Seduction, Slime, and Subversive Karma: Inside Inherit, Banjong Pisanthanakun and Davika Hoorne’s Glamorous Thai Horror Masterpiece
BUSAN — At the 2026 Busan International Film Festival, amidst the brisk autumn air of South Korea, 3,000 festival-goers crammed into an outdoor amphitheater for what would become one of the festival’s most electrifying screenings. They were not there for a sweeping historical epic or an austere European drama. They were gathered to witness the cinematic resurrection of an 800-year-old, centipede-wielding demon who takes the form of a high-fashion supermodel.
That film is Inherit, the latest genre-bending spectacle from acclaimed Thai director BanjongPisanthanakun. Headlined by superstar DavikaHoorne—a prominent L’Oréal spokesperson and Gucci brand ambassador—the film reimagines a legendary piece of Thai folklore into a polished, violently seductive, and darkly comedic modern-horror tour de force. Blending high-end haute couture with visceral, splattering gore, Inherit has quickly established itself as a major talking point on the international festival circuit.
Following its raucous Busan premiere, Pisanthanakun and Hoorne sat down to discuss the meticulous blending of ancient mythologies with modern conveniences, the subversion of patriarchal tropes, and the sheer joy of pushing the limits of cinematic chaos.
Main Facts: A Modern Twist on a Century-Old Legend
At its core, Inherit adapts Tayard Asoon (“The Demon’s Heir”), a classic Thai novel by Tri Aphirum that has previously served as the basis for three television adaptations over the past three decades. However, Pisanthanakun’s feature film version shatters the mold of traditional adaptations by hurtling the narrative directly into the contemporary era.
The story centers on Woranart, an ancient centipede demon who has harbored a multi-generational grudge against a wealthy, deeply flawed family. In this modern iteration, Woranart is no ordinary monster dwelling in the shadows; she is a glamorous, hyper-stylish icon. The film balances sharp satire, psychological manipulation, and shocking physical violence, utilizing practical stunts, elaborate set designs, and a high-fashion wardrobe financed in part by luxury Italian house Gucci.
The production boasts several standout elements:
The Star Power: Davika Hoorne anchors the film as the multi-centuries-old entity, balancing calculated malice with comedic timing.
The Creative Force: Director Banjong Pisanthanakun is internationally recognized for his foundational horror hit Shutter (2004) and Pee Mak (2013), one of Thailand’s highest-grossing films of all time.
The Aesthetic: Merging classic horror zoom-lens techniques with contemporary smartphone-and-shopping-mall settings, the film creates a suffocating, old-money hothouse atmosphere.
Chronology: From Pageturner to Screen to International Spotlight
The journey of Inherit spans decades of Thai cultural memory before culminating on the international stage in Busan:
The Literary Origin: Tri Aphirum publishes Tayard Asoon, establishing a deeply ingrained cultural touchstone known to virtually all Thais regarding generational curses, demonic inheritance, and cyclical revenge.
The Television Eras: Over the subsequent decades, the property is adapted into three separate television series. While beloved, the limitations of older television budgets and aging CGI leave room for a definitive cinematic overhaul.
Conceiving the Feature Adaptation: Banjong Pisanthanakun envisions a bold reinvention. Inspired by modern technology, TikTok culture, and the timeless archetype of the manipulative femme fatale—specifically channeling Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct—he develops a script that pushes past traditional horror boundaries into unbridled chaos.
Production and Practical Effects: Filming takes place across a composite of real-world locations and studio sets, including an old-money mansion and an abandoned shopping mall utilized for high-impact stunt work. Hoorne endures a grueling seven-hour prosthetic makeup session for a fleeting, terrifying cameo as an ancient hag.
The Busan Premiere (2026):Inherit screens in the Open Cinema section of the Busan International Film Festival, drawing immediate acclaim from a massive 3,000-seat outdoor audience.
