As Halloween fades but our appetite for fear lingers, seven Thai actors reveal the horror films they would like to direct, and the roles they would play. From ghost comedies to folklore-inspired nightmares, these stars show the art of fear never sleeps.

With IT: Welcome to Derry (2025) continuing to spook audiences beyond Halloween and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025) soon to rise again, it’s clear that our love for things that go bump in the night endures all year round. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of The Nightmare Before Christmas?  

Koktail asked a few Thai actors: if they could switch roles and step behind the camera as film directors, what kind of horror story would they create, and which haunting character would they play? Here’s what they had to say about the art of fear, fantasy and the thrill of being scared. 

Harit “Keng” Buayoi

“I’d like to direct a movie about hunting ghosts such as spirits or witches. I’d want to play the person who goes out to hunt these supernatural beings.”

Coming fresh from his role as an exorcist in Khemjira: The Series (2025), Keng seems drawn once again to the darker side of storytelling. The series follows a young man, Khemjira, born into a family with its members cursed to die before turning 21, and as his 20th birthday approaches, his reality begins to unravel under the weight of supernatural forces. It combines elements of horror, folklore and romance. 

Pongpol “Khunpol” Panyamit

“A ghost movie, more like an action-packed Avengers with ghosts from all over the world.”

For Khunpol, a member of the boy band BUS, his choice of film reflects both friendship and action. Much like The Avengers, it’s about teamwork in which heroes (or in this case spirits) join forces for a shared cause. With 12 members in the group, he imagines directing a film that brings them all together in different, dynamic roles.

Adding a playful twist, he says,

“personally, I’d love to play as Pee Mak because I want to find my own Mae Nak.”

Pee Mak is based on Thailand’s ghost tale of Mae Nak Phra Khanong. The story follows Mak, a young man who leaves his pregnant wife, Nak, to fight in a war. When he returns, he reunites with her and their baby – unaware that Nak has died during childbirth and her spirit now lives on beside him. In 2013 the legend was reimagined as the hit comedy-horror film Pee Mak. 

Natara “Ice” Nopparatayapon

“I want to create a comedy-horror film, and I’d love to play either a ghost or a friend of the ghost. That sounds really interesting.” 

For Ice comedy sits at the heart of his vision as a director. He believes horror doesn’t always have to be dark and terrifying; it can be light-hearted, fun and even heartwarming in its own quirky way. Having starred in a horror film, Ice reflects on the challenges of acting in such genres.

“I’ve acted in a horror film before, but most of my scenes were just me alone, using a lot of imagination to showcase my acting skills. Playing a ghost who can actually interact and have dialogue with humans seems exciting.”

He thinks it would be fun to flip the role by being the ghost meeting people or having interacting with other actors in the shooting scene, while also adding a playful touch of humour to the horror.

Methika “Jane” Jiranorraphat

“That’s a tough question. I think I’d like to recreate the classic Mae Nak film, maybe even play Mae Nak’s child.” 

Jane’s choice reflects both a respect for tradition and a curiosity to explore it from a fresh perspective. Mae Nak remains one of Thailand’s most iconic ghost stories, a legend that continues to resurface in popular culture time and again.

“Every role has its own challenges, but horror films can be particularly demanding because the scenes often require late nights, which can be physically exhausting,”

Jane shares, acknowledging the demanding nature of filming such roles. 

Pruk “Zee” Panich

“I’d like to make a movie with no humans, just ghosts. Imagine a bunch of ghosts meeting each other, with a touch of comedy. I’d want to play a ghost who just sits around doing nothing, haha, because I’d be too tired to scare people.” 

Zee’s idea takes a playful twist on the horror genre, placing ghosts at the centre of the story. His concept blends humour with his clear enthusiasm for the darker side of cinema. Excitedly he shares how much he wants to take on a horror role:

“I’ve said in many interviews that I really want to act in a horror film. Every character feels like a challenge, which is exciting. I love the idea of playing something haunting, with a mood and tone that’s dark, raw and intense. It just seems really interesting.”

Phakphum “Mile” Romsaithong

“Actually I’ve wanted to act in a thriller since I was a kid. I would love to be in a film like Shutter (2004). It would be fun to have someone riding on the back in a film.”

Mile shares his long-time fascination with the thriller and horror genres. One iconic scene in Shutter is when the ghost rides on the main character’s shoulders, one of the moments that marked a haunting major step forward for the Thai horror film industry. He continues to describe his creative vision:

“Or a horror movie with a Thai twist but featuring ghosts from other countries. Imagine Thai ghosts meeting Korean ghosts, or something like Annabelle from the Conjuring universe. Bringing together supernatural elements from different cultures could be really exciting.”

Mile’s idea captures both his humour and curiosity, showing his desire to blend cross-cultural horror with a sense of fun and cinematic adventure. He reflects on the craft of acting in horror films. 

“I think the biggest challenge lies in the imagination. The first thing we need to understand and feel is how we or our characters would react when we constantly encounter ghosts in various forms. What does it feel like to be terrified to the extreme? Or is it just a sudden shock? These dynamics, the fear and the emotions, are the real challenge: managing them and expressing them at exactly the right moment.”

Tawan “Tay” Vihokratana

Courtesy of Koktail Thailand 

A light-hearted close with Tay, whose choice of a comedy-horror perfectly mirrors his playful personality. 

“A film that blends comedy with a sitcom-style horror vibe; that’s what I’d love to do next. I want to play a character who’s always around the house, so I can appear in every episode and have plenty of screen time.”

Tay has previously starred in the comedy-horror Peaceful Property (2024), an experience he recalls:

“It was quite a challenge because it required me to express a wider range of emotions than usual. The film had a touch of comedy too, so I had to perform with a bit more exaggeration. It was a really great experience.”