If you’re into Indonesian horror, you’ve probably felt that specific, bone-chilling dread that only Timo Tjahjanto can deliver. Honestly, his 2018 hit May the Devil Take You (known locally as Sebelum Iblis Menjemput) is basically a masterclass in how to make an audience squirm. While the cinematography is grim and the practical effects are disgusting in the best way possible, the heavy lifting is done by the May the Devil Take You cast. They aren’t just screaming at ghosts; they’re portraying a family rotting from the inside out.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s visceral.
The movie follows Alfie, a young woman haunted by her past, who discovers her estranged father has fallen into a mysterious coma. When she travels to his old villa, she finds her step-family already there, picking through the bones of a dying man's estate. But daddy didn't just leave behind debt—he left a blood pact with a demonic entity. The cast had to balance "family drama from hell" with "supernatural survival," and somehow, they made it feel grounded.
Chelsea Islan as Alfie: The Final Girl We Deserve
Chelsea Islan is usually the sweetheart of Indonesian cinema. You've seen her in rom-coms or historical dramas where she’s polished and poised. Forget all that. In this film, she is raw. Alfie is a woman who has been hardened by abandonment and a mother’s tragic death. Islan plays her with a simmering resentment that eventually boils over into pure, adrenaline-fueled survival.
There is a specific scene where Alfie is forced to confront her father’s secrets in the basement. Islan’s physicality here is incredible. She isn't just a damsel in distress; she’s a fighter who looks like she’s actually losing her mind. It’s a performance that anchors the entire film. Without her grit, the more "out there" horror elements might have felt cheesy. Instead, we’re right there in the mud with her.
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Pevita Pearce and the Descent into Madness
Then there’s Maya. Oh, Maya.
Pevita Pearce plays Alfie’s stepsister, and the dynamic between the two is where the movie finds its heartbeat. Or its heartbreak. Maya starts as the spoiled, glamorous daughter concerned about her father’s inheritance. But as the demonic influence takes hold, Pearce undergoes a terrifying transformation.
Transformation isn't just about makeup. It’s the eyes. Pearce manages to shift from a person you mildly dislike to a creature you are genuinely terrified of. Her performance in the second half of the film is legendary in the Indonesian horror community. She leaned so hard into the "possession" tropes that she actually redefined them for a new generation of viewers. It’s high-energy, it’s frightening, and it’s arguably the standout performance of the entire May the Devil Take You cast.
The Supporting Players: More Than Just Fodder
Usually, in slashers or supernatural flicks, the side characters are just there to increase the body count. Here, they add layers to the misery.
- Ray Sahetapy (Lesmana): The patriarch. He’s the one who started this mess. Sahetapy brings a veteran gravitas to the role. He’s not a "villain" in the traditional sense, but his greed is the catalyst for everything. Even in a coma, his presence looms over the villa.
- Karina Suwandi (Laksmi): The stepmother. Her desperation is palpable. She represents the fragility of a life built on someone else's secrets.
- Samo Rafael (Ruben) and Hadijah Shahab (Nara): They provide the stakes. Nara, especially, gives the audience something to protect. When a child is in danger in a Timo Tjahjanto movie, you know the stakes are sky-high because he isn't afraid to go to dark places.
Behind the Scenes: The Tjahjanto Effect
You can't talk about the actors without talking about the director. Timo Tjahjanto is one half of the "Mo Brothers," the duo behind Macabre and Killers. He’s known for a "no-holds-barred" approach to violence. For the cast, this meant grueling shoots, literal gallons of fake blood, and hours in the makeup chair.
The chemistry between Islan and Pearce wasn't accidental. They spent time building that sibling rivalry so that when the supernatural elements hit, the emotional betrayals felt real. It's one thing to be scared of a demon; it's another to be scared of your sister who is being manipulated by one.
Why This Cast Resonated Globally
When May the Devil Take You hit Netflix, it found a second life outside of Southeast Asia. International critics compared it to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead. That’s a massive compliment. But while Raimi uses humor to break the tension, Tjahjanto uses the May the Devil Take You cast to lean into the melodrama.
It’s "Sinetron" (Indonesian soap opera) meets "Splatter Horror."
This blend works because the actors treat the material with absolute sincerity. They aren't winking at the camera. When Alfie screams, you feel the vocal cords straining. When Maya contorts her body, you feel the phantom pain in your own joints. This commitment is what separates a "good" horror movie from a "cult classic."
The Legacy and the Sequel
The success of the first film's ensemble led directly to May the Devil Take You Too (2020). Chelsea Islan returned, proving that Alfie is one of the most resilient protagonists in modern horror. The sequel upped the ante with more characters and even weirder mythology, but it always came back to that central performance by Islan.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the careers of this cast, you should definitely check out:
- Chelsea Islan in 3 Srikandi for something completely different.
- Pevita Pearce in Sri Asih, where she takes on a superhero role, showing off the same physical intensity she brought to horror.
- Ray Sahetapy in The Raid: Redemption. If you haven't seen him as the brutal crime lord Tama, you’re missing out on one of the best villain turns in action history.
What You Should Do Next
If you’ve already watched the film and want to appreciate the work of the May the Devil Take You cast even more, go back and watch the "Making Of" featurettes often found on DVD releases or official studio YouTube channels. Seeing Chelsea Islan and Pevita Pearce laughing between takes while covered in grime and prosthetics really highlights the technical skill involved in their performances.
To truly understand the impact of this film on the genre, compare it to the original 1980s Indonesian horror films like Suzzanna: Queen of Black Magic. You’ll see how the 2018 cast honors those "Scream Queen" roots while bringing a modern, psychological edge that didn't exist forty years ago.
Finally, if you're a fan of the cast's chemistry, track down the sequel immediately. It doubles down on the "family trauma" aspect and gives Chelsea Islan even more room to cement her status as a horror icon. Don't watch it alone, and definitely don't watch it with the lights off if you value your sleep.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Sequel: May the Devil Take You Too is a rare sequel that matches the intensity of the original.
- Follow the Director: Keep an eye on Timo Tjahjanto’s upcoming projects, including his work on the Nobody 2 and other international collaborations.
- Explore Indonesian Horror: Use this film as a gateway. Look into the works of Joko Anwar (Satan's Slaves) to see how other casts handle similar "house of horror" themes.
- Physicality in Acting: Pay attention to how the actors use their bodies, not just their voices, to convey possession—it’s a specific skill set that this cast mastered.