Horror show

Have you ever imagined what your days would be like if scenarios of the horror films took place in real life? We have seen many metropolises in movies that were doomed by the deadliest fictional disasters or the undead, but how about Bangkok? Will we be lucky enough to survive the catastrophes? Think no further, because we have made up scenarios about how Bangkokians will, or will not, pull through a post-apocalyptic world that is inspired by horror tropes we know and love. Plus, we gather spooktacular ideas for Halloween costumes and a list of films that would send shivers down your spine this Halloween.

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Zombie Apocalypse

Do you remember how frightened you were when you heard about the coronavirus that allegedly came from a science lab in Wuhan, China? But this time, think of it as a virus that turns the living into the walking dead after being bitten by the infected. When the zombie virus starts to spread, what will you do to keep yourself safe from the undead in Bangkok?

First, fill your backpack with survival essentials in order to move from place to place when a flock of zombies is invading your neighbourhood. If you still have time before that, make yourself an armour suit that will protect you from being bitten, as well as weapons to smash their brains with. Finding a safe shelter would be your next step and we recommend you find a boat to sail along the Chao Phraya River (7-Eleven would be broken into and ransacked by now) since those walking dead would not be able to swim. Even if they try to wade through the murky waters, they're likely to become fish feed. Don't go up a skyscraper as electricity and waterworks may be out after a few weeks of the world falling into chaos.

There're plenty of piers to dock your boat along the river. If there is no sign of zombies, you may set up there for a few days while waiting for help or searching for supplies from nearby buildings. Avoid the front door of a convenience store, obvi. Its welcome beeping sound may draw zombies' attention.

Smartphone Uprising

It is not wrong to think of our phones as soulless objects, on which we may unintentionally vent our rage sometimes. You might throw it away after having an angry conversation or even recklessly drop it in the toilet. However, what if they have feelings and have had enough of abuse from humans? What if your phone AI has evolved and worked with other phones to take us down?

Our smartphones turn into human-size robots, forming an army to revolt against us. We are captured and locked up in a giant glass cage while being attached to an anti-fleeing cable, which they use to convey how they feel when being locked up in a glass display at an IT shop. If you are lucky enough to flee from them, you must hide somewhere that the AI cannot track your digital footprint.

While tech experts are developing a killing code to stop the AI, the only thing that we can use to fight against those robots is water. We may have the upper hand over them as we are familiar with water guns for the Songkran festival. So, humans gather a squad and splash them down in a human-machine showdown. Should we be victorious in this smartphone invasion, we still have an analogue society to go back to and selfies may become a thing of the past.

Ringu Won't Work

A cursed scary video originated by a vengeful ghost girl with psychic power is supposed to kill you in seven days after you watch it if you don't ask another person to watch it. Of course, the VHS format won't work here since there's only an abysmal number of Bangkokians who still own videotape players these days. Not to mention you need old-school TVs, too. Younger millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha won't even know how does it work.

However, somehow a weirdo uploads it on YouTube in the hope it goes viral. In comes the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society who bans access to the video-sharing website in Thailand to save lives. They've already block Pornhub, so why not?

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Dressed To Kill For Halloween

If you're in need of a little inspiration to hype up your Halloween party, these fa-boo-lous ideas for costumes should do just the trick.

Lisa's Lalisa outfits

Thai Blinks would be brimming with joy to pull off this Halloween with Lisa Blackpink's stunning outfits from her first solo single Lalisa. She wore a traditional crop top with a sabai breast cloth and a wrapped mini-skirt, created by Thai fashion house Asava, and a golden headdress made by Prapakas Angsusingha of Hook's by Prapakas, one of the most avant-garde Thai fashion designers. The golden goddess outfit elevates our traditional costume to the next level. Those who want to replicate it for Halloween will have many shops to rent a similar look from. Not sure if all the headdresses in Sam Pheng have been snatched up or not. Fans can also opt for her sassy red paisley matching puff-sleeve bustier top and shorts, which can be completed with double braided hairstyles.

