Art of the Devil

Art of the Devil (Thai: คนเล่นของ or Khon len khong) is a 2004 Thai horror film directed by Tanit Jitnukul. It is the first installment in a trilogy, followed by two titular sequels that feature different stories and characters.

The plot follows Boom (Supaksorn Chaimongkol), a young Thai woman who works at a country club and begins an affair with a married man named Prathan (Tin Settachoke). When she becomes pregnant, Prathan initially questions whether he is the father and offers her money to keep quiet. After she accepts a large sum, he appears to reconsider, but later that night he and his friends chase her onto a beach, where they humiliate and apparently gang-rape her while he films it. Prathan had no intention of continuing the relationship.

After an ultrasound reveals her baby has abnormalities, Boom sees Prathan celebrating his youngest daughter’s birthday with his second family. Her friend advises an abortion, but Boom refuses. She confronts Prathan at the restaurant, demanding more money; he slaps her, warns her away from his family, and throws cash at her, saying it is the last time.

Seeking revenge, Boom enlists a black magic shaman. Her curse causes Prathan’s second eldest son to shoot his girlfriend and little sister before killing himself. Prathan is later found dead at his beach house with his latest mistress. The shaman tells Boom that donating coffins for each victim will keep their spirits away. After making offerings at a temple, she sees the ghosts in a car, steps into the street, and is hit by a car, losing her baby.

Prathan’s first wife, Kamala, inherits his fortune and moves into the house with her four children. Boom uses black magic again, this time not for revenge but to claim the inheritance. She also arranges the death of a suspicious newspaper reporter. Throughout, the ghost of Boom’s dead daughter appears. In the end, only the youngest son, Bon, and eldest daughter, Nan, survive. Boom voluntarily falls from a hospital roof after seeing her daughter’s ghost.

The cast includes Arisa Wills as Nan, Supakson Chaimongkol as Boom, Krongthong Rachatawan as Kamala, Tin Settachoke as Prathan, Somchai Satuthum as Danai, Isara Ochakul as Ruj, Nirut Sutchart as Neng, and Krittayod Thimnate as Bon.

Art of the Devil premiered on June 17, 2004, and ranked No. 4 in its opening weekend, behind *Around the World in 80 Days*, *Harry Potter a