The Demit were once mankind’s protectors, but now they’re seen as demons. Only a handful remain…

HBO Asia’s eight half hour episode horror fantasy series arrives in the UK on Shudder, giving the streaming service something rather different to tempt audiences with. The opener is intriguing, starting with an extended animated sequence that sets up the backstory for the Demit, and providing a very accurate idea of the tone of the show – visceral bloody violence and dark creatures from Indonesian mythology.

The opener, as you’d expect, asks more questions than it answers, as we meet street artist Sarah who starts to discover things that perhaps no ordinary person should. In parallel with her story, we also see others who are searching for a mysterious Gift, which will give them great powers. (There’s a slightly clunky scene mid-episode as characters tell each other the backstory.)

The series is set in Jakarta, an unfamiliar locale for many, which adds to the mystery of the show. Tattoos are an integral part of the way of life and essential to the series, although there’s nice mockery of the way many Westerners don’t have a clue about what’s being inked on them in foreign languages! There’s a mix of English and Indonesian with English subtitles, which, if nothing else, helps maintain your concentration/

Be warned though: the violence extends throughout the show – a man is cut in half, and there’s a vicious fight in a public restroom (think the flashbacks at the start of Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale rather than The Man From UNCLE) – and it takes itself seriously. This isn’t another Crazyheads – more, a better version of ITV’s late and unlamented Demons.

Verdict: A promising start to an unusual show. 7/10

Paul Simpson