South Korean film studio Barunson E&A (“Parasite”) has joined Thai production company GDH 559 (“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”)’s new horror film “Inherit” and is taking on international sales duties across North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa.
The partnership expands on the existing collaboration between the two companies and introduces Barunson E&A to Banjong Pisantakul, a director who has produced a number of hits in Thailand’s major genres. His credits include “Shutter,” the comedy-horror phenomenon “Peemak” (which set an all-time local box office record in Thailand and became the first local title to attract more than 10 million admissions), and “The Medium.”
‘Inherit’ marks Pisantakul’s return to the director’s chair after four years. The story centers on a wealthy family’s carefully maintained image beginning to crumble when the spirit of an ancient centipede invades the family lineage. The screenplay is drawn from the Thai horror novel “Thayat Asun,” which has maintained an avid readership since its debut in 1991, and has never been made into a theatrical film, though it has been adapted for television for decades.
Davika Hoorn has led the cast in recent films such as A Useful Ghost, which won the Cannes Critics Weekly Award and was released in Thailand through GDH.
GDH 559’s 2024 title “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” grossed approximately $73.8 million worldwide, and “Human Resources” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2025.
The move fits a pattern for Barunson E&A, which has cultivated partnerships with prominent production talent across the region. In Indonesia, the company has an exclusive deal with Come and Sea Pictures, the production company of director Joko Anwar, who has significantly increased its profile beyond Southeast Asia. Anwar’s Prime Video feature “The Siege at Thorn High” and the Berlin premiere comedy-horror “Ghost in the Cell” both count Varunson E&A as a key international partner.
GDH “Inherit is a project that we have been deeply passionate about for some time,” said Zina Osotsilp, CEO of 559. “We are particularly excited to be working with Barunson E&A. Their strong global perspective makes them the ideal partner to bring ‘Inherit’ to an international audience.”
Yoonhee Choi, CEO of Barunson E&A, added, “The film explores themes of family, guilt, and hypocrisy within the framework of its genre, giving it both emotional weight and strong international appeal. Banjong Pisantakul is a filmmaker with a unique voice, and we see this as the beginning of a broader creative relationship.”
The partnership comes as Barunson E&A expands its involvement in early-stage development, recently signing a memorandum of understanding with Studio N to develop projects rooted in webtoon and webnovel IP. Discussions with GDH are expected to proceed in a similar direction, with the possibility of co-development and co-production also being considered.
