20 Best Thai Horror Movies

Summary

Thai horror movies blend supernatural folklore with gruesome visuals to create memorable scares, delighting horror fans worldwide.
Pee Mak
, a horror-comedy, showcases Thailand’s love for the horror genre with a unique twist on a classic legend, appealing to a wide audience.
Inhuman Kiss
, based on Thai mythology, offers a uniquely terrifying take on the krasue folklore, blending horror with emotional depth.

Asian horror is a unique genre in its own right, known for aesthetically pleasing visuals, creepy storylines, and gruesome deaths, and this includes the best Thai horror movies. Various supernatural folklore and a belief in ghosts and spirits have heavily influenced the Thai horror genre, with movies like Nang Nak and Inhuman Kiss drawing from Thai myths to create some truly memorable scares. Over the years, Thai horror movies have grown in popularity with international audiences who have a love for the horror genre as a whole but are looking for something just a little bit different.

Good essay

Most are familiar with some of the best Asian horror movies like Ju-On or The Ring franchise, but the American remakes of these classic Asian tales never seem to correctly capture their elusively creepy atmosphere. Pee Mak, the most commercially successful Thai film of all time, is further proof that the horror genre is the most popular within Thai cinema. Leaning heavily into the concepts of both ghosts and gore, Thai horror movies are full of chills and thrills that are sure to delight even the most hardened of horror lovers. Here are 20 of the best Thai horror movies that are sure to please any horror aficionado.

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20 Nang Nak (1999)

Based On The Thai Legend Of Mae Nak Phra Khanong

Thailand has many culturally unique ghost stories and supernatural myths that make for great horror movies, such as 1999’s Nang Nak, from director Nonzee Nimibutr. Based on the legend of Mae Nak Phra Kanong, Nang Nak is a Thai horror movie that mixes up some domestic problems with a ghostly atmosphere. In the film, a veteran soldier named Mak returns home from war to his wife Nak and their newborn baby. However, when he returns, his neighbors tell him something is going on in his home that he should beware of.

This is a largely forgotten but terrifying haunted house movie based on a classic folk tale about a woman who died during a difficult birth after her husband went to war. However, while there are numerous films based on this folk tale, Nang Nak stands out thanks to the great performances and incredibly build-up of suspense throughout.

19 Art Of The Devil 2 (2005)

A Gory, Violent Revenge Thai Horror Movie

Art of the Devil 2, directed by Pasith Buranajan, is the second movie in the franchise, and is a sequel in name only. It thematically revolves around revenge and what that means to the person seeking vengeance. As a warning, the film is incredibly gory, as is the trailer. However, this fact is what makes it stand out among Thai horror movies, and in the Art of the Devil trilogy, as it successfully mixes some incredibly visceral visuals with themes of black magic and the supernatural.

In Art of the Devil 2, teacher Aajaan Panor wants to gain revenge against the students who tormented her in the past, and she turns to black magic to do so. This results in a very gory movie with intense violence that shows the dangers of tampering with black magic. Art of the Devil 2 is one of the most intense Thai horror movies and is a nonstop slasher movie from start to finish.

18 The Unseeable (2006)

A Psychological Thai Thriller

The Unseeable, from director Wisit Sasanatieng, is a 2007 release that features a pregnant woman searching for her lost husband, and it’s one of the creepiest Thai horror movies. Titled Pen Chu Kap Phi in Thai (which literally translates to Committing Adultery with Ghost), The Unseeable has a surprisingly emotional plot, although this doesn’t detract from just how chilling the movie can be.

In The Unseeable, a young pregnant woman names Nualjan seeks shelter in a large mansion. Once there, she begins to discover unborn spirits and learns that her world is not as it seems. What makes this movie so impressive is that it is not a gore fest nor does it rely on shocks to scare the audiences. Instead, The Unseeable is a slow-burn tale of terror that sends the lead character on a journey of finally letting go of her past.

17 House of Ghosts Pisaj (Evil) (2004)

A Thai Ghost Story

House of Ghosts Pisaj (Evil), also commonly known as simply Pisaj, is a 2004 Thai horror movie from director Chookiat Sakveerakul. It thematically focuses on different ways of dealing with pain and loss, and how these can vary from person to person, and it’s one of the more unique Thai horror movies.

