The Medium

Set in a tranquil Thai community, The Medium follows a family of shamans who guard a long standing tradition. The matriarch Nim, her sister Noi, and their children Mink, Manit, and Santi live between ritual spaces and everyday life, listening for signs from the goddess believed to work through their lineage. When unexplained events begin to disrupt their routines, neighbors whisper about possession and divine messages, and the household finds itself under icy scrutiny. As fear spreads, the clan must reckon with what faith asks of them and who truly guides the sacred power. The film keeps the origin of the disturbance ambiguous, maintaining suspense without revealing its hand too soon.

Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun with Na Hong-jin and Choi Cha-won, The Medium is a Thai Korean co production released in 2021. The film blends regional shamanic ritual with contemporary horror sensibilities, drawing on both Thai ritual language and Korean suspense methods to create a tense, immersive experience while staying grounded in character.

Worldwide gross reached about 7.23 million dollars, signaling solid regional appeal and growing international interest for horror with a distinctly Southeast Asian setting. It found audiences in cinema theaters and streaming platforms, reflecting a willingness to engage with culturally specific dread rather than generic scares.

The Medium sparked conversations about ritual practice and the gender dynamics of spiritual authority in Southeast Asia. Its intimate focus on Nim and Mink, the practical effects, and the absence of flashy spectacle gave audiences a feeling of authenticity rarely found in mainstream fright films.

Critics praised the film for its controlled pacing and strong performances that keep danger close without over using gore. It asks what belief costs a family and how tradition survives polluted by doubt, while still delivering a final impression that lingers in memory. The tension sticks with you long after the last frame.