Cursed Land, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Kadir!

Come back.

Back where?

This is not my home.

Kadir!

Don't do that!

What do you think?

As if I had a choice.

- Morning, Mit.

- Hi, Boy.

I just had a maid come in

to dust up the place.

Now, it looks better than in the photos.

Lets take a look inside.

Please. Be careful.

They'll put the furniture here.

The old stuff that came with the house,

I've had them move

to the spare room upstairs.

The owner said not to throw away anything.

Not a single thing.

I have no idea why.

How old is this house?

Pretty old for sure.

Its a family heritage.

Thats the kitchen

and a bathroom.

The laundry room is outside.

I already had a mechanic hook up

the washing machine.

Thanks, Boy.

Mom, this is our new home for now.

The mesh door is loose.

You can ask the guys

from the factory to fix it.

The fence is broken too.

I already asked the owner,

but he didn't want to fix it.

I can do this myself,

the door and the fence.

Everythings all set.

The internet company

will come in tomorrow.

Don't trouble yourself too much.

We won't stay that long.

At least as long as the new machine

is set up properly.

This house is very close to the factory.

In case there's an emergency.

The best thing

is you don't have to pay the rent.

Well, Mit.

Don't let your dog

wander outside the house.

Why?

Its a Muslim area.

Some of them don't like dogs.

MRS WANRUDEE NAKYINGYOS

Have you seen some of my boxes here?

No.

Don't you know how to knock?

Do you have paracetamol?

Why did you do that?

Whats wrong?

Bo never looked this upset.

Turn it down, will you?

May! Turn it down!

I said turn it down!

Knock first, will you?

My boss wants to see me now.

You can go by yourself?

Yes.

And lock Bo inside the house.

Jate, can you talk?

I lost the pills you've prescribed.

No, paracetamol is useless.

My head's pretty f*cked.

Hurry up. I need it.

Would you like some roti?

No need to buy.

I'll give you some.

- My dad will pay you later, okay?

- Sure.

- I need change for the bus.

- Okay, sure.

Let's go.

Well, my name is Yah.

Yah?

"Yah", like "Yahoo" without the "hoo".

May, like Mayday.

Architecture?

That obvious?

Just a hunch.

I kind of look different around here.

I look different at college too.

Why did you move here?

My dad works for a factory

here in Nong Chok.

The company put him up in this house.

Long story.

Lets say we'll be here for a while.

Not many non-Muslims around here?

They call Nong Chok

the Muslim town of Bangkok.

But its not actually that.

There are also Buddhist people

and a few temples too.

Its peaceful around here.

Its Bangkok, but it feels rural.

You think?

Mit-san.

Yes, Asano-san.

How do you like your house?

Its fine.

How long

do I have to stay there?

I promoted you to chief,

then you had an accident.

You have to work hard,

so headquarters is convinced

that I made the right decision.

What happened!

I told you to lock it inside the house.

I did!

And how did it get out?

May!

I bought some food.

Just warm it up, okay?

Are you really going to bury Bo?

Temples can cremate dogs.

I don't want to go to a temple again, May.

Neither for people nor dogs.

Hey! Hey!

Hi there. I live down the street.

My wife made a curry.

I'm brought you some.

You should have someone

bless your house with duah.

I can ask the imam for you.

Are you burying something?

Look, don't people keep dogs around here?

Well, not really.

What if I have a pet dog,

would people mind?

I guess its all right.

Try it.

If you like,

I'll bring you some more later.

What are you doing?

This yucky curry, someone brought it.

But why did you dump it?

Can you eat it? It looks weird.

I feel sorry for Bo.

I'm sure he was poisoned.

Remember that guy

from the day we moved in?

That guy who snooped around.

Why?

My father wants May to go live with them.

- Live with them where?

- May!

At my old house?

Mit,

about that house

I've tried to convince my dad

that the house

was your and Anns property.

But the land is still under his name,

and he hadn't had a chance

to transfer it to Ann when--

Hadn't had a chance?

He never wanted to transfer it!

I've told him a hundred times.

