Horror and ghost stories have long been a staple of Thai cinema and the genre is deeply rooted in Buddhist beliefs and mythologies. Yet, it's surprising that these stories rarely venture beyond the confines of Buddhist folklore. However, that changes with The Cursed Land, an upcoming horror film that shifts the focus to the country's South, a predominantly Islamic region, and introduces audiences to the lesser-known demonic entity known as the djinn.
Set to hit cinemas tomorrow, The Cursed Land stars Ananda Everingham and Jennis Oprasert as Mit and May, a father and daughter who move to a suburban neighbourhood after the tragic death of Mit's wife. Their new home, however, is far from a fresh start. Strange events unfold when Mit unwittingly releases a raging djinn, imprisoned 200 years ago during the founding of Bangkok, while building a Buddhist shrine.
Desperate and nearly losing hope, they seek the help of a Muslim witch doctor in Narathiwat, a region fraught with military presence, but rich in culture. Director Panu Aree and screenwriter Kong Rithdee, both known for their work in documentary filmmaking, have collaborated on several projects exploring Muslim identity in Thailand. Their transition to narrative cinema with The Cursed Land is a significant departure, both in subject matter and in the exploration of Thailand's religious and cultural diversity.
"Kong and I have been working together on documentaries since 2004," Panu explains. "Most of them explore Muslim iden.