Supporting Data & Production Insights
Behind the high-concept premise lies a rigorous production process designed to maximize both aesthetic beauty and stomach-churning horror.
The High-Fashion Aesthetic
Woranart’s wardrobe serves as a character in its own right. Rather than appearing as a traditional, tattered specter, the demon commands every scene dressed in catalog-ready luxury attire.
"You know the gold one? I work with Gucci, and they were kind enough to send that dress for grandma," Hoorne revealed. "It cost some three million baht [$90,000]. The outfits help us a lot to create the character… There are a few iconic outfits in the movie. I think this Halloween you will be able to dress as me."
Pisanthanakun noted that his primary visual reference for Hoorne’s performance was Sharon Stone’s iconic portrayal in Basic Instinct, mixed with the chilling stillness and psychological gaze of Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.
Practical Stunts and CGI Harmony
While the narrative revolves around a centipede demon—including the franchise’s iconic, modernized vomit ritual—the production leaned heavily into practical filmmaking techniques.
The Shopping Mall Massacre: Sequences involving pedestrian panic were shot in active malls, while fatal altercations on escalators utilized an abandoned retail space.
The Basement Corpse Sequence: To film a terrifying scene where a young boy is sent beneath a house to gather soil, the crew utilized a studio set with a removable ceiling. An acrobat was hired to execute the unnatural, contorted movements of a crawling corpse, captured over ten meticulously storyboarded takes.
Official Responses: Director and Star on Crafting Chaos
Speaking to the press after their triumphant Busan screening, Pisanthanakun and Hoorne opened up about the thematic underpinnings of the film, particularly its unflinching critique of masculine corruption.
When asked whether the male characters in the film—ranging from a toxic factory-owning patriarch to a predatory eldest son—deserved their grisly fates, Pisanthanakun pointed plainly to the narrative’s karmic framework: "It’s their karma."
Hoorne expanded on the multi-generational nature of the haunting, noting the unique freedom the role afforded her:
"Woranart’s backstory is that 800 years ago this family did something really bad to her. Most foreigners don’t know that story, but all Thais know it… I keep haunting the family over and over again, for generations. I don’t have any plans to go anywhere else."
Reflecting on the psychological shift required to play an immortal predator after a career largely defined by passive roles, Hoorne expressed immense gratitude:
"Both [good and evil]. I’m blessed playing this character. It’s fun when you sit on top and look down on all the people whose minds you will be playing with. Normally I’m the one who always obeys, someone passive. It’s fun doing this character once in a while, especially because there aren’t many roles like this in Thailand."
Pisanthanakun emphasized that while the original novel and previous adaptations followed familiar structural beats, this feature delivers an entirely original, unpredictable third act.
"I wanted the movie to look a bit like the past, but with everything taking place in the present," Pisanthanakun explained. "This one should go: horror, action, crazy, funny, something like that. I pushed the limits of action and gore. Blood will be splattering in your face."
Implications: Redefining Thai Horror on the Global Stage
The enthusiastic reception of Inherit at the Busan International Film Festival signals a vital shift in how Southeast Asian genre cinema is received and consumed internationally. By fusing hyper-local folklore with globally recognized markers of luxury, pop culture, and high-octane action, Pisanthanakun has proven that culturally specific narratives can transcend linguistic and geographical borders without sacrificing their roots.
Furthermore, the film’s explicit anti-patriarchal subtext elevates it above standard genre fare. By aligning audience sympathy with an 800-year-old female entity dismantling a lineage of abusive, exploitative men, Inherit subverts traditional moral binaries. The monsters of the film are not merely supernatural entities spawned from ancient curses, but the very real human perpetrators of systemic harm—making their cinematic demises all the more cathartic.
As Inherit prepares for wider theatrical distribution following its festival run, it leaves an indelible mark on contemporary horror. It demonstrates that terror can be glamorous, satire can be bloody, and ancient demons can wear Gucci with effortless, terrifying grace.
