Kijsada Paradise
A horror film about friendship and an abandoned water park.
Kijsada Paradise (Thai: กฤษดาพาราไดซ์) is a Thai horror film from 2026. The director is Phontharis Chotkijsadarsopon, known as Mike, and the producer is Taweewat Wantha, or Kui, working through 13 Studio. The movie mixes friendship with horror, taking its cues from local ghost stories about a water park left abandoned in Chiang Mai. It hit Thai cinemas on 11 June 2026.
The plot follows Taek, played by Nattawat Jirochtikul (Fourth), and his friends as they head to the haunted, deserted Kijsada Paradise water park for a game of hide-and-seek. During the game, Jod (Jaturawit Cheawprasit, or Zen), a friend with special needs, vanishes without a trace. When the group later encounters what appears to be Jod, they are forced into a lethal game with no way out, forced to reckon with the fallout from their own past choices.
The cast also includes Yongsin Wongpanitnont (Yorch) as Ohm, Pannawit Phattanasiri (Garto) as Park, Worapat Pakapatpornpob (Toey) as Tee, Sorathon Chaloemlapsombut (JayJay) as Melon, and Waratthip Kittisiripaisan (Euro) as Waen.
After finishing *Death Whisperer* and its 2024 sequel, producer Kui announced the launch of his own company, Thirteen Studio Co., Ltd. (13 Studio), which focuses on horror and thriller films for Thailand. *Kijsada Paradise* was one of seven projects revealed at the Knock Knock 13 Studio lineup event at Siam Paragon on 17 January 2025. Director Mike, known for the *Pee Nak* horror franchise, said the idea came from hearing about an abandoned water park in Hang Dong district. Noticing that films often feature abandoned amusement parks but rarely water parks, he scouted locations in Chiang Mai and spent nearly a year writing the script. He describes the film as a horror story about friendship and how people from different backgrounds coexist. 13 Studio debuted the project at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FilmArt) in March 2025.
Principal photography started on 1 February 2025, with a blessing ceremony held on 7 February. Almost all filming took place in Chiang Mai. Because the movie is action-heavy, the cast trained in taekwondo and performed their own fight scenes, including wire stunts and underwater sequences. A life-sized slide was built on a studio set to accommodate action and CGI work. Strange incidents were reported during production, including accidents and injuries among cast and crew. After fi
- director
- Phontharis Chotkijsadarsopon (Mike)
- producer
- Taweewat Wantha (Kui)
- production_company
- 13 Studio
- release_date
- 11 June 2026 (Thailand)
- genre
- Horror
- country
- Thailand
- starring
- Nattawat Jirochtikul (Fourth), Yongsin Wongpanitnont (Yorch)
Lore & Background
The film follows Taek (Nattawat Jirochtikul) and his group of friends who decide to play hide-and-seek at Kijsada Paradise, a haunted abandoned water park in Chiang Mai. The game leads to the mysterious disappearance of Jod (Jaturawit Cheawprasit), a friend with special needs. When they encounter what seems to be Jod, they are forced to play a deadly game from which no one can escape, facing the consequences of their past actions.
Director Mike got the idea for the film when he was told about an abandoned water park in Hang Dong district. He went location scouting in Chiang Mai province to write the script, which took almost a year to develop. The film was shot almost entirely in Chiang Mai, with principal photography beginning on 1 February 2025. A blessing ceremony for good luck was held on 7 February 2025.
The cast underwent taekwondo workshops and performed their own fight scenes, including wire stunts and underwater scenes. Some scenes required building a life-sized slide on a studio set to accommodate action and CGI. Strange occurrences were reported during filming, including accidents and injuries to cast and crew. Director Mike returned to the location after filming to perform a ritual to ask for forgiveness.
Reader's Guide
Kijsada Paradise represents a notable entry in Thai horror cinema, produced by 13 Studio, a company launched by producer Taweewat Wantha after the Death Whisperer films. The film was one of seven unveiled during the Knock Knock 13 Studio film lineup event at Siam Paragon on 17 January 2025. It marks director Mike's return to horror after the Pee Nak franchise, and features a cast of young actors including Nattawat Jirochtikul and Yongsin Wongpanitnont.
The film's significance lies in its unique setting—an abandoned water park—which director Mike noted had not been explored in previous films about abandoned amusement parks. The production emphasized practical stunts and actor training, with the cast performing their own action scenes. The film also addresses themes of friendship and coexistence of people with different backgrounds in society.
13 Studio made its market debut with the project at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market in March 2025. The film was promoted with a teaser poster in April 2026, an official teaser on 5 May 2026, and a trailer on 15 May 2026. A press conference was held at SF World Cinema, CentralWorld on 12 May 2026, and the film premiered at the Kijsada Paradise Gala Premiere event at CentralWorld on 9 June 2026.
Did You Know?
- The film was inspired by ghost stories about an abandoned water park in Chiang Mai.
- Director Mike went location scouting in Chiang Mai and spent almost a year developing the script.
- The cast underwent taekwondo workshops and performed their own fight scenes, including wire stunts and underwater scenes.
- Strange occurrences, including accidents and injuries, were reported during filming, leading the director to perform a ritual to ask for forgiveness.
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