is forced to confront the past she's been running away from when her estranged father, Lesmana (Ray Sahetapy), falls ill and she and her step-siblings are summoned to his isolated villa. There, they find the old man on his deathbed and his creepy nurse Maya (Samantha Gracie) taking care of him. Things soon take a turn for the worse when Alfie and her family members start experiencing supernatural phenomena and realize that Lesmana has been performing black magic rituals in the hopes of curing himself.

As the night progresses, the family becomes more and more trapped in the demonic world they've unwittingly entered. Alfie finds herself fighting to protect her loved ones from the evil spirits and to uncover the truth about her father's past misdeeds that have led to their current predicament.

The film's atmosphere is darkly lit and tense, with creepy sound and visual effects that add to the suspense. The scare scenes are well-crafted, relying on jump scares as well as slow-burning dread. The special effects are effective enough to make the audience squirm in their seats.

The acting in May the Devil Take You is generally solid, with Chelsea Islan delivering a strong performance as the lead protagonist, Alfie. She portrays the character's emotional depth and growing bravery well, making the audience genuinely care about her survival. Ray Sahetapy is suitably menacing as the dying patriarch with a dark past, while Pevita Pearce, as Alfie's sister, is a highlight with her feisty, take-charge attitude.

One of the film's unique features is its nod to Indonesian horror folklore. The spirit who haunts the characters is not a Western demon but a cultural monster that gives a distinctive tone to the film. This unexpected element adds to the film's distinctiveness and places itself among other great examples of Indonesian horror films.

Despite the horror genre tropes and a predictable ending, May the Devil Take You is a genuinely enjoyable horror film that provides plenty of scares and thrills. The movie's pace is well-structured with a balanced mix of horror and dramatic scenes.

In conclusion, May the Devil Take You is a well-made and well-acted horror-thriller that can conjure up some terrifying moments while exposing rare knowledge of Indonesian horror folklore. It walks the line between art-house and mainstream horror and can easily satisfy both audiences. All in all, it's a must-watch for moviegoers who like to indulge in the netherworld of horror.

May the Devil Take You is a 2018 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.