18 scariest Thai horror movies you need to watch

A teacher resorts to black magic to get back at students who caused her misery in the past.

Long Kong (which means “to dare the devil”) is the second installment in the Art of the Devil series by Five Star Studio. This subsequent attempt, which has nothing to do with the first film, takes the crown for its super gory scenes and a shrewdly crafted storyline that exposes the devilish world of black magic.

The film promises a disturbingly entertaining scene every two minutes. If you’re down for a slasher flick that gives insights into the superstitious beliefs shared by Southeast Asian cultures, this film is probably for you.

Three tales of terror are told by three girl friends in a darkened Bangkok bar. These stories revolve around a haunted antique, a love potion and the mysterious case of a girl who commits suicide. Which story is the scariest?

Before 4bia (2008) became a big hit and set a trend for horror anthologies in Thai cinema, there was Bangkok Haunted. The latter pioneered horror compilation films in the country and grossed a huge amount of revenue due to its chilling scenes and compelling narrative. The film delves into the world of Thai superstitions to come up with stories that creep up on you and send shivers down your spine rather than outright make you jump with fright.

Another fun fact about Bangkok Haunted: the director, Oxide Pang, later paired up with his twin brother, David, to direct popular Hong Kong-Singaporean spook fest The Eye (2002).

A projectionist illegally records a movie called “Evil Spirit” in the cinema for purposes of piracy. Soon after, he is haunted by the dreadful ghost character in the film.

Coming Soon gained popularity thanks to well-timed jump scares and a well-written script. (It was penned, after all, by Sophon Sakdapisit, the same screenwriter behind Shutter. Coming Soon was also Sophon’s directorial debut.) But what really catches your attention is how it breaks the fourth wall and directs the scare tactics to the audience, creating a more immersive experience.

This is the first film in Thai cinema that takes a jab at the issue of movie piracy. The catchphrase, “Do you want to see me die, huh?”, posed a question to those supporting this illegal trade, and hinted that the film industry may actually die if it continues.

After discovering that his father is having an affair, Ton is shipped off to boarding school where he struggles to blend in with his peers—but not with Vichien, a lonely boy who is later revealed as the drowning ghost in the school’s urban legend.

When it was being promoted, Dorm (2006) didn’t seem too different from other ghost stories, especially with its boarding school setting). However its redeeming quality is how, at its core, this film is all about relatable issues of friendship, coming of age, and guilt.

This drama-slash-horror was directed by Songyos Sugmakanan, whose CV is packed with popular Thai movies and series like My Girl (2003) which is one of our most favorite romcoms, the Hormones series, and In Family We Trust (2018).

Only one of 11 contestants can win the big prize, but first, they all need to survive one night in an abandoned concentration camp.

When it was released, the film faced backlash from Cambodia due to the resemblance of its setting to Tuol Sleng, the actual site of the Cambodian genocide back in the 1970s. Politics aside, the eerie setting for Ghost Game makes the film discomforting to sit through and only serves to heighten the trauma as we witness each character get tortured by hostile spirits.

Another Ghost Game feat is how it took advantage of the reality TV craze in the early 2000s to build more hype for the film—the characters in the film are played by the cast of the first season of singing contest Academy Fantasia.

After losing both her parents in a horrific tragedy, a young girl ends up with her aunt, a printing house owner and a part-time spiritual medium.

House of Ghosts or Khon, Phee, Pisaj, which in Thai means “human”, “ghost” and “demon”, respectively, takes you on a psychological and philosophical trip to try and understand the mental anguish each main character is going through. You’ll be pulled into a world of claustrophobia and chaos, and compelled into finding out what’s real and what’s not.

Though it was not a commercial success when it was released, House of Ghosts has since earned a cult following, with fans always bringing up the film in every discussion about good scary flicks.

A family on the verge of falling apart moves to a bougie neighborhood outside Bangkok in hopes of bettering their lives and reconnecting with one another. A horrifying murder case, however, just adds fuel to the fire and threatens their already fragile relationships.

Despite the onslaught of jolting terror scenes and haunting apparitions, Laddaland, at its core, is a drama film that explores the aftermath of the crippling economic crisis in Thailand during the 1990s. It also subtly exposes usually taboo issues about class, gender roles and immigrants, marking the film as a social commentary that merely exploits ghosts as an entertainment tool.

Laddaland was well-received by critics and the public alike. Jump scare tactics aside, this film is an emotional rollercoaster ride, so make sure to have a box of tissue within reach.

But, a distraught lady who runs a street noodle shop, finally reaps success after succumbing to the voices in her head that tell her to use a special ingredient in her signature dish: human flesh.

Not too many Thai horrors are brave enough to deal with cannibalism, but 2009’s Meat Grinder flouted this grotesque taboo in a manner similar to the infamous thriller The Untold Story (1993).

Meat Grinder stirred some controversy when it premiered as many noodle shop owners were not pleased with how it shed a questionable light on how the Thai street food staple is prepared.

A documentary team journeys to Loei in Isaan to record the life of female shaman Nim, but horror ensues when Nim’s niece Mink is mysteriously possessed by a malevolent spirit.

Of the recently released Thai horror films, praise is most deserved by The Medium. Directed by jumpscare specialist Banjong “Tong” Pisanthanakun, this critically acclaimed blockbuster plays off a slow-burn narrative that reveals the many superstitions of Thai Buddhist culture. 

The project is also a must for horror fans as Tong teamed up with respected Korean director Na Hong-jin, whose highly lauded The Wailing served as an inspiration for The Medium and how it touches on shamanism. The success of this terrifying mockumentary has pushed Hong-jin to create a sequel with the working title of Mink, and we can’t wait to see how the story will turn out.