Nanno's creepy look

A straight bob wig with bangs and a girl high school uniform is all you need to cosplay as Nanno, the mysterious, deadly and manipulative girl from Netflix's Girl From Nowhere. The costume may make you look like a typical high schoolgirl, but once you show creepy moves like when she dances in front of the flagpole or mimic her memorable laughter (there's a two-hour video of just her laugh on YouTube, so you can practise to your heart's content), you could scare off everyone else. However, you can up your gore game by splattering blood on the shirt (betadine, of course) while wearing scar make-up like her appearance after a car accident from the second season or loosely wearing a plastic wrap around on your head like in the bloody finale of season one.

Squid Game's sartorial inspiration

Given the immense popularity of Korean thriller hit Squid Game, it should come to no surprise that the go-to Halloween costume this year will be the cash-strapped players' tracksuit, which you can, of course, buy from Lazada and Shopee. The uniform is a green teal zip-up sweatshirt and sweatpants, contrasting with a white tee and a slip-on sneaker. The catch? It is comfortable and yet speaks to the culture of the moment. However, you can be dressed to kill as the Red Light, Green Light Doll from the film. An orange smock over a yellow shirt with white knee-high socks and a black leather school shoe will make people walking behind you shriek when you are turning around.

PPE suit heroes

Well, the PPE suit is probably never the first choice that comes to mind for the Halloween party, but trust me, given the current situation, it may win you the prize from a costume contest with the right tweaks. With a supersized fake syringe, you can pretend to be a superhero version of medical personnel (and hopefully 2022 will be the only year that you can go out on Halloween as that). It's a way to pay homage to the true heroes and, moreover, it will keep you safe from any Covid-19 risks, obviously.

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Watch Till You Drop Dead

Here are four horror films that would spice up your Halloween night.

Midsommar

The story of a group of American graduate students who are invited, or lured, by Swedish friends to a remote summer festival, which turns out to involve a series of ritual murders. It begins with a tragedy where Dani (Florence Pugh) discovers that her sister, Terri (Klaudia Csányi), who is bipolar, has murdered her parents and killed herself. Christian (Jack Reynor), her lover, invites grieving Dani to join a weekend getaway in Sweden with his friends to take her mind off the tragedy. Not long after they arrive at the festival, it becomes clear to them that they have been lured into a sort of cult. Their vacation to help Dani mend things changes their lives forever.

Us

Structured like a home-invasion drama, Us centres on the Wilsons, a seemingly normal middle-class family of four on vacation at their summer lake house. Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) is still haunted by a traumatic experience she had as a young girl while on a similar vacation with her parents. However, her worst fear seems to repeat itself once again. Adelaide and her family are attacked by a mysterious doppelgänger family wearing red jumpsuits. Upon closer look, the Wilsons realise that the intruders are exact lookalikes of them.

Countdown

Three wealthy Thai teens in New York City -- Jack (Pachara "Peach" Chirathivat), Bee (Jarinporn "Toey" Joonkiat) and Pam (Pattarasaya "Peak" Kreuasuwansri) -- are planning to throw an epic New Year's Eve party. They call up a drug dealer called Jesus (David Asavanond) to drop off the good stuff to celebrate their party in style. However, when Jesus arrives, the countdown bash turns into a psychological game that involves violence and torture, which evoke memories of why they needed to flee from Thailand in the first place.

13 Games Sayong (13 Beloved)

Krissada Sukosol Clap (Noi of rock band Pru) plays Phuchit Puengnathong, who portrays a typical Thai white-collar man who always bites off more than he can chew. He has just been loaned a brand-new car and a luxurious apartment, while he has lost his job thanks to a co-worker stealing a deal he was working on. Things are not looking good for him until he gets a phone call telling him he has been selected as a participant for an underground, online reality show. He is asked to complete 13 tasks and in return, they reward him with money. However, the nail-biting games are not just that simple. It will test his morals, as well as his dignity.