"Ordained against his will, haunted by transgression-faith becomes the crucible of guilt."
Arpat is a provocative horror-drama that challenges sacred norms in Thai Buddhism. The film centers on Sun, a nineteen-year-old who is forced by his father to enter monkhood despite his lack of faith. Once ordained, Sun continues outside behaviors-drinking, dating, ignoring moral expectations-all of which plunge him into supernatural disturbances and existential torment.
What makes Arpat compelling is how it uses horror not for cheap jump-scares but to reflect on guilt, societal pressure, and the moral weight of religious precepts. The narrative is slow-burn: scenes of monk life, ritual, and everyday transgression are allowed to breathe, building tension through atmosphere rather than escalation. Sun's visions and ghostly manifestations, especially involving local beliefs and rituals, are unsettling precisely because they sit at the intersection of cultural truth and cinematic metaphor.
That said, the film's pacing is uneven. The first half lingers too long in setup, which may test viewers' patience. Some of the supernatural logic feels vague, and key character motivations (including Sun's internal moral journey) could be more fully articulated. The controversy surrounding its portrayal of monks behaving inappropriately adds extra layers-and perhaps forces certain edits-not always clearly smoothed over in the final product.
Nonetheless, Arpat stands out for its courage to unsettle and to question the intersection of faith, obligation, and identity in a highly traditional society.
Rating: 8/10 - A morally complex, culturally charged horror that's uneven but deeply thought-provoking.
