Just in time to get us in the Halloween spirit, Dead by Daylight has dropped its spookiest crossover yet: the Krasue, Thailand’s most infamous flying head with dangling entrails. In this multiplayer horror game, one player becomes a killer and the rest are survivors trying to escape. The new chapter, Sinister Grace, introduces Burong Sukapat, an opera singer who moonlights as a flesh-hungry Krasue – complete with an ‘intestinal whip’ attack. Yes, you read that right.
For centuries, the Krasue has haunted Thai folklore as one of Southeast Asia’s most feared supernatural entities. By day, she’s a woman; by night, her head detaches and drifts across the countryside, entrails in tow, cursed to feed on blood, filth and human flesh. Now, millions of gamers will meet her in one of the world’s most recognisable horror franchise games.
She’s joined by new survivor Vee Boonyasak, a Bangkok punk drummer whose rock ’n’ roll perks make her the perfect foil to the Krasue’s gory theatrics. Together, they turn Southeast Asian folklore into global horror playground.
The Krasue isn’t just a Thai phenomenon – similar spirits appear across the region. In Malaysia, she’s known as the Penanggalan, a floating female head that feeds on newborns and pregnant women, while in the Philippines, the Manananggal is a vampire-like creature that separates from her lower body to hunt at night.
Perhaps this is another soft power moment for Thailand. This ghost has already terrified Thai cinema audiences in cult horror films like Krasue Valentine, Inhuman Kiss (Oscar nominee) and Demonic Beauty. And gamers can’t forget Home Sweet Home, the Thai-developed survival horror full of Thai creeps that drew global acclaim for its authentic atmosphere rooted in local ghost stories.
Now, the Krasue is making the leap into one of the world’s biggest horror communities, standing shoulder-to-floating-head with icons like Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. With Halloween creeping up next month, don’t be surprised if Krasue costumes start popping up at parties!