Adipati Dolken
Iblis
Overview
Three women in a small village conceal dark secrets, including unholy alliances and a mysterious ingredient used in a popular curry restaurant.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Devil’s Curry: When Horror Serves Up Too Many Ingredients
I’ll admit it: I went into The Female Followers of the Devil expecting a folk-horror stew, rich with the kind of slow-burn dread that Indonesian cinema has been simmering lately—think Satan’s Slaves or Impetigore, where rural superstition and female suffering collide in ways that linger like a bad dream. What I got instead was a curry so over-spiced it left me with heartburn. Not the good kind.
The premise had promise: three women in a small village, a mysterious ingredient in their curry restaurant, and "unholy alliances" that hint at something darker than your average satanic pact. The film’s title alone—Para Betina Pengikut Iblis, or The Female Followers of the Devil—suggests a gendered exploration of evil, a theme that could have cut deep in a country where women are often scapegoated for moral decay. But somewhere between the kitchen knives and the demonic whispers, the story loses its way, drowning in its own ambition.
The first act teases a folk-horror vibe, with shots of the village that feel like they were ripped from a travelogue—all golden light and rustic charm. The camera lingers on the curry pots, the steam rising in a way that almost feels ominous. Almost.
Then the film introduces what feels like half the population of Indonesia as characters, each with their own subplot, their own secret, their own reason to be suspicious. By the time the third act rolls around, I’m not sure if I’m watching a horror movie, a soap opera, or a very confusing cooking show. The Letterboxd consensus—that the film "uses too many elements and characters [and] makes the plot unstructured"—isn’t wrong.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsRako Prijanto’s Horror Return: What We Know About The Female Followers of the Devil
Indonesian director Rako Prijanto is no stranger to genre-blending cinema, but his 2023 horror flick The Female Followers of the Devil marks a sharp pivot from his earlier work. After years of action-dramas like Sang Kiai (2013) 
, Prijanto has leaned into supernatural terror, a shift that’s raising eyebrows—and expectations—among local horror fans. Here’s the behind-the-scenes buzz on the film, latestnetflix.com argues, pieced together from the limited details available.
A Genre Detour for Prijanto
Prijanto’s filmography has been dominated by historical epics and gritty dramas, with Sang Kiai standing as one of his most celebrated works—a 136-minute action-drama set against Indonesia’s colonial backdrop . His 2023 release Bayi Ajaib (another horror film) suggests a deliberate turn toward the macabre, but The Female Followers of the Devil appears to double down on the genre . While neither film’s synopsis is widely publicized, the title alone hints at a narrative steeped in occult themes, a departure from Prijanto’s usual fare. Whether this shift is a creative experiment or a strategic move to tap into Indonesia’s booming horror market remains unconfirmed, but the director’s willingness to embrace the supernatural is undeniable.
Cast Chemistry: A Mix of Veterans and Rising Stars
The film’s ensemble cast blends established names with fresh faces, a common tactic in Indonesian horror to balance credibility and relatability. Leading the pack is Adipati Dolken, a versatile actor known for his roles in Dilan 1990 (2018) and The Queen of Black Magic (2019), who brings a mix of intensity and charisma to the genre. Mawar Eva De Jongh, a rising star with a growing fanbase, joins him, alongside Hanggini Purinda Retto, whose social media presence has made her a household name among younger audiences.
Supporting roles are filled by character actors like Hans de Kraker and Gusti Rayhan, whose experience in Indonesian cinema could add depth to the film’s darker themes. The inclusion of Nagra Kautsar Pakusadewo, a veteran of the industry, suggests Prijanto is aiming for a polished final product—one that balances scares with strong performances. However, without on-set reports or cast interviews, details about their dynamic or any behind-the-scenes tension remain speculative.
Horror Trends and Market Timing
Indonesia’s horror scene has exploded in recent years, with films like The Queen of Black Magic and Satan’s Slaves proving the genre’s commercial viability. The Female Followers of the Devil arrives at a time when audiences are hungry for fresh supernatural tales, particularly those rooted in local folklore. While Bayi Ajaib (2023) shares a release year and director, there’s no evidence to suggest the two films are connected . Instead, The Female Followers of the Devil seems positioned as a standalone project, though its marketing strategy—or lack thereof—has left fans guessing.
One unanswered question is whether the film will lean into traditional Indonesian horror tropes (like pontianak or sundel bolong) or carve out a more modern, psychological approach. Given Prijanto’s background in drama, the latter seems plausible, but without trailers or official synopses, it’s all speculation for now.
Thin Evidence, Big Questions
Despite the intrigue, concrete details about The Female Followers of the Devil are frustratingly scarce. No production stills, on-set leaks, or cast interviews have surfaced, leaving fans to rely on the film’s TMDB page and Prijanto’s past work for clues [TMDB]. The lack of buzz could be due to a low-key release strategy, or it might signal a project still finding its footing. Either way, the film’s reception will hinge on whether Prijanto can translate his dramatic chops into effective horror.
For now, The Female Followers of the Devil remains a mystery—one that’s equal parts tantalizing and underwhelming in its lack of transparency. If Prijanto’s track record is any indication, the film could surprise audiences, but without more evidence, it’s all just educated guesswork.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.