Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar is about to get his biggest American push yet. Well Go USA holds North American rights to Ghost in the Cell, his Indonesia–South Korea prison-horror co-production that premiered in the Berlinale Forum in February 2026, hits Indonesian theaters in Q2 2026, and lands stateside on a date still TBA. Before it does, here’s the scoreboard: the essential Anwar films, rated and ranked, so you know exactly where to start.
Satan’s Slaves (2017) — 8.7/10
The breakout. A grieving family discovers their dead mother won’t stay buried, and Anwar turns slow-build dread into a sustained masterclass. With 4.2 million admissions, it single-handedly rebuilt the international reputation of Indonesian horror. Patient, gorgeously composed, genuinely frightening — the perfect entry point. US: AMC+, Philo, free on Hoopla and Tubi.
Impetigore (2019) — 8.8/10
His finest. A young woman returns to her ancestral village to claim an inheritance and finds a cursed community with a horrifying secret. Folk horror with real texture and a knockout final act — so strong it became Indonesia’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards (it didn’t land a nomination, which remains a snub). The highest score here, and earned. US: Shudder, AMC+, Philo, Hoopla.
Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion (2022) — 8.5/10
Bigger, wetter, louder. Anwar relocates the family to a rain-lashed apartment tower and cranks the set pieces, crossing one million admissions in just two days on the way to 6.3 million. It trades a little of the original’s intimacy for spectacle, but the elevator sequence alone is worth the price. A rock-solid sequel. US: Shudder, AMC+, Philo, Hoopla.
Grave Torture (2024) — 7.9/10
His most brutal and divisive swing. A woman who survived a childhood tragedy sets out to disprove “the torment of the grave,” and Anwar follows her into genuinely punishing territory. It’s a colder, harsher film that won’t click for everyone — but it’s fearless, and it confirms he refuses to repeat himself. Lowest score here, highest ambition. US: Netflix.
One More for the Watchlist
Anwar wrote (but did not direct) The Queen of Black Magic (2019), helmed by Kimo Stamboel — a nasty, blood-soaked orphanage haunting that pairs well with everything above. US: Shudder, AMC+, Philo, Hoopla.
The Verdict
Composite score: 8.6/10. Start with Impetigore for the craft, Satan’s Slaves for the scares, then graduate to Grave Torture when you’re ready to get hurt. As for Ghost in the Cell — the one to watch, unscored until we see it. Anwar has said of the film, “I hope they ask themselves who the system is actually designed to protect.” If the catalog is any guide, he’ll make sure you can’t look away while you do.
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