Silat is a lethal martial arts form from Southeast Asia, as the silat practitioners in this film demonstrate. With plenty of action, building to almost nonstop fight scenes in the second half of the film, Silat Warriors delivers a clear story of greed, family loyalty, faith, and the warrior creed. The film focuses on one family: widower Pak Nayan (Namron) is a prosperous man with ample agricultural fields and three young adult kids.
When the story begins, Pak Nayan’s son, Mat Arip (Fad Anuar) is a wastrel, gambling on street fights, using his car for drag racing and betting, and generally making his family unhappy. Pak Nayan’s daughter Fatima (Feiyna Tajudin) tells her father that he has spoiled Mat Arip. Mat’s gambling leaves him in debt to Haji Daud (Faizal Hussein)—so much so that Mat gives the loan shark the deed to his father’s property.
When Mat wins money at a street fight and attempts to pay back Haji Daud, the leader tells him he now owes interest for late payment. Haji Daud’s men visit Pak Nayan’s house and tell the family they must vacate in a week as Haji Daud has the deed.
The second son Ali (Khoharullah Majid) is a serious young man and practices silat under his master Pak Teh. Pak Teh reveals to Ali that Pak Nayan and Haji Daud were once friends and practiced under the same master. This master gave each of them presents: Pak Nayan received land and Haji Daud married the master’s daughter. Not satisfied with his wealth, Haji Daud became greedy and turned into a moneylender—demanding high-interest payments. Now, Haji Daud covets Namron’s land.
Haji Daud plans additional misery for Mat Arip by rigging a street fight; Mat loses more money. Next, the drag car racers trick Mat into betting on another race; he agrees to race; however, this time his opponent races in a fast car that Mat has no chance of beating. Mat forfeits his car and must meet the men at the vehicle registration office to transfer the title. Taking the bus, Mat is attacked and successfully fights off the men, only to be captured by other gangsters as he runs from the bus. Beaten badly, Mat is taken to a factory and tied up.
Fatima is attacked at the market; she defends herself well, showing she has also studied silat. While fishing near his fields, Ali is also forced to fight Haji Daud’s men; Ali proves to be the superior fighter. Once home, Ali tells his father he will find Mat and defend their inheritance and dignity. Continuous fight scenes at the end prove Ali to be a masterful silat warrior, even going up against Haji Daud. With convincing martial arts choreography, lyrical music, and clear sound effects, this film is recommended. Aud: P.