The main character in House of Ghosts is a girl who loses both of her parents in a horrific tragedy and ends up living with her aunt. This aunt also happens to be a spiritual medium. House of Ghosts takes viewers on a trip with this girl as she tries to deal with her loss and pain, but finds herself thrown into a world where it is hard to understand what is real and what isn’t. The movie ended up as a cult classic and remains regularly cited as a highlight of Thai cinema among fans of horror movies stemming from the country.

16 The Sisters (2004)

Based On A Real Murder Case In Thailand

The Sisters, known as Pee chong air in Thailand, comes from director Tiwa Moeithaisong. While it may be a somewhat by-the-numbers story of a ghost with unfinished business on the surface, The Sisters has more than enough that makes it stand out among other Thai horror movies, including some incredibly effective jump-scares.

The Sisters starts with a bang when a group of musicians finds a severed head in their hotel room and then ends up haunted by a lost spirit. This is a basic ghost movie, where the cast has to solve a crime or die trying. As with this genre, the ghost victim can’t leave without her murder being solved. While this is a story told many times over in other movies, this one stands out. The story of The Sisters was also based on a real murder case from Thailand that remained unsolved and everyone who found that body also died, making this movie even spookier.

15 Pee Mak (2013)

A Horror Comedy Version Of The Thai Legend Of Mae Nak Phra Khanong

Pee Mak is a horror-comedy movie, and an entertaining one at that. It is also currently Thailand’s highest-grossing movie of all time, meaning it’s beloved regardless of its genre. The 2013 movie comes from director Banjon Pisanthanakum, and is another adaptation of the legend of Mae Nak Phra Khanong, though it takes an incredibly different approach to the tale than 2009’s Nang Nak.

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Pee Mak has a little something for everyone: horror, romance, and comedy. It starts when a man named Mak comes back from the war and invites his comrades to meet his wife and son. But when they arrive, Mak’s comrades start to realize that something is very off about his clan, and things only get scarier and sillier from there. Pee Mak was so successful that it’s been remade and adapted multiple times, with the Tamil version Bayama Irukku arriving in 2017 followed by Malayalam remake Kinavalli in 2020.

14 Inhuman Kiss (2019)

A Thai Horror Movie Based On The Krasue

2019’s Inhuman Kiss comes from director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, and was the Thai entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards — an accolade that speaks volumes for its quality. Like many of the best horror films to come out of Thailand, Inhuman Kiss builds the foundation of its story on classic Thai mythology and puts an extra-scary spin on it.

The focal point of this particular tale coming to life is a krasue — which is a type of nocturnal female spirit from folklore — who lives a normal life, except at night. At night, her head detaches and goes on the hunt for sustenance in the form of flesh and blood. It is scary, and one of the weirdest Thai horror movies, but the film is also surprisingly moving. While the premise seems bizarre at first, Inhuman Kiss carries it incredibly effectively, making for a truly unique story.

13 Ghost Game (2006)

A Thai Horror Movie Similar To Squid Game

2006’s Ghost Game, also known as La-Tha-Pii, comes from director Sarawut Wichiensarn, and is a Thai spin on the incredibly popular horror subgenre of cursed and deadly game shows. Take the deadliest reality game show in the world, something in the vein of Squid Game, and that is essentially the premise behind Ghost Game.

In this Thai horror movie, 11 contestants are sent to an abandoned military prison where terrible things happened in the past. They are filmed and tracked as they try to make it through the dangerous game show alive while the production team sets up traps and scares. The winner will take home a $5,000,000 prize. This is a must-watch for those who enjoyed Squid Game and would like to see something similar.

12 Art Of The Devil (2004)

A Thai Horror Movie That Spawned Two Sequels

Unconnected to its sequels, 2004’s Art of the Devil comes from director Tanit Jitnukul, and is without a doubt one of the goreist Thai horror movies out there, though it’s also one of the most gripping. The Art of the Devil trilogy is a fantastic blend of magical horror and straight-up gore, and many fans consider the first to be the strongest of the three (though this is also debated).

Be forewarned, these are very dark movies with horrifying subject matter. Some viewers may find the films difficult to watch, but they’re very entertaining and scary. The story revolves around a scorned mistress who turns to the art of black magic as a means to exact revenge on the man who abandoned her while pregnant. The follow-up films also use similar themes of revenge and dark magic without being direct sequels to the original.

