Film
The Night Curse of Reatrei
The Night Curse of Reatrei (2024) is a Cambodian horror film directed by Leak Lyda, set in an orphanage haunted by a caregiver executed for murders in 1983.[1][2]
Synopsis
In 1983, seven children were murdered at an orphanage. Reatrei, who cared for them, was blamed for the crimes and executed, but her spirit stayed on. When the orphanage reopened in 1993, strange events began. After another caretaker dies, Pisey, Pai and Dalin look into the ten-year-old murder case and uncover the truth behind the killings.[2] In the version released in Taiwan, Reatrei is a blind teacher who was wrongly accused and burned to death by local residents. Those under her curse must choose between two balloons marked "enter" and "exit," and the wrong choice brings a terrible fate.[3] Its distributors there promoted it as based on true events in the Cambodian countryside.[3]
Production and credits
LD Picture Production produced the film.[3] Atmovies and Afisha.uz list Diep Sela as a co-director with Leak Lyda.[3][4]
The principal cast includes Paing Takhon, Shin Yubin, Norodom Jenna and Tharoth Sam.[1][4] Paing Takhon, from Myanmar, performs his role entirely in Khmer.[3]
Leak Lyda's horror film The Clock: Spirits Awakening won Best Film and Best Director at the Cambodia National Film Festival.[3]
Release and reception
The film had its premiere on March 14, 2024, and was playing in Cambodian cinemas by late March.[4][5] Vietnam's Skyline Media sold the film abroad. By May 2024 it had licensed it to Cai Chang International in Taiwan and to Exponenta Film for the Commonwealth of Independent States.[1] In Taiwan it was released as 鬼氣球 (Ghost Balloon).[3]
References 5
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Variety, Vietnam's Skyline Media Inks Pre-Cannes Deals on Southeast Asian Slate (May 9, 2024)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Asian Movie Pulse, Cambodian Horror Film 'The Night Curse of Reatrei' Broke Records and Was Released in 2024 (September 12, 2025)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Atmovies, 鬼氣球 The Night Curse of Reatrei (Chinese)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Afisha.uz, The Night Curse of Reatrei (Uzbek) (undated)
- ↑ The Cambodia Daily, Cambodian Myth and Legends Captivate Audiences with Film The Night Curse of Reatrei (March 29, 2024)
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