The controversial ritual for the dead

MANILA, Philippines – In the new supernatural thriller The Coffin, which opens in theaters on June 17, find out why messing with your fate can lead you to a lifetime of suffering.

The Coffin is about a young man and woman who decide to go through the ritual in Thailand. Good things begin to happen but later terror sets in. With the help of a professor specializing in paranormal cases, they set out to exorcise the ghosts that haunt them, attempting to reverse the wheel of karma.

Thrilling, mysterious and ultimately moving, The Coffin is a spine-chilling horror about the beauty of life and death, and coming face to face with living and dying. It was shot in Bangkok and five other provinces across Thailand. Filming locations include a 100-year-old Thai temple, an ancient meditation cave, actual cemeteries and inside active crematorium chambers.

Writer/director Ekachai Uekrongtham, best known for his work Beautiful Boxer which is based on the true story of transsexual Muay Thai boxer Nong Toom, and which has garnered 15 international awards to date, was inspired to make The Coffin after hearing about a Mass funeral for the living. Thousands of people turned up at a North Eastern temple in Thailand to lie in coffins and go through the ritual.

Referred to in Thailand as Non Loeng Sadorcro which literally means “Lie in Coffin, Rid of Bad Luck,” the controversial ritual has been around for decades but in the last few years, it has become increasingly popular.

The ritual involves participants lying in coffins while a group of monks perform death rites on them as if the participants are already dead. This is then followed by a chant of new life.

Described as a “scream gem” by Timeout Singapore, The Coffin stars Karen Mok, Ananda Everingham, Andrew Lin, Napakpapha Nakpasitte, Suchao Pongwilai, Tassawan Seneewongse and Aki Shibuya.

The Coffin is a Viva International Pictures release.