It is a loose remake-prequel to the 1980 film of the same name directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra based on a story by Subagio S.[5] The plot follows a family who are haunted by the death of their mother, who dies after being bedridden for three years from a strange and debilitating illness.

The film focuses on a struggling family living in the countryside in 1981: Mawarni, her husband Bahri, his mother Rahma, and the couple’s four children: 22-year-old Rini, 16-year-old Toni, 10-year-old Bondi, and six-year-old Ian, who is deaf.

The family live amid financial hardship as Mawarni is ill and bedridden, and the royalties from her former singing career are long gone.

After finding an unsent letter on Rahma's desk to a man named Budiman, Rini and Hendra deliver it to him downtown to seek his help.

Budiman gives Rini his article about a fertility cult of Satan worshippers that target barren women who want to have children, with the caveat that the last child be surrendered voluntarily in seven years.

At night, members of the cult surround the house as a storm rages, but after Bahri tells them he is unwilling to give up Ian, they leave.

The moving van fails to show up the next day, forcing the family to stay another night, with the ustad keeping watch.

Director Joko Anwar had wanted to direct a remake of Pengabdi Setan ever since starting his film-making career, as the film had moved him to become a filmmaker.

"[31] Variety's Richard Kuipers wrote that the film has "high marks when it comes to the fundamental horror movie task of sending shivers up the spine and quickening the pulse.

"[32] James Marsh of the South China Morning Post gave the film 3/5 stars, saying "a slow-burning tale that builds to a chaotic and somewhat muddled conclusion, Satan’s Slaves is bursting with ideas.

"[33] Jonathan Barkan of Dread Central gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, writing "without a doubt, Satan's Slaves is certainly creepy.

[5] On 18 December 2017, executive producer Sunil Samtani said Rapi Films has been discussing the project plan of the sequel of Pengabdi Setan.