11 Meat Grinder (2009)

A Thai Splatter Horror Movie

The film industry in Thailand is known internationally for churning out some incredibly gory movies, though few — even the Art of the Devil trilogy — manage to be as visceral as director Tiwa Moeithaisong’s 2009 splatter-fest Meat Grinder. As the title suggests, this is a Thai horror film that isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s one of the goriest Thai horror films. It would probably be fitting for people who enjoy the Saw and Hostel franchises, with a healthy dose of cannibalism to boot.

It’s an understatement to say that Meat Grinder is incredibly gory and had a controversial reception when it was released, but it has earned something of a cult following over the years. The story follows a young woman who opens a noodle stall and uses human body parts as the main ingredient. As if that fact isn’t gross enough, clients begin showing up in waves to eat the delicious food, and things get increasingly twisted as the story goes along.

10 Shutter (2004)

The Superior Thai Horror Movie That Influenced An American Remake

Shutter is a Thai horror film released back in 2004 that earned enough international recognition to be released as an English-language remake under the same title in 2008. Coming from the minds of writer-director duo Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkoom Wongpoom, the original Shutter was an instant box office success and is regarded as one of the best horror movies to ever come out of Thailand.

The plot of Shutter is intense from the off, and features some of the most chilling scenes of supernatural events in any Thai horror movie. Following a hit-and-run, the couple responsible for a woman’s death (Thun and Jane) begin to see images of her in their photographs. What follows is a series of lies, destruction, and apparitions that will make viewers understand why this film is considered a horror cult classic.

9 Siam Square (2017)

Based On The Thai Urban Legend In Shibuya

Siam Square, from director Pairach Khumwan, is a 2017 Thai horror film that revolves around an urban legend in the so-called “Shibuya” of Thailand, or the center of Bangkok. In the hopes of passing their university entrance exams, students are expected to worship a devil and tie red threads onto a specific chair for good luck.

The Thai horror movie deftly mixes supernatural elements with a slasher-movie premise, making Siam Square an incredibly tense movie. When a group of students puts this theory to the test, their skepticism backfires, and they find themselves being haunted by the evil spirit of a young girl and getting picked off one by one. It is a familiar setup executed to perfection with stunningly creepy visuals and plenty of scares to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

8 Alone (2007)

Starring Thai-German Pop Singer Marsha Vadhanapanich

Alone is a Thai horror film released back in 2007 that stars Thai-German pop singer Marsha Vadhanapanich in her first film role in 15 years. It’s also another movie from writer-director duo Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkoom Wongpoom, who are responsible for 2004’s Shutter as well as several other of the best Thai horror movies.

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Titled Fad in Thai, meaning twin, Alone focuses on Pim, a young girl who recently moved to Korea to escape the guilt of being the only survivor following a separation surgery with her conjoined twin sister. When she returns to Thailand to visit her dying mother, the angry spirit of her dead sister comes back to haunt her. Alone is packed full of surprises and twists that even M. Night Shyamalan wouldn’t see coming and is a great option for those who enjoyed the James Wan film Malignant.

7 4bia (2008)

A Thai Anthology Horror Movie

Anthology movies are something of a staple of the horror genre, and one of the best examples of the format came from Thailand in 2008. 4bia, also known as Phobia, is a four-part Thai horror anthology movie from directors Youngyooth Thongkonthun, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, and Paween Purijitpanya. The first segment, titled “Happiness,” is about a lonely girl’s correspondence with an unusual stranger.

The second segment, “Tit For Tat,” is about black magic and vengeance for a bullied school kid. The third segment, “In The Middle,” follows a group of friends after a freak kayaking accident. The final segment, “Last Fright,” is a psychological thriller involving an air stewardess flying solo in a cabin with a dead body. This movie has something for everyone and is a fantastic entry in the underappreciated horror anthology subgenre.

6 Long Weekend (2013)

A Thai Ghost Horror Movie

2013’s Long Weekend is a horror film from Tahi director Taweewat Wantha, and it stands as one of the best horror movies from the nation thanks to its succession of supernatural scares that pull no punches. The plot of Long Weekend focuses on a boy named Thongsook, an outcast at school with only one friend, Nam, whom he follows around incessantly.

