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May the Devil Take You (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

May the Devil Take You (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 110 min · Indonesian
Echo score 63
JustWatch #34,089 2
Directed by
Timo Tjahjanto
Starring
Ray Sahetapy, Ruth Marini, Karina Suwandhi, Chelsea Islan, Clara Bernadeth, Hadijah Shahab

A young woman investigates her father’s deteriorating health and the history of his long-abandoned villa. She discovers a disturbing past connected to the house, revealing a legacy of dark secrets and a terrifying evil that puts her and her father in grave danger. The investigation uncovers a malevolent force determined to claim them both.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like May the Devil Take You
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch May the Devil Take You (2018)

Where can you watch May the Devil Take You? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

May the Devil Take You Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of May the Devil Take You (2018), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Lesmana Wijaya (Ray Sahetapy)

    Lesmana is depicted as a man whose ambition-driven greed leads him into a sinister pact for wealth. His decisions not only impact his own fate but also the lives of his family, illustrating the corrosive effects of material desires. The burden of his choices haunts him, particularly following the tragedy surrounding his first wife.

    • 👤 Father
    • 💼 Wealth
    • 😈 Greed
  • Alfie (Chelsea Islan)

    Alfie, Lesmana's estranged daughter, is characterized by her deep resentment towards her father and her struggle to reconcile family loyalties amidst chaos. As events unfold, she finds herself grappling with fear and guilt, particularly regarding the true nature of her mother's death. Her journey reveals a complex emotional landscape marred by betrayal and a desire for truth.

    • 👩‍👧 Daughter
    • 💔 Resentment
    • 🔍 Truth
  • Maya (Pevita Pearce)

    Maya experiences a tragic transformation into a puppet of a malevolent force, which leads to her descent into darkness. Despite her initial innocence, she becomes a vessel for evil, complicating her relationships with her siblings. Her journey reflects themes of control and the loss of one's true self to darker influences.

    • 👩 Sister
    • 🖤 Darkness
    • 🔄 Transformation

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:41

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Setting

Where and When Does May the Devil Take You Take Place?

The setting of May the Devil Take You (2018): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The narrative does not specify a particular time period but unfolds in a contemporary setting where modern life intersects with supernatural elements. The themes of wealth and the consequences of past actions suggest a timeless struggle against dark forces.

Location

family villa, hospital, woods

The movie is primarily set in a dilapidated family villa that holds dark secrets and treasures. Its haunting interior is marked by ominous shadows and a foreboding basement. Key events also take place in a hospital where Lesmana is treated, and the surrounding woods become a refuge for characters escaping supernatural threats.

  • 🏠 Villa
  • 🏥 Hospital
  • 🌲 Woods

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:41

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3 major themes

May the Devil Take You Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is May the Devil Take You (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Greed

    At the core of the film is the theme of greed, exemplified by Lesmana's dark pact for wealth that leads to devastating consequences. The pursuit of riches brings about a tragic spiral into darkness, culminating in sacrifices that haunt the family. Characters confront their desires and the malevolent forces that arise from them, reflecting on the cost of ambition.

  • Supernatural Horror

    The film explores supernatural horror through the presence of a malevolent force unleashed within the family villa. Characters experience terrifying occurrences and their relationships are strained as they grapple with the implications of this dark entity. The horror escalates as family bonds are tested against this encroaching evil, leading to tragic outcomes.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal permeates the film as characters experience treachery from those they hold dear. Alfie learns of her father's dark actions, while Maya becomes a vessel for evil, turning against her siblings. This theme underscores the destructive impact of deceit and the emotional turmoil that arises within familial ties.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:41

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Character & theme questions

May the Devil Take You Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about May the Devil Take You (2018): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is May the Devil Take You set?

The film takes place primarily in a dilapidated family villa with ominous interiors and a foreboding basement. Additional key locations include a hospital where the father is treated and the surrounding woods that serve as a refuge from supernatural threats.

  • villa setting
  • horror location
  • haunted house
  • setting
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The movie unfolds in a contemporary setting where modern life intersects with supernatural elements. There is no specific historical year mentioned, making it a present-day horror story.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern setting
  • era
Q3

What is the main theme of May the Devil Take You?

Greed is the central theme, exemplified by Lesmana's dark pact for wealth that leads to devastating consequences. The pursuit of riches brings about a tragic spiral into darkness, with sacrifices that haunt the family across generations.