My parents are still suffering

a great deal.

Don't upset them even more.

They're still mad at you.

I've explained this over and over.

I didn't drink that night.

The police tested me after the accident

and found nothing.

Your father has to believe me.

But they lost their daughter!

Mom, come look at this.

Theres something in the birdcage.

What? Come and sit with me here.

Birdcage?

Did you put it here?

No.

Dad. Whats wrong?

- Theres someone upstairs.

- What?

Ann

May!

Did you hear that?

Hear what?

Whats going on here?

Nothing.

May, are you coming back with me?

Hey! What are you doing!

Hey!

May, what time is it?

You're always late.

You need discipline.

Lets get going.

I still can't find my box.

Maybe I left it at the old house.

Whats so important in it?

My pills.

What pills?

You should go see a doctor.

Why? Why do I need to see a doctor?

After the accident,

you haven't had a real check-up.

Get in the car.

Stop taking random pills.

They're not random.

My friend prescribed them for me.

Then they're not helping.

You are always on edge.

You look like you haven't slept in days.

What are you doing?

You work at the Japanese factory?

I work in maintenance.

What did you do at my house last night?

Nothing.

I thought you'd need a hand

to bury that dog.

Dog?

Wait

How did you know my dog died?

Bang Marn told me.

Heem, I didn't tell you anything.

Lots of dogs drop dead around here?

- I didn't see any on the road.

- Yes.

They fought to death or got hit by a car

or poisoned to death.

But cows die too. And cats.

And chicken.

And people. Its God's will.

Heem, how could you help him bury his dog?

Nonsense.

I was kind enough to want to help.

Is that a sin?

Mit, don't listen to him.

What did you write on my fence last night?

Duah.

Listen. I live in peace with my daughter.

Don't bring us any trouble. You get that?

They did what the devil told them to,

even in the age of Solomon.

Solomons faith didn't wane.

Its the devil whose faith had diminished

and taught people to use spells

against the two archangels

in Babylon.

All of us will be tested.

So

be steadfast in your faith.

Dad! Dad!

- Dad!

- Calm down.

Heem is a weirdo.

He studied black magic, but it backfired.

Always babbling nonsense.

Don't mind him.

A house is like a machine

that happens to have someone living in it.

What is architecture?

Order imposed upon chaos.

That order comes

from objects and functionality.

But its not as simple

as Le Corbusier would like us to think.

Sorry about that, Professor.

Bear with me.

When you graduate, you won't

have to hear about Le Corbusier again.

You'll meet someone more important.

Whos that?

A Brahmin who blesses the house

and the feng shui master.

You know them?

What I'm saying is, its more complicated

than Le Corbusiers concept.

A house means life.

Life has to come before everything else.

Life first, then space, then objects.

A house has to breathe.

It has flesh and blood.

It has energy.

It has to be able to live without humans.

Dad! Dad!

Are you hurt?

I

I saw

Saw what?

Bo

DIAZEPAM

Its yours? I found it under the sofa.

Yes.

Roti with curry is quite good.

I got it from Bang Yubs tea shop.

He invited us to his house this Saturday

for a merit-making event.

- Who?

- Bang Yub, the owner of the tea shop.

Bang Marn is the one

who brought you the curry.

You've made lots of new friends.

We're new here.

We should try to be friendly.

Friendly? Friendly as in poisoning our dog

and putting a curse on our door?

Don't be ridiculous.

The community is being nice

by asking us to join the ceremony.

Do we really have to go?

There's no need to make new friends.

We'll move out soon.

We have to stay here for a while.

You know that.

You don't have enough cash to buy a house.

Itll take time to take out a loan, right?

And your boss will want you close

to his machine for now.

Are you all right?

You look flustered.

Flustered how?

This house, this neighborhood,

everything gets on my nerves.

Should you go see a psychiatrist?

I'm not crazy.

Getting there soon.

I'm not going.

Still get a hangover?

Still get a hangover?

Heem, still get a hangover?

- Come on!

- Still get a hangover?

- Come here!

- Heem, still drunk as a skunk?

