Inheriting the future of horror

Around the world, horror is having a major cinematic moment. From low-budget internet phenomena turned studio hits like The Backrooms (2026) to high-concept thrillers like Obsession (2025), chilling subversions of the genre are proving that audiences will still flock to cinemas, if given a reason to step into the dark.

For veteran filmmaker Banjong Pisanthanakun, the director behind Thai horror milestones like Shutter (2004) and The Medium (2021), the international trend is not just encouraging, it’s a call to action.

​To lure moviegoers back to seats in the streaming-first era, Thai cinema can no longer rely on traditional tropes. With his 2026 feature Inherit, Banjong is taking a bold gamble: taking one of Thailand’s most iconic television dramas and completely reinventing its mythos as a dark, cinematic spectacle.

​“If a film is truly outstanding, its story, concept and perspective alone must be compelling enough to captivate audiences,” the 47-year-old filmmaker says. “We have to offer new ideas and fresh approaches to change the tide.”

Big-screen blues: high ticket prices, streaming fatigue

​The stakes for Thai theatrical releases have rarely been higher. According to figures from the Thai Film Director Association, local box-office revenues have struggled to regain their pre-pandemic footing, compounded by shifting consumer habits and economic pressures.

While neighbouring markets like Indonesia and Vietnam have seen robust theatrical rebounds, Banjong notes a key regional disparity: price sensitivity. With domestic cinema tickets in Thailand averaging 220 baht or higher — compared to the equivalent of 100 baht in Vietnam or Indonesia — local moviegoers are far more inclined to wait for titles to drop on streaming platforms.

To break that inertia, Banjong believes filmmakers must deliver an experience that cannot be replicated on a living room couch.

Reinterpreting a classic: From TV melodrama to demonic horror

First broadcast as a television drama in 1992 and remade for TV in 2001 and 2016, Inherit (Tayat Arsoon, ทายาทอสูร) centres on a horrific curse passed down through bloodlines. At its heart is Grandma Woranat, an elderly matriarch whose eternal youth is maintained by a parasitic centipede spirit.

Rather than repeating past television adaptations, Banjong saw an opportunity to completely flip the narrative perspective.

“I started by isolating the elements that excited me as a filmmaker,” he explains. “Instead of a traditional story, I wanted to tell it from a different perspective, which will focus on the main and evil character of the story, Woranat. She isn’t just an old woman holding onto a curse — she is a fierce, seductive and dangerous manifestation of evil.”

Banjong Pisanthanakun

Transitioning from episodic television to a feature-length film meant building a world grounded in tactile realism. To construct Woranat’s domain, the production team pieced together five distinct architectural locations to represent a single, eerie estate — stretching from grand main halls to shadowy subterranean spaces beneath the house.

A Seductive Performance in Dark Design

Central to the reimagining is lead actress Davika “Mai” Hoorne, whose casting as Woranat brings a mix of allure and menace to the role.

“Davika completely embodies the beauty, wisdom, power and dark energy of the character,” says Banjong, noting that some of the film’s most unsettling beats — including a chilling, unscripted smile seen in the teaser — stemmed from her on-set improvisation.

Davika “Mai” Hoorne as Grandma Woranat. (Photo: GDH 559)

The character’s transformation is further grounded by bespoke costume design, where custom-crafted wardrobe choices visually telegraph the demonic escalation inside her.

A global debut for a local icon

Banjong’s high-concept approach is already turning heads internationally. Following festival screenings in Toronto, Busan, Sitges (Spain), London and most recently, Jakarta — which sold out over 2,000 seats in 24 hours — early festival-goers have noted the film’s uninhibited energy, with one viewer describing it as “a horror movie that’s gone delightfully insane”.

Positioned as one of GDH’s major international titles this year, Inherit features a powerhouse ensemble including Davika, Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp and Sinjai Plengpanich. Co-produced alongside Weerachai Yaikwawong, the film promises a visceral dive into the dark ritual of the centipede curse.

Whether Inherit can spark a broader resurgence for domestic cinema remains to be seen, but Banjong’s message is clear: the future of horror belongs on the big screen.

Inherit opens in cinemas nationwide on Nov 19, 2026.

Official poster for Inherit

Banjong Pisanthanakun and cast members of <i>Inherit</i>