  • greed
  • theme
  • ambition
  • wealth
  • corruption
Q4

How does supernatural horror play into the film?

The film explores supernatural horror through a malevolent force unleashed within the family villa. Characters experience terrifying occurrences as the horror escalates and family bonds are tested against this encroaching evil.

  • supernatural
  • horror
  • demon
  • evil entity
  • haunted
Q5

How is betrayal explored in the story?

Betrayal permeates the film as characters experience treachery from those they hold dear. Alfie discovers her father's dark actions, while Maya becomes a vessel for evil and turns against her siblings, underscoring the destructive impact of deceit within familial ties.

  • betrayal
  • family
  • deception
  • trust
Q6

Who is Lesmana Wijaya and what is his role?

Lesmana Wijaya is a man whose ambition-driven greed leads him into a sinister pact for wealth. His decisions impact his entire family, illustrating the corrosive effects of material desires. He is haunted by the burden of his choices, particularly surrounding the tragedy of his first wife.

  • lesmana
  • father
  • protagonist
  • greedy character
Q7

Who is Alfie in the movie?

Alfie is Lesmana's estranged daughter, characterized by deep resentment toward her father and a struggle to reconcile family loyalties amid chaos. She grapples with fear and guilt, particularly regarding the true nature of her mother's death, seeking truth throughout the film.

  • alfie
  • daughter
  • protagonist
  • truth seeker
Q8

Who is Maya and what happens to her?

Maya experiences a tragic transformation into a puppet of a malevolent force, descending into darkness despite her initial innocence. She becomes a vessel for evil, complicating her relationships with her siblings and reflecting themes of control and loss of one's true self to darker influences.

  • maya
  • possession
  • transformation
  • sibling
Q9

What does the family villa represent thematically?

The villa represents the physical manifestation of the family's dark past and hidden secrets. Its dilapidated state and foreboding basement serve as the site where Lesmana's sinister pact was made, trapping the family in a legacy of greed and supernatural evil.

  • villa
  • house
  • basement
  • secrets
  • dark past
Q10

Why is the film's ending described as bleak?

The ending is bleak because the villa remains haunted and the protagonists escape only after immense loss. The evil unleashed by Lesmana's pact remains unvanquished, suggesting the malevolent force will continue to claim victims, with the family forever bound to their dark legacy.

  • ending
  • bleak
  • 结局
  • evil unvanquished
  • loss

Movie threads

More Movies Like May the Devil Take You, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes May the Devil Take You tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about demonic family curses like May the Devil Take You

Stories where a family's dark past unleashes a relentless supernatural evil. If you liked the high-intensity horror of a family curse in May the Devil Take You, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature dark pacts, inherited sin, and supernatural forces tormenting families, delivering a heavy emotional weight and bleak outcomes.

  • demonic
  • oppressive
  • desperate
  • gruesome
  • haunting
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically involves uncovering a hidden family secret, often a pact or ritual, that has summoned a persistent evil. The story unfolds as the characters, usually family members, piece together the truth while being systematically hunted or possessed by the demonic force, leading to a desperate fight for survival.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their focus on a supernatural threat rooted in familial betrayal or a ancestral bargain. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and the heavy theme of being punished for sins you didn't personally commit, creating a uniquely oppressive and anxious viewing experience.

Fast-paced supernatural survival horror movies like May the Devil Take You

Non-stop, high-intensity horror where characters fight desperately against an overpowering evil. Fans of the relentless, fast-paced terror in May the Devil Take You will enjoy these similar films. This collection features movies with high intensity, gruesome violence, and a desperate fight for survival against demonic or supernatural entities in confined, oppressive settings.

  • relentless
  • anxious
  • violent
  • gruesome
  • desperate
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, tense
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot quickly establishes a dire supernatural threat and then sustains a high level of action and terror. Characters are thrown into a series of violent confrontations with little time to breathe, focusing on pure survival rather than deep mystery-solving. The narrative is a sprint from one horrifying set-piece to the next.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their breakneck pacing and consistently high intensity. They prioritize visceral scares, gruesome imagery, and a feeling of being trapped and hunted by an unstoppable force. The experience is defined by anxiety, claustrophobia, and a focus on physical and supernatural violence.

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Every angle

May the Devil Take You (2018) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about May the Devil Take You in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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