Haunting the night with 7 films exploring rural folklore, traditional Thai beliefs and poignant reflections on life and death.

As Halloweekend approaches, there’s no better way to get into the spooky mood than by settling in for a night of films filled with local ghost tales, dark folklore and haunting spirits. From eerie rural villages to traditional Thai beliefs about life and death, these stories offer a glimpse into the supernatural side of the country. Not sure which films to watch? Koktail has handpicked seven Thai films to send chills down your spine and set the mood for Halloween night.

(1/7) Rang Song (The Medium) (2021)

Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun 

In the rural Isan area, a documentary crew travels to interview a medium named Nim who claims to be possessed by the spirit of Ba Yan, a local divinity. The story unfolds when Nim’s niece, Mink, starts exhibiting increasingly strange and disturbing behaviour. Released in 2021, the film quickly became a talk of the town for its eerie atmosphere and unsettling portrayal of the supernatural, blending local spiritual beliefs and folklore with forces beyond human understanding. 

(2/7) Tee Yod (Death Whisperer) (2023)

Directed by Taweewat Wantha

Next up on the list is Tee Yod, an action-horror film that will take you on an adventure around a remote village in Kanchanaburi province. The story follows Yak, the eldest brother of 5 siblings, as he returns home to find his younger sister – Yam – acting out bizarre behaviours after her brief encounter with a mysterious lady in the woods. Inspired by a true story that first gained attention online before being adapted into a book titled Tee Yod…Waew Siang Khruan Khlang (2017), the film brings this chilling tale into life, mixing intense action, terrifying horror and family love into one. 

(3/7) Supparor (The Undertaker) (2023)

Directed by Thiti Srinual 

Taking on Halloween with a different approach to the dead (literally) is Supparor.

The film tells the story of Joed, a law school graduate who is forced to take over the family business as an undertaker after his father falls ill, despite his fear of ghosts. Told entirely in the local Isan dialect, the film explored traditional burial practices, beliefs about life after death and philosophical reflections on grief and acceptance, all wrapped up with a generous dose of humour.

(4/7) Sang Krasue (Inhuman Kiss) (2019)

Directed by Sittisiri Mongkolsiri 

In local ghost tales, each ghost has its way of going around the town, and in Sang Krasue, the spirit floats around with only its head and heart (along with important organs for survival, of course). The story follows Sai, a girl living in a remote village who unknowingly inherited the Krasue spirit. During the day, her body appears that of a normal woman, but reveals gruesome truths as the night falls. The film combines body horror, traditional folklore with a tragic love story. At its heart, it is a story about being different, feared and wanting to be loved despite one’s true nature.

(5/7) Pen Chu Kap Phi (The Unseeable) (2006)

Directed by Wisit Sasanatieng

Winding back in time with Pen Chu Kap Phi or The Unseeable. Released in 2006 and set in 1930s Siam, Nualjan, a young pregnant woman travels from her village in search for her missing husband. Along the way, she finds shelter in an isolated mansion owned by a wealthy widow, Madame Runjuan. Drawn deeper into the mansion’s dark history, Nualjan gradually discovers the horror truths of the place, people and secrets involving love, jealousy and death. At the heart of the film is the Ruan Thai mansion, whose traditional architecture and eerie stillness capture the haunting beauty of old Siam. More than just a setting, the house becomes a silent witness to the tragedies,

(6/7) Pee Mak Phrakanong (Pee Mak) (2013)

Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun

Love and death – the two timeless ingredients of any good story, and the heart of this film. Though retold countless times, Pee Mak brings its own blend of horror and humour, making for a Halloween night filled with equal parts fright and laughter. Set during the Rattanakosin period, the story follows Nak, who dies during childbirth while waiting for her beloved husband, Mak, to return from battle. But bounded by love and longing, the spirit of Nak stays. As strange encounters and chilling village rumours unfold, the truth threatens to tear apart a love that even death cannot end.

(7/7) The Murderer (2023)

Directed by Wisit Sasanatieng

Ending the list on a high note (no spoiler intended) is The Murderer directed by Wisit Sasanatieng. Set in an isolated family farmland in a rural Isan area, the story unveils a massacre that happened in one night after a shared family dinner gone wrong. A police inspector Nawat is called in to investigate the crime and suspicion quickly falls on Earl, a British expat married into the local family. Filled with blood and laughter, the film brings local in-joke, rural Isan life, village gossip and murder mystery together.