However, unbeknownst to Nam’s other friends, Thongsook is a spirit medium who takes it personally when Nam’s friends plan a vacation getaway without him. Following a mindless prank, the evil spirits and ghosts are released on the second night of the “long weekend,” which also happens to be Friday the 13th. Long Weekend is one of the best Thai horror movies for those who love a good ghost story, with a dash of revenge in the mix for good measure.

5 The Promise (2017)

A Thai Horror Movie Based On The Asian Financial Crisis Of 1997

Also known as Puen.. Tee Raluek, The Promise comes from director Sophon Sakdaphisit and stands as proof that Thai horror movies are just as effective when based on real events as they are when based on cultural myths and legends. The Promise is a 2017 Thai horror film that made quite a splash after its release, as its premise is incredibly dark, even for a horror movie.

The plot of The Promise follows two teenagers who decide to kill themselves together after both of their families face financial ruin in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In the end, only one girl follows through with the suicide pact, and the survivor’s past actions return to haunt her twenty years later. This is a haunting Thai horror movie that shows regret with horrifying results when the survivor visits the location of her friend’s death with her daughter.

4 Coming Soon (2008)

A Thai Horror About A Vengeful Spirit In A Bootleg Movie

2008’s Coming Soon has an incredibly unique premise as far as Thai horror movies go, though it’s that it pays homage to the Japanese horror film Ringu. Directed by Sophon Sakdapisit, one of the writers behind Shutter and Alone, Coming Soon is a film about a bootlegged movie that’s haunted by a vengeful spirit. While this may create instant comparisons to The Ring franchise, Coming Soon is distinct and different in its approach.

Unsuspecting viewers find themselves haunted, abducted, and eventually blinded after watching it, and the potential victims scramble to avoid their oncoming fate. The premise is eerily similar to The Ring, which also involves a vengeful spirit that surfaces only after watching a tape. Given that the Japanese version of The Ring (Ringu) was released ten years before Coming Soon, it’s not hard to figure out where their inspiration came from.

3 The Eyes Diary (2014)

A Thai Horror Movie Based On A Comic Book

Directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul, 2014’s The Eyes Diary is part horror, part romance, and has such an intriguing plot that it keeps viewers glued throughout. The Eyes Diary, originally based on a comic book, is a tragic love story about a young man, Nott, who loses his girlfriend in a gruesome motorcycle accident, but that’s not where it ends. It’s incredibly thematically deep as far as Thai horror movies go too, dealing with explorations of guilt, grief, and loss in ways few other horror movies from Thailand (or any other country) manage.

The movie follows Nott as he volunteers to retrieve corpses from wrecks and keeps the souvenirs of the bodies he finds in the hopes that he will be able to converse with the dead and see his girlfriend once more. Communicating with the dead isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, however, and the scares and the hauntings eventually rack up to create a terrifying thriller.

2 Ghost Of Mae Nak (2005)

Another Movie Based On The Thai Legend Of Mae Nak Phra Khanong

The Ghost of Mae Nak is a 2005 Thai film that revolves around an ancient Thai legend that has been retold countless times in books, TV shows, and films. However, of all the movies based on the legend of Mae Nak Phra Khanong, this version from director Mark Duffield stands as the most chilling. In one of the best Thai horror movies about folklore, the story goes that a beautiful pregnant woman named Nak died in childbirth while waiting for her husband, Mak, to come home from war.

Upon his return, Mak finds his wife and child waiting for him, but every neighbor who tries to warn him that he’s living with a ghost is killed. Eventually, Mak realizes his wife is a ghost and attempts to flee. Ghost of Mae Nak has a refreshingly modern twist, but certain elements of the well-known tale remain the same.

1 Ladda Land (2011)

A Thai Horror Movie That Won Six Awards From The Thailand National Film Association

While the debate over the best Thai horror movie is subjective, and fans will all have their own answer, one of the most widely acclaimed is director Sophon Sakdaphisit’s chilling 2011 scare-fest Ladda Land. The movie has some of the most disturbing supernatural scenes of any horror movie from Thailand, and the premise is truly unique.

Ladda Land follows an affluent family as they move to Ladda Land, an upscale housing development in the suburbs of Bangkok. Unfortunately for the new residents, Ladda Land is nothing but a gated community of dark energy and terrifying, paranormal events that drive its residents to the brink. The Thai horror movie plays on common themes of familial dysfunction and the false veneer of perfection in upscale environments and reformulates these concepts into straight-up horror.

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