The Resurgence of Thai Horror: Banjong Pisanthanakun and Davika Hoorne Unveil ‘Inherit’ Sequel Plans

The landscape of Southeast Asian cinema is undergoing a profound transformation, and at the heart of this evolution stand two of Thailand’s most influential creative forces: director Banjong Pisanthanakun and superstar Davika Hoorne. Following the critical success of their latest psychological horror project, Inherit, the duo has confirmed that a sequel is already in development, signaling a renewed commitment to high-concept, genre-bending storytelling that aims to bridge the gap between local Thai audiences and the global market.

Main Facts: A New Chapter in Thai Psychological Horror

Inherit, which made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as a Centrepiece selection, has become a focal point for the regional film industry. Following its festival run, the film is set to serve as the closing feature for the Jakarta World Cinema festival, further cementing its status as a marquee title.

The film stars Davika Hoorne as Woranart, an enigmatic, youthful-looking grandmother who integrates herself into her granddaughter’s affluent household. The narrative takes a dark turn as the family discovers that Woranart is host to a centuries-old centipede spirit, which sets its sights on the youngest member of the family, played by Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp.

Banjong Pisanthanakun, whose directorial legacy includes the genre-defining Shutter and the all-time Thai box office champion Pee Mak, has confirmed that the story of Inherit is far from over. With Hoorne attached to reprise her role, the sequel promises to expand upon the complex, chilling lore established in the first film.

Chronology: A Decade of Collaboration and Artistic Growth

The creative partnership between Pisanthanakun and Hoorne is deeply rooted in the history of modern Thai cinema. Their first collaboration, the 2013 horror-comedy Pee Mak, remains a cultural touchstone in Thailand, having shattered box office records and solidified their respective statuses as masters of their craft.

However, the path to Inherit was not a straight line. Following the immense pressure of his early successes, Pisanthanakun admitted to experiencing a period of creative fatigue regarding the horror genre.

"After Shutter and Alone, there came a time when I really got bored of making horror films," Pisanthanakun reflects. "Even going to the cinema to watch horror films made me fall asleep right away."

It was the emergence of a new wave of psychological and atmospheric horror—exemplified by films like Ari Aster’s Hereditary and David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows—that reignited his passion. He saw that the genre still held untapped potential for creative, thematic, and atmospheric exploration.

For Davika Hoorne, the journey has been equally deliberate. After a hiatus from film to focus on other pursuits, she returned to the screen with two significant projects: the satirical comedy-thriller A Useful Ghost, which won the Critics’ Week Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and Inherit. For Hoorne, these projects represent a conscious return to cinema, characterized by a highly selective approach to scripts.

Supporting Data: The Craft Behind the Character

The construction of the character Woranart was a collaborative effort that required a unique fusion of the archaic and the modern. Pisanthanakun’s vision for the immortal grandmother was unconventional from the start.

"The character has to be sexy, beautiful, and funny at the same time," Pisanthanakun says. "I think of her as a fashion icon, too. The first image that I had was her wearing a bikini and sunbathing beside the pool, which is very modern. She talks like this era’s woman, talking to ChatGPT. She’s a very adaptable girl."

To achieve the nuanced performance required for such a multifaceted character, Pisanthanakun instructed Hoorne to draw inspiration from iconic portrayals of psychological complexity. He pointed her toward Sharon Stone’s manipulative, mesmerizing turn as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct and the chilling, intellectual menace of Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

Hoorne, who describes her selection process as a year-long commitment to "living with" a project, notes the emotional weight involved. "For a movie, I carefully choose the project that I want to do," Hoorne explains. "One project takes around one year of working, so I really have to choose the one I’m going to live with for such a long time to bring up my soul as an actress. So, trust me, watch it; I pick for you guys already."

Official Responses: Navigating the Industry Crisis

Despite the acclaim, both Pisanthanakun and Hoorne are acutely aware of the systemic challenges facing the Thai film industry. The director, in particular, views the upcoming November 19th theatrical release of Inherit in Thailand with a sense of urgency.

"The Thai film industry right now is not so good—that’s the real pressure because I want this movie to bring Thai audiences back to the cinema," he says. He notes that the industry suffers from inconsistent public funding, which tends to favor horror almost exclusively, often neglecting dramas, comedies, or independent films that require a different type of support.

Hoorne echoed these concerns, particularly regarding the difficulty of securing funding for diverse genres. "It’s going to be better if we have funding from the other help of the government; that help is the independent themes that can go internationally," she notes. "When I’m producing a movie or series, it is very hard to find the funding, and it is really hard for Thai films to recruit people for different genres. Because you have to draw people into the cinema; for drama or comedy, something that looks small, people tend to wait."

In response to the shifting landscape of technology, Pisanthanakun maintains a pragmatic view on the role of Artificial Intelligence in filmmaking. "I think it’s inevitable in the system, but I think people can use it as long as it’s not violating other people’s rights," he asserts.

Implications: The Future of Thai Global Co-productions

The success of Inherit and the planned sequel are indicative of a broader trend in Pisanthanakun’s career: the pursuit of a "global-ready" aesthetic. This approach was heavily influenced by his experience working with renowned Korean director Na Hong-Jin on the film The Medium.

"When I made this project with him, he shared his opinion on how the international market would react all the time," Pisanthanakun recalls. "I want the concepts and the story to be as solid as possible, and I want the atmosphere to be everything. It has to be very unique, and everything has to be authentic."

This commitment to authenticity and atmosphere appears to be the blueprint for the Inherit sequel and beyond. Pisanthanakun is currently leading a new Thai-Korean horror co-production, while Hoorne is diversifying her portfolio. She has recently moved into producing "Girls’ Love" (GL) titles—a thriving genre of romance between women that has seen explosive growth in Thailand—and has directed a family short film titled Soap Opera. With plans to transition into leading TV series production by 2027, Hoorne is positioning herself as a multi-hyphenate force capable of sustaining the industry’s growth across multiple formats.

As Inherit prepares for its wide release, the collaboration between Pisanthanakun and Hoorne stands as a testament to the resilience of Thai creators. By merging the visceral appeal of horror with the intellectual rigor of modern psychological drama, they are not only looking to fill seats in Thai cinemas but are also setting a new standard for how Thai stories can be told and appreciated on the world stage. Whether they can replicate the massive success of their early years remains to be seen, but with a sequel already in the works, the momentum behind this creative partnership is undeniable.