Satan's Slaves: Communion 2022

As the year 1955 unwinds, the world of journalism receives an urgent summons from Budiman, a seasoned newspaper journalist (played by ??), who is called upon to witness a mystifying spectacle at Bosscha Observatory. His trusted friend Heru, a police commander, has been entrusted with containing a dark and foreboding tale: dozens of exhumed corpses lie prostrate before a framed portrait of the enigmatic Mawarni, as if in solemn reverence. Heru’s orders are clear - to suppress this unsettling discovery at all costs, lest it tarnish the country’s image in the lead-up to the historic Bandung Conference. Yet, he implores Budiman to publish the story through unconventional channels, sensing that the truth must be revealed.

Fast-forward three decades, and we find ourselves in 1984, within the crumbling confines of Mandara Apartments in Jakarta. Rini, her brothers Toni and Bondi, and their father Bahri have been eking out a meager existence in this dilapidated complex for the past three years. Bahri’s work appears to be shrouded in mystery, as he toils away at various odd jobs throughout the day, always keeping his briefcase - replete with secrets - locked safely away from prying eyes. Budiman, now editor-in-chief of a revered occult magazine, receives a cryptic package containing Heru’s suicide note, along with photographs and drawings that hint at an impending cult activity unfolding within Mandara’s walls. The eerie images also reveal that Bahri was one of the police officers who escorted Budiman to Bosscha Observatory in 1955.

As fate would have it, the lift at Mandara malfunctions, plummeting to a devastating conclusion that claims many lives. In the aftermath of this tragedy, a torrential storm rages across the city, unleashing a deluge that floods the apartment complex and traps its inhabitants inside. Amidst the chaos, Rini extends a compassionate ear to Wisnu, a young boy whose mother met a tragic demise in the ill-fated lift. As they commiserate, Wisnu confides in Rini about his own mysterious connection with his mother - a sign language learned from an occult tome that allowed them to communicate secretly, shielding them from the cruel whims of Wisnu’s abusive father.

The darkness that has been awakened by the flood is soon manifested as supernatural forces begin to torment the tenants. As the power grid fails, Bondi and his cohorts stumble upon a hidden cache of photographs in the building manager’s flat, revealing an ominous gathering of cult members convening every 29 years on April 17th - a date that looms ominously on the horizon. Meanwhile, Toni uncovers a long-buried secret within the confines of a mysterious flat, where he discovers haunting images of his deceased mother Mawarni, now revealed to be an alter ego known as Raminom. This revelation sparks a chain reaction of memories for Rini, who recalls her own mother’s transformation after embarking on a musical career.

As tensions mount and the supernatural forces intensify their assault, Rini opens Bahri’s briefcase to uncover its dark contents: severed human fingers that hint at his involvement in the occult. The search for answers leads them to the top floor, where they finally locate Ian, their youngest brother who had been spirited away by the cult. In a heartwarming moment of connection, Wisnu communicates with Ian through the mysterious sign language, and Ian responds, revealing himself as a long-lost friend.

As the eerie silence of Mandara’s abandoned halls is shattered by the macabre return of the deceased, Raminom leads the unholy horde in a relentless pursuit of survival. The siblings, Wisnu, and the last holdouts are mercilessly stalked to their demise. In a desperate bid for escape, they stumble upon Bahri, only to be seized by the cult’s fanatical followers under Ian’s sinister command. The gruesome spectacle unfolds as Ian, with an unsettling glee, cold-bloodedly executes Bahri through quartering. Just as all hope seems lost, Budiman bursts onto the scene, unleashing a hail of gunfire that sends Raminom fleeing and the cult members scrambling for cover. Wisnu, sensing the chaos, employs sign language to convey a desperate plea to halt the madness, while Rini’s swift action renders Ian unconscious. Amidst the bedlam, the siblings, Wisnu, and Budiman manage to make their escape via boat, with Budiman revealing the shocking truth about Bahri’s troubled past. It transpires that in 1955, Bahri was manipulated by Mawarni into joining the cult, promising stardom and a chance to father children. Trapped in a web of deceit, Bahri has since been forced to carry out extrajudicial killings for the Indonesian government, his soul slowly withering away. Budiman warns that tonight’s communion is merely a precursor to a far more sinister plan.

The next day, Darminah and her husband Batara arrive at Mandara, their faces reflecting disappointment at missing the previous night’s dark ritual. However, Batara reassures her that everything proceeded according to plan. A photograph on the wall, depicting them alongside other dignitaries at the 1955 Bandung Conference, serves as a poignant reminder of the couple’s seemingly ageless visage.