Film
The Night Curse of Reatrei
The Night Curse of Reatrei is a 2024 Cambodian horror film by Leak Lyda, set in an orphanage haunted by a caregiver executed for murders in 1983.[1] Its Khmer title, បណ្ដាសានាងរាត្រី (Bon Das Sa Neang Reatrei), means "The Curse of Lady Night."[2]
Synopsis
In 1983, seven children were murdered at an orphanage. The caregiver Reatrei was accused of 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.[1] 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][4] Its distributors there promoted it as based on true events in the Cambodian countryside.[3]
Production and credits
Nuon Molin wrote the film, and Leng Soklin produced it.[1] IMDb and YesAsia also credit Diep Sela as a co-director.[5][4] The film is a Cambodia-Myanmar production made by LD Picture Production and Real Bros Production.[2]
The principal cast includes Paing Takhon, Shin Yubin, Norodom Jenna and Tharoth Sam.[1] Tharoth Sam plays Pisey, Shin Yubin plays Dalin, Paing Takhon plays Paing and Norodom Jenna plays Gechly.[2][5] Paing Takhon, from Myanmar, performs his role entirely in Khmer.[3]
Leak Lyda was born and raised in Kompong Thom province. He founded LD Pictures in 2012, and by 2024 the company had made more than 20 feature films.[1] His 2019 horror film The Clock: Spirits Awakening won Best Film and Best Director at the Cambodia National Film Festival.[1]
Release and reception
The film was first released in theaters in Cambodia on March 14, 2024.[2] Skyline Media handled distribution and licensed the film to Taiwan's Cai Chang International and to Exponenta Film for the Commonwealth of Independent States.[2] In Taiwan it was released as 鬼氣球 (Ghost Balloon), and Cai Chang International issued a DVD there on August 30, 2024.[3][4]
The film was an official selection of the 2024 Cambodia Town Film Festival. It had its U.S. premiere there on September 14, 2024, at the Art Theatre in Long Beach, California.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Cambodia Town Film Festival, CTFF 2024 Official selection: The Night Curse Of Reatrei (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wikipedia, The Night Curse of Reatrei
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Atmovies, 