By Siti Muinah 
As the global appetite for international cinema continues to expand, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is set to showcase a masterclass in psychological dread. Among the most anticipated titles in the festival’s prestigious Centrepiece program is Inherit, the latest chilling venture from visionary Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun. Reuniting with his Pee Mak muse, the acclaimed Davika Hoorne, Pisanthanakun is poised to redefine the boundaries of the horror genre, moving beyond jump-scares into the unsettling realm of generational trauma and demonic possession.
The Genesis of Horror: Plot and Premise
Inherit is an adaptation of the Thai horror novel Tayard Asoon, known in English as The Demon’s Heir. The narrative centers on the Manasvanich family, an elite clan whose immense wealth and carefully cultivated social polish serve as a fragile veil over a history of dark, unspeakable secrets. The equilibrium of their gilded lives is shattered when an unexpected relative arrives at their doorstep, unraveling the family’s carefully guarded reality.
At the heart of the storm is Woranart (Hoorne), a woman who appears to be a grandmother in her 80s but carries a far more sinister burden. Beneath her youthful, deceptive beauty lies an ancient centipede spirit, a parasitic entity that has survived for centuries by jumping from host to host. The plot thickens as the demon sets its sights on its next vessel: Oui, the family’s youngest and most vulnerable member, played by Baipor Thitiya Jirapornsilp. The film promises a slow-burn descent into madness, where the threat is not merely physical, but existential.
A Legacy Reunited: The Pisanthanakun-Hoorne Collaboration
The anticipation surrounding Inherit is amplified by the reunion of its two leads. Banjong Pisanthanakun first established his dominance in the genre with the 2004 cult classic Shutter, a film that remains a benchmark for Southeast Asian horror. However, it was his 2013 collaboration with Davika Hoorne on the genre-bending blockbuster Pee Mak that truly cemented their status as a powerhouse duo. Pee Mak stands as the highest-grossing Thai film of all time, blending comedy, romance, and supernatural horror with unprecedented success.
For Hoorne, Inherit represents a departure from the high-energy, emotive roles that defined her earlier career. Having recently garnered international acclaim for her performance in A Useful Ghost—which secured the Critics’ Week Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival—Hoorne is entering a new phase of artistic maturity.
"Horror isn’t new to me," Hoorne reflects, "but Inherit was a real shift. Playing this centuries-old demon matriarch felt much more layered. I had to capture the weight of her memories, not just her scare factor. It became all about subtle signals—a glance, a pause. It was demanding, but immensely rewarding."
Crafting the Atmosphere: The Architecture of Fear
For Pisanthanakun, the setting of a horror film is as much a character as the human cast. He believes that the visual language of cinema is the primary vehicle for terror, a philosophy he has honed throughout his career.
"It’s extremely important," Pisanthanakun explains regarding his approach to location scouting. "I feel that fresh visuals and unique atmospheres are essential for making horror movies today. I pay a lot of attention to the texture of the environment."
In Inherit, the Manasvanich mansion serves as a claustrophobic cage. To achieve the specific aesthetic of a home burdened by centuries of supernatural history, Pisanthanakun took an unconventional approach. He revealed that the final onscreen location was a composite of three distinct real-world structures, seamlessly stitched together with a sound stage. This "Frankenstein" architecture allowed the production team to curate a specific, haunting atmosphere that would be impossible to replicate in a single location, effectively mirroring the fragmented and unnatural nature of the centipede spirit inhabiting the house.
The DNA of Thai Ghost Stories
When asked why Thai horror holds such a distinct, visceral grip on international audiences, Pisanthanakun points to the cultural bedrock of his homeland. Thailand’s relationship with the supernatural is not merely relegated to fiction; it is woven into the social fabric.
"Thai people are obsessed with ghost stories," Pisanthanakun says. "It seems to be in our DNA. If Japan has manga and Korea has webtoons, Thailand has call-in ghost story programs. It has really become our modern cultural heritage."
This cultural obsession provides a fertile ground for filmmakers, allowing them to tap into a collective consciousness of superstition, folklore, and karmic retribution. However, Pisanthanakun is careful to note that Thai cinema is currently undergoing a significant evolution. While ghost stories remain the bedrock of the industry, the country’s output is diversifying rapidly, signaling a maturation of the local film industry.
Shifting Horizons: The Broader Thai Cinema Landscape
Pisanthanakun notes with pride that the global perception of Thai cinema is expanding beyond the traditional horror tropes. He highlights a string of recent successes that have resonated internationally, proving that Thai storytelling is capable of navigating complex themes of class, education, and family dynamics.
He points to How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a poignant family drama that explores the complexities of caretaking and inheritance, as a prime example of the industry’s newfound emotional depth. Similarly, the high-stakes thriller Bad Genius and the visceral, action-oriented horror hit Death Whisperer demonstrate the versatility of Thai filmmakers.
"These films are traveling well past ghost stories," Pisanthanakun observes. "We are seeing a trend where the emotional core of the film is just as important as the genre trappings. That is where the future of Thai cinema lies."
Implications for the Global Market
The world premiere of Inherit at the Toronto Film Festival is a significant milestone for both the director and the lead actress. By choosing the Centrepiece program—which highlights high-profile, auteur-driven cinema—TIFF is acknowledging the artistic weight of the production.
The success of Inherit could serve as a catalyst for increased investment in Thai psychological horror. As streamers and global distributors look for content that balances local cultural specificity with universal themes of power and legacy, films like Inherit are perfectly positioned to bridge the gap.
Furthermore, the performance of Davika Hoorne in this role will likely be a litmus test for her crossover potential into international psychological dramas. By shedding the "scream queen" label and opting for a role that demands the subtlety of a seasoned character actor, Hoorne is signaling her intent to pursue more rigorous, craft-focused projects on the global stage.
Conclusion
As audiences prepare to enter the haunting world of the Manasvanich family this September in Toronto, Inherit stands as a testament to the enduring power of Thai cinema. Through the lens of Banjong Pisanthanakun and the chillingly nuanced performance of Davika Hoorne, the film promises to be more than a momentary fright. It is a meditation on the masks we wear, the spirits we inherit, and the terrifying realization that some secrets are never meant to stay buried.
In the final analysis, Inherit is not just a horror movie; it is a cultural artifact that reflects the changing tides of Southeast Asian storytelling. Whether it achieves the record-breaking heights of Pee Mak remains to be seen, but its impact on the international festival circuit is already assured. By looking into the eyes of a centuries-old demon, Hoorne and Pisanthanakun have forced us to confront the shadows in our own lives, ensuring that Inherit will linger in the minds of viewers long after the credits roll.
Iffa Jayyana 
Ammar Sabilarrohman 
Lina Irawan 