Look.

- Got you.

- Let me go!

- Let me go!

- Heem.

You've got a b*mb on you?

Just kidding, man.

Got time to pray at the mosque tonight?

I pray at home and at the office too.

I heard you riled up the new guy.

Leave him alone.

Don't get him into any trouble.

What trouble?

Nonsense.

The latest attack in the Deep South

took place on June 2, 2010.

Sharif Rislee was k*lled

after stepping on a mine

near his rubber plantation

in Narathiwat province.

Soldiers on patrol duty

rushed to the scene.

But upon arrival,

another b*mb went off.

Two soldiers were k*lled on the spot

and four were severely injured.

Later, a b*mb squad unit member

was also wounded.

Violence by insurgents

have become deadlier.

YAH: VOLUME DOWN, PLEASE

MAY: SURE. SO, WHERE IS IT?

YAH: YOU'RE ASKING A MUSLIM

WHERE A BUDDHIST TEMPLE IS

MAY: COME ON, YAH

YAH: TAKE A MINIVAN ON THE MAIN ROAD

AND ASK THE DRIVER

MAY: THANKS. YOU'RE A REGULAR VISITOR?

YAH: SURE. I GO FLIRT WITH LITTLE MONKS

MAY: I'LL GO ASK A MONK TO BLESS THE HOUSE

Hello.

I'm working late.

No need to wait up.

I never waited up anyway.

Well, okay.

Secure the mesh door at the back.

Pull hard and lock it.

Okay, drive safely.

Dad!

Dad!

Mit

sh*t!

- Mit.

- What?

- Can you take a look at

- Boy, I have to run, sorry.

Mit.

May!

May! May!

May!

Dad!

Are you alright?

HIJRI ERA 1419-1420

We'll stay just a few minutes.

Have some.

Guess they're still hungry.

May.

- You're here.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- May, come sit with us.

Mit.

Lets go up.

It's nice and hot.

Bring May the food.

So, whats the occasion?

Sunat. Circumcision rite.

Chopping the tip off.

Not the whole thingy.

- Have you eaten?

- Not yet.

Welcome.

Please feel free.

- Hi.

- Are you in pain?

Come, sit with us!

- Thank you.

- Eat up, Mit.

Uh, by the way

The guy called Heem. Hes not here?

No.

Probably not invited.

Did he pick a fight with you again?

You can tell us if he causes any trouble.

Whats wrong with him?

He once went to study in the Deep South.

No idea what he actually learned.

The situation is getting worse there.

Heem was a religious boy.

He recited the Quran very beautifully.

But he was too curious

and dabbled in black magic.

Black magic?

As in putting curses on people?

Guess he learned it in the South.

Learning magic

and perhaps learning to sh**t a g*n too.

Anyway, how come you fell into the canal?

It was dark. I was clumsy.

Thought you saw something.

Like what?

Its an old house, thats all.

Eat up.

Thats why I told you

to get someone to bless it.

I'm fine.

My daughter will bring a monk

to bless the house.

Its okay to bring a monk.

Just don't throw away anything in there.

The owner is possessive

about his inheritance.

Right. Don't throw away things.

Was that too much?

Whats wrong?

Dad!

Sorry! Dad!

Fine, I'll go away! I'll f*cking leave!

Dad!

That sound, every morning,

its k*lling me!

They

They poisoned Bo.

They put black magic on us!

They put black magic on us!

Did you see how they slaughtered a cow?

They slaughtered a f*cking cow

on the street!

And look

Look at this wound on my foot!

Where is this coming from?

What wound?

Here!

You don't see it?

If that's what you want,

I'll leave this house!

Get your act together!

You're acting like this again!

May. Did you see that guy, Heem?

That b*stard Heem,

he put black magic on us.

Black magic!

He k*lled Bo!

He's been watching us since the first day.

Really. And he drank!

I saw him drinking beer

with guys at the factory.

What kind of Muslim drinks?!

No f*cking Muslim drinks!

Dad!

You also drink! Whats wrong with that?!

