Thai Horror Master Banjong Pisanthanakun Returns with 'Inherit'!

Banjong Pisanthanakun, renowned for his influential horror films such as 'Shutter' and 'Pee Mak', is returning to directing with 'Inherit'. The production is handled by GDH 559, a Thai studio known for its creative versatility and commercial success. Korean company Barunson E&A, producer of the Oscar-winning 'Parasite', will handle international sales for the project. This new project marks Banjong's return to directing after five years.

Banjong is considered one of Southeast Asia's leading genre directors. His 2004 debut with 'Shutter' became a defining title in the Thai horror wave of the 2000s. In addition, the horror-comedy 'Pee Mak' (2013) was crowned as the highest-grossing Thai film of all time, surpassing ten million viewers in the country.

'Inherit' focuses on a wealthy family whose polished facade begins to crack when an ancient centipede spirit infiltrates their bloodline. The film is an adaptation of 'Tayat Asun', a prominent Thai horror novel first published in 1991. This novel has been reprinted in multiple editions and has inspired several television adaptations, but has never before been brought to the big screen. The cast is led by Davika Hoorne, who recently appeared in 'A Useful Ghost', winner of the Grand Prize in the Cannes Critics' Week section, which was also distributed by GDH in Thailand.

GDH 559 has been a driving force in Southeast Asian cinema. Its 2024 release, 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies', grossed approximately $73.8 million worldwide and became the first Thai film shortlisted for the Oscar for Best International Film. Miramax acquired the rights to make an English-language remake.

Jina Osothsilp, CEO of GDH, commented: "There is something quite haunting about the material that draws upon a beloved work of Thai horror literature, yet strikingly fresh and unsettling in the way it unfolds." She further added: "It is a story that feels deeply rooted in our culture, yet speaks to something universal about family, legacy, and what we cannot escape."

Barunson E&A will handle sales across North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. This agreement expands the Korean company's growing presence in Southeast Asia. Last year, it signed an exclusive sales partnership with Indonesian auteur Joko Anwar's production company Come and See Pictures.

The Korean company Barunson E&A, producer of the Oscar-winning 'Parasite', will handle international sales for the project. Barunson E&A CEO Yoonhee Choi says her company is in discussion with GDH on future co-development and co-production projects beyond 'Inherit'.

Joko Anwar's latest work, 'Ghost in the Cell', premiered at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, with Barunson serving as co-producer and sales agent. This move underscores Barunson's commitment to expanding its influence in the Southeast Asian film market.