The latest 2024 end-year release, Kang Mak (from Pee Mak), is a Thai-adapted ghost story remade into an Indonesian movie. The two movies, received recognition in both countries, as they highlight a well-known folklore in Thailand.
The films start with a male protagonist, Makmur, who has to leave his pregnant wife to serve in the army. As Makmur returns safely from the battlefield with four of his new friends, Makmur finds that his home has become sacred with superstitious beliefs about his wife as a ghost.
The ghost story is according to Thai local folklore that happened in the city of Phra Khanong during King Rama IV's reign. It was originally known as Mae Nak Phra Khanong, meaning 'Lady Nak of Phra Khanong'.
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Today, a shrine in Suan Luang district of Bangkok is dedicated to Nak. It was once constructed at Wat Mahabut until 1997.
The Original Folklore
In a small Thai village, a young man named Mak is forced to leave his pregnant wife, Nak, to fight in a war.
Upon his return, he finds his village in fear. Rumors swirl about a terrifying ghost haunting the village. Mak, however, is determined to be with his beloved wife.
One day, Mak saw something strange. Nak reached for a lime that had fallen under the house, impossibly stretching her arm. At that moment, he realized the truth: Nak was a ghost.
Frightened, Mak fled to a temple for safety. The villagers, terrified of Nak's wrath, sought help from a powerful monk. The monk was able to capture Nak's spirit and seal it away.
Alternate Version
However, in some versions of the story, Nak is released from her confinement and continues her ghostly pursuits. In others, she is given peace and the promise of a future life with her beloved husband.
It's revealed that Nak, indeed, is the ghost, but not in the way they had imagined. She is a ghost out of love, longing for her husband.
A Thai historian, Anek Nawikamul, also argued about the story's origin which was historically written by K.S.R. Kulap. In his writing, Kulap said that the story was based on the son of Amdaeng Nak (Mrs. Nak) who was worried that his father might remarry and take away his inheritance after his mother died while giving birth to him. He dressed up like his mother, a ghost, and scared the villagers by throwing rocks at boats.
Impact on Culture and Society
Mae Nak has been the subject of film, novels, and television drama adaptations. The story's popularity is well-known because her devotion to her husband inspires people about the dangers of excessive grief and the importance of letting go.
The story even reached Prince Damrong, a son of King Mongkut, who kept questioning Wat Phra Kaeo's famous person to the local people when he was a kid. It turned out that Mae Nak was the one name that kept being mentioned.
The story has influenced religious beliefs and practices, particularly related to the veneration of spirits and performing rituals to appease them. The shrine dedicated to Mae Nak at Wat Mahabut also become a popular tourist destination.
The ghost story that made its debut in Indonesian cinema as a film adaptation shows the success of the story's popularity that lifts up Thai culture and folklore. Both local and foreign visitors and movie enjoyers of the story have contributed to the Thai entertainment industry and economy.
