Chelsea Islan
Alfie
Overview
Hoping to find answers to her estranged father's mysterious illness, a young woman visits his old villa and uncovers a horrifying truth from the past.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Devil’s Ledger: How May the Devil Take You Balances Horror and Heart
I’ve seen this trick before—the haunted house, the estranged family, the demon lurking in the walls. It’s a formula as old as horror itself, and yet May the Devil Take You manages to make it feel fresh, not because it reinvents the wheel, but because it understands something fundamental: the scariest monsters aren’t the ones that go bump in the night. They’re the ones that wear the faces of the people you love.
The film opens with Alfie (Chelsea Islan), a young woman with the kind of restless energy that suggests she’s been running from something for a long time. She’s summoned back to her estranged father’s crumbling villa after he falls into a mysterious coma, and the moment she steps inside, the air thickens. The house isn’t just old—it’s alive, in the way that places with too much history sometimes are.
The walls seem to breathe. The shadows stretch just a little too long. And then there’s the doll.
Oh, the doll. It’s the kind of prop that should feel hokey, a voodoo cliché, but the way it’s framed—just slightly out of focus in the corner of the shot, its stitched mouth curled into something like a smile—makes your skin prickle.
What follows is a slow unraveling, not just of the family’s secrets, but of Alfie herself. The film takes its time, letting the dread seep in like humidity. There’s a scene early on where Alfie and her stepsister Maya (Pevita Pearce) argue in the villa’s overgrown garden, the camera lingering on their faces as the wind rustles the trees behind them.
It’s a quiet moment, almost mundane, but the tension is palpable. You can feel the weight of what’s unsaid between them—the resentment, the grief, the unspoken fear that their father’s illness isn’t just an illness at all. Pearce plays Maya with a quiet intensity, her eyes darting away whenever the conversation gets too close to the truth.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.4/10
"A solid Southeast Asian horror entry with intense scares and strong performances, but held back by familiar tropes and uneven pacing."
Viewers appreciate the film’s creepy atmosphere and inventive horror sequences, which deliver genuine scares and stand out in the genre. The cast, particularly Chelsea Islan and Pevita Pearce, is praised for bringing depth to their roles. latestnetflix.com's take is that however, some find the story predictable, relying on well-worn horror clichés, and criticize the pacing for dragging in parts, making it feel longer than necessary.
What viewers praise
- Effective scares The horror sequences are inventive and deliver genuine tension, making it a standout in Southeast Asian horror.
- Strong lead performances Chelsea Islan and Pevita Pearce are highlighted for their compelling portrayals, adding emotional weight to the story.
- Creepy atmosphere The film’s eerie setting and mood are consistently praised for enhancing the horror experience.
- International appeal Its availability on Netflix and positive reception at film festivals helped it reach a wider audience.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar horror tropes, making it feel unoriginal to some viewers.
- Uneven pacing Some scenes drag, making the film feel longer and less tightly structured than it could be.
- Thin character development Supporting characters are underdeveloped, leaving some roles feeling shallow or forgettable.
Recommended for
Horror fans seeking fresh scares Southeast Asian cinema enthusiasts Fans of supernatural thrillers Netflix horror viewers Atmospheric horror lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of May the Devil Take You (2018): Indonesia’s Horror Hit
May the Devil Take You (2018) emerged as a standout in Indonesia’s horror renaissance, blending supernatural terror with family drama. While the film’s chilling atmosphere and strong performances—led by Chelsea Islan and Pevita Pearce—earned it a cult following, behind-the-scenes details remain scarce. latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what we know (and what’s still shrouded in mystery).
The Cast: A Breakout Ensemble
The film’s success hinged on its cast, particularly Islan and Pearce, who played stepsisters tangled in a demonic curse. Islan, already a rising star in Indonesian cinema, brought intensity to her role as Alfie, a rebellious young woman confronting her father’s dark legacy. Pearce, known for her work in Habibie & Ainun (2012), balanced vulnerability and grit as Maya, Alfie’s more reserved stepsister.
Supporting players like Ray Sahetapy (as the patriarch Lesmana) and Ruth Marini (as the eerie housekeeper) added depth, though their behind-the-scenes dynamics remain undocumented. Rumors suggest the cast bonded over the film’s grueling shoot, but no firsthand accounts confirm this 
.
Production: A Horror Director’s Playground
The film’s director remains unconfirmed in the provided evidence, but the style aligns with Timo Tjahjanto’s signature blend of visceral horror and emotional storytelling. Tjahjanto later helmed the sequel May the Devil Take You Too (2020), suggesting he may have been involved in the original—though this is unconfirmed , .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyOdg8psCxI
What is clear: the production leaned into practical effects. The trailer for the 2018 film showcases eerie set pieces, from a haunted mansion to grotesque demonic transformations, hinting at a hands-on approach to horror . Whether the crew faced challenges (like budget constraints or on-set accidents) is unknown, but the final product’s polish suggests a well-oiled machine.
Reception: A Quiet but Potent Impact
May the Devil Take You flew under the radar internationally but resonated domestically. While Rotten Tomatoes lacks a critic score for the 2018 original, its sequel earned a 6.4/10 on SensCritique, indicating a dedicated fanbase . The film’s original title, Sebelum Iblis Menjemput, translates to “Before the Devil Takes You,” a phrase that became synonymous with Indonesian horror.
Audience reactions praised the film’s slow-burn tension and emotional core, though some criticized its pacing. Notably, the 2018 trailer amassed over 1.5 million views on YouTube, proving its appeal ahead of release .
The Mystery of the Missing Details
For all its acclaim, May the Devil Take You (2018) remains a black box. No interviews, BTS footage, or cast anecdotes have surfaced in the provided evidence. Was the shoot plagued by supernatural mishaps, as horror sets often claim? Did the cast improvise key scenes? Without verified sources, these questions linger.
What’s certain: the film’s legacy endures. Its success paved the way for sequels, cementing its place in Indonesia’s horror canon—even if the behind-the-scenes story stays untold.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.