Stop now. If you don't,

I'll call Aunt Noi to come pick me up.

I'll call her now.

Get it?

May May

I

I feel better now.

I'm sorry, May.

We can start looking

for a house or an apartment.

But if you really have to stay here

because your boss insists,

I'll bring a monk.

Do you want a Brahmin too?

We can also put up

a house shrine, whatever.

But please,

after this,

you have to go see a doctor.

Okay. Okay.

Okay.

Where do you find him?

All architecture students know

a good Brahmin.

Without the blessing,

you can't build a house.

How long is this going to be?

Not long. I don't know.

Sir.

The dagger, Id like to keep it.

You shouldn't. Let me get rid of it.

Its okay. I'll keep it.

They told us not to throw

anything away, right?

- Whats wrong?

- Overheating.

I've been trying to find out why.

Check the valves.

- Mit.

- It wasn't turned off.

- Not now, Boy!

- Mit.

I said not now! No!

Is this yours?

There are things from the past.

The past always leaves something behind.

Objects.

Feelings.

Memories.

I'm worried about my dad.

Could you come and perform

some kind of blessing?

I could, but

How shall I put it?

What I felt in your house

operates beyond my spiritual jurisdiction.

It exists in

another system. You know what I mean?

HIJRI ERA 1431-1432

Hey! May.

Come sit with us!

- Should we tell her?

- We'd better.

May, look.

What happened?

Someone died.

Hanged from a tree

at the end of the canal.

You're joking!

Its so scary.

The police are everywhere now.

Look.

My dad told me.

He said its a curse.

The dead man is from that family.

Which family?

I'll tell you later.

How's your chem homework coming along?

You've done nothing.

When you asked me

about the dead mans family,

I didn't want to say it

in front of everyone.

So, it concerns my house?

Yes.

Your house used to belong to that family.

They moved to the US several years ago.

Their relatives still take care of it,

so it was never really abandoned.

But no one had actually lived

in it for years.

Was it built

on a Muslim cemetery or something?

No!

Kubur is somewhere else entirely!

Kubur is a cemetery?

Yes.

So, why did these people come

to live around here?

These people?

Oh, sorry.

So many Muslims here.

Mostly from the South,

from a long time ago.

Do Muslims believe in ghosts?

Djinns.

We call it djinns.

Djinns protect houses.

They don't spook you like in ghost movies.

So, who can deal with djinns?

It may sound strange.

But I think

you should talk to Heem.

Heem? The angry-looking guy?

I don't trust him.

Hurry up!

Whats going on?

Another dead body!

Now, its two.

Imam, you have to do something.

Bua.

- Yah.

- Hi.

- Is Heem home?

- Inside. Whats up?

Ready? One, two,

- Heem.

- three!

My father is sick.

He thinks you put black magic on him.

Go play with your mother.

I don't put nails

or buffalo skin into someone's stomach.

Black magic is cheap and vulgar.

Why would I do that to your father?

Yah said you could help us.

Yes.

I can help by telling you

to move out of that house.

You don't like having non-Muslims around?

What?

Non-Muslims have lived here before us.

Haven't you seen my wife?

CURFEW IN THE DEEP SOUTH

SOUTHERN INSURGENTS STRIKE

THE MILITARY STEPS UP RESPONSES

Your father threw away things he shouldn't

and built something

that shouldn't have been built.

What do you mean?

The talismans, then the shrine.

That house had been under control

until you two arrived.

Two people are now dead.

Now, it's a problem

for the whole community.

I wrote a protection on your fence

and your father wiped it off.

What should we do now?

Move out.

Your father has been suspended anyway.

Suspended? He didn't tell me anything.

The whole factory knows.

The chief engineer drinking in the office

and causing an accident.

Move out

before more sh*t happens.

Dad!

Dad!

Dad!

Dad!

What are you doing? Dad!

Dad!

May May.

- May.

- Dad.

Heem is driving us south.

No, May!

- Stop the car now.

- Dad,

he's taking us to someone

who can help you.

I don't trust him. No!

Calm down.