Veteran soldier Mak comes home from war to his wife Nak and newborn son, but as soon as he returns, his neighbors try to warn him of something ominous going on under his roof.

The film is based on Mae Nak Phra Khanong, a local folk tale set in the era of King Rama V about a woman who died due to a difficult birth while her lover went to war. The legend of Nak has been adapted into films and TV shows multiple times. Nang Nak, however, is arguably the best adaptation.

It superbly balances the couples’s romantic yet tragic story with scare-inducing elements, all the while showcasing excellent set design and cinematography that bring back to life the golden era of Siam.

Distraught by family difficulties, best friends Ib and Boum are determined to commit suicide together, but when Ib pulls the trigger, Boum gets scared and reneges on their deal. Twenty years later, it seems like Ib is still waiting for Boum to fulfil what she promised. 

Sophon Sakdaphisit, the director behind knockout hit Laddaland (2011), returned to form with this 2017 horror-drama that, similar to his other films, touched on Thai social issues. With The Promise, the director chose Thailand’s financial crisis in 1997 as a setting, highlighting how it caused many tragedies in households and personal lives. 

The Promise made huge waves during its premiere as it became the very first Thai movie to film in the famed Sathorn Unique Tower in Bangkok. If you’re wondering what it’s like inside this abandoned skyscraper, then watch this flick.

Loner student Buppah Rahtree dies from an abortion gone wrong after she is tricked into falling in love with the young scion of a wealthy family. Her spirit then takes over her old apartment and the landlord tries everything to get rid of the vengeful entity.

Rahtree: Flower of the Night is surely the cream of the spooky crop. Scenes depicting Buppah’s depressing plight are carefully balanced with an immense number of jump scares, as well as comedic elements like slapstick and ridiculous scenes of exorcism. The result is a movie that will make you make you burst into laughter and then jump with fright afterwards.

Buppah’s story is continued in a few sequels, but none of them live up to the original.

After a hit-and-run accident, Jane and her photographer boyfriend Tun are haunted by a female spirit that appears in developed photos. They need to figure out who the heck they’ve messed with—before time runs out.

This film was made during the J-Horror hype. (Remember that vengeful, long-haired lady in white and her famous crawling scene?) Just like its Japanese counterparts, Shutter shocks the audience with a series of shocking yet creatively done jump scares, which are only enhanced by a gripping plot that later reveals so many twists and turns.

Shutter was a phenomenal success. Grossing over a million baht, its chilling scenes were seared into people’s minds so much that many at the time were scared of taking photos with their cameras. Hollywood—and many countries—have attempted to recreate this horrifying hallmark film, but no one has done it better. Sorry.

A group of musicians finds a decapitated head in the air vent of the ramshackle hotel room they’re staying in. That same night, they are haunted by the spirit of a dead prostitute. They need to solve the mystery of her murder before each and everyone of them gets killed.

The Sisters is probably the most stereotypical horror film on the list, but what makes it special and worth watching is how the entire plot is based on a real and unsolved murder case in the south of Thailand back in 1991. According to sources, each member of the unfortunate group that found the body died mysteriously one by one, rendering the case infamous. Many an urban legend has been spun from these baffling deaths.

The film’s production is quite low-budget and dated, but it’s a flaw that actually works for the film, creating a realistic and gripping atmosphere that can somehow make you wet your pants.

While searching for her lost husband, a pregnant woman from the countryside seeks shelter in a big, mysterious mansion where she later encounters unborn spirits and discovers shocking truths.

Produced by the team behind Art of the Devil 2, The Unseeable doesn't depend on gory, in-your-face scares like its precedents. Instead, the entire film thrives on elements on the opposite end of the horror spectrum, such as tense slow-burn scenes, the incredible performance of the cast, amazing production design that portrays the Siam of old and an excellent plot that alludes to the importance of letting go.

The Unseeable was not a blockbuster like the other films on the list, but it was recognized by a number of international festivals and awards, marking it as one hell of a horror film that deserves your attention.

A wannabe actress takes works with the police re-enacting crime scenes. She later finds herself being followed by the spirit of a beauty queen, who forces the actress to find her murderer.

The Victim’s plot is based on actual crimes that were being investigated by the Thai Royal Police. The credible details, along with heart attack-inducing scares, makes the film more convincing. But what really makes it such an amazing watch is how The Victim is structured as a metacinema (to put it more simply, it’s a film within a film). We are pretty sure that, at one point in the movie, you will utter, “WTF?”

Plus, the twist at the end is mind-blowing. We have to say, the film’s screenwriters are geniuses.

A text exchange with a mysterious stranger, the vindictive actions of a black magic-practicing nerd, the perils of camping deep in the woods, and taking a flight with a dead body—these are the four spine-tingling situations that will mentally mess you up in 4bia.

The four-part horror anthology received widespread acclaim and commercial success when it was released. Each part impressively reveals new horror sensibilities while combining elements from other genres like action and comedy.

The success of 4bia led to a 2009 follow-up called Phobia 2, which expands the hell-raising ground to five parts that are as brilliant as their precedents. If you can’t stand two hours worth of scares, try to watch each story one by one to build up your horror immunity.

Want your wish to be fulfilled? After midnight, call this number and have your wish come true. But in exchange, you have to give up your life.

This thriller became a cinematic phenomenon in the 2000s and was one of the best teen-focused flicks of the time. Despite the ominous plot, it’s a rather fun watch, thanks to the Final Destination-esque death scenes where you will clench your fists and root for the characters.

Sadly, horror films like 999-9999 aren’t made in the country anymore. These days, Thai scary movies have become obsessed with ghosts, and are mostly bereft of creativity or mystery-riddled narratives like this one.