If you don't trust him,

you have to trust me.

And do you trust him?

I have to.

Do you want to get better?

If you don't, I'm out.

Is this an amulet?

The Quran.

Its a book of teachings.

Whatever.

It won't save you.

My car had all kinds of amulets and yet

they don't work.

You assume that they had power.

Does the Quran have an exorcism spell?

You can recite it now

and save ourselves

the trouble of going south.

The Deep South, either you're k*lled

by a ghost or by a b*mb.

Dad, how are you?

I'm okay.

Yah mentioned the djinns in my house.

The djinns

are living beings,

neither men nor devils.

What Thai people call "kwan"

or "guardians"

or even "house spirits",

they are all djinns.

The good djinns help men

take care of their houses.

The wicked djinns work

with Shaitan to deceive humans.

Especially men whose minds are weak.

Blah blah blah.

Just say they're ghosts.

You could call them ghosts, yes.

But djinns are not dead people

who come back to haunt the living.

Your shrine

It cannot ward them off.

So

So, ghosts have religion too?

I thought only humans k*ll each other

because of that.

So, whats wrong with my father?

He let the bad djinns mess him up.

Beats me why.

Going south is really a good idea?

You okay?

Two hot teas.

Wait here.

Thank you.

Here.

We'll have to walk from here.

Dad, you can wait in the car.

No, I have to go with you.

Good.

Zainab must see you.

Careful.

Lets take a break.

Thanks.

Ya!

Where are we?

Is it a village?

Somewhere in the Malay peninsula.

Can he make it?

Lets rest a bit.

Ya.

Assalamu-alaikum.

Have you seen my cat?

Aunt Zainab. Its me, Heem.

Heem Why are you here?

They need help.

They've moved into the house.

That house is well-protected.

There shouldn't be a problem.

Now there is.

He threw away the talismans.

Then he built a shrine.

Couldn't you handle it?

I'm no longer a witch doctor.

Black magic, subduing curses,

fighting djinns, fighting Shaitan,

those are all behind me.

But two people have died.

Whats the problem with that house?

That house is one thing.

But your father He won't just recover.

Heem said you could get rid of the djinns.

Maybe.

But your father has to fix

his own problems first.

Fix what?

No! He k*lled his wife!

I won't let him live!

Dad!

No!

Dad.

Dad.

Djinn! Go!

Chase it out! Drive it away!

Drive the thing out!

Djinn, go!

Dad!

Dad! Dad!

Dad!

Dad!

What have you two done?

Is that all you got?

Faster! Hurry up!

Kadir. Don't stop.

They'll whip you!

I want to go home.

Why?

There's nothing left at home.

Faster!

Faster!

Faster! Harder!

Are they doing black magic?

Kadir is a sorcerer.

Mud is his student.

They said their friend was possessed

by a forest spirit.

Be careful.

They'll run away if they have a chance.

Next time, you can perform the ritual.

You have talent.

Good.

Maybe I'll become their shaman.

Better than working in the field.

Huh? What do you mean?

I want to stay here.

Stay here?

Why go back?

Kadir, look around you.

The soil is rich.

The land is plenty.

We can make this place our home!

Shame on you.

You think they'll let you have this land?

Mud,

you're stupid.

Well

One day

I'll k*ll all of them.

You always cause trouble.

Thats why they nailed your foot.

If you run away,

I'll take their land.

- You're shameless.

- And you?

You use black magic and talk to djinns.

You toy with Shaitan.

You say you believe in God,

but you practice dark magic

like an infidel!

- You're shameless and a hypocrite!

- f*ck you.

I saw you ask the soldiers

for their leftover moonshine.

You have no right to preach to me!

Sir,

Kadir and some captives

are planning to run away.

Chan!

Bring Kadir here.

Sir.

Kadir, come back!

Back where?

This is not my home!

I ask Iblis to curse this land!

I curse the infidels and their servants!

I curse the infidels and their servants!

- Please don't! Don't do that!

- I curse you

I curse the infidels and their servants!

I curse the infidels and their servants!

I curse the infidels and their servants!

Get him!

- I curse--

- Push him down!

I curse the land of the infidels--

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

You're denouncing God. Stop it!

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I just want to go home.

Mud, you betrayed your people!

I won't let them live in peace

for a thousand years!

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

Chop his head off.

I curse this land of the infidels

and their servants.

What was that?

He put a curse on you.

Can Mud fix that?

- Mud

- I won't do it!

Sir.

Kadir denounced God out of anger.

He listened to Shaitans whispers

at the end of his life.

Mud suppressed Kadir's curse with his own

and seized the house from the master.

What a fool.

The next day, more soldiers arrived.

They threw all the rebels into the canal

and brought their own shaman

to subdue the spells.

Go down!

That piece of land

festered with curses and counter-curses,

layer upon layer of hatred,

anger, and vengeance.

Later,

a new master married a Muslim girl

and the land was passed down

through generations.

Everyone knew what had happened there

and made sure

to perform necessary rituals

to subdue Kadirs, Muds,

and other shamans curses.

Now,

the dark forces are coming out again.

Because of the shrine.

That's just one thing.

A shrine can bring both benign

and heathen spirits.

God-defying djinns can take refuge

in a shrine too.

But thats not all.

This man

allows the bad djinns to overcome him.

His mind is too weak.

Grief is his curse.

Leave that house as soon as possible.

I can't help you.

We'll stop to pray for a few minutes.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Thats your mothers sketchbook.

I found it in the box.

The same box where I hid your pills.

I've started sketching one picture

every day, like Mom used to.

Yes, she sketched one every day,

until

She did one that day too.

I'll take care of it tomorrow.

Sure.

At first,

I was upset that she married you.

But when I saw how happy she was with you,

I was happy too.

Alright.

So, we'll spend another night here,

and we'll leave early tomorrow.

You can decide what to do

once we're in Bangkok.

Yes.

SOLD

Aunt Noi, did you sell my fathers house?

Noi, whats happening with my house?

Mom.

May.

- What did you draw?

- A family.

Who do you have?

- A dad.

- Okay?

- A child.

- Okay?

- A mom

- Okay?

- And Bo!

- Wow!

She's always bragging about it.

What? You're a big girl now

and still bragging?

Why are you doing this?

Why did you sell my house?

Dad.

Dad!

Dad Its okay.

We'll go back to the Nong Chok house,

get Moms urn,

and find a hotel.

Go get the urn.

I'll go pack.

Dad!

May! May!

May, open the door!

May!

Open the door!

Dads gone!

Go find him!

Go now!

Dad!

Where?

Djinn, go!

Djinn, go!

I can't do this by myself.

You have to help me.

Dad.

Dad.

Dad

Dad.

Dad

Why did you come out here?

What's wrong?

Dad.

Let's go inside.

What's wrong? Dad.

Dad!

Dad

- Dad.

- Ann

Ann

Dad.

- I'm sorry.

- No, Dad.

Dad. Dad!

No, Dad.

Thats not Mom.

Mom is dead. Dad!

Shes gone.

She never came back.

Dad!

She'll never come back!

I'm home!

- It's okay?

- Of course!

- Do I look good?

- Sure.

Not yet.

I don't believe it.

It's true!

Really?

Happy birthday to you!

- Make a wish.

- Dad.

Dad.

Dad.

May.

May.

You serve the infidels. You defy God.

You're no different from me.

You believe in other powers.

You abandoned your faith.

You stare into the black hole

of Shaitan and Dajjal.

The black hole is staring back at you.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

I curse the land of the infidels--

I curse the land of the infidels

and their servants.

Not a single fish.

Not like at Rusamilah.

Lots of fish there.

At least we have food here.

Theres food everywhere.

At home too.

Anger is your curse, Kadir.

This is not our home.

Kadir is my ancestor.

I'm here to bring him home.

I heard there was

another bombing in the South.

It's okay for Zainab to go back?

Its her home.

She has to go back, no matter what.

Ya will take care of her.

Yes,

its her home.

Where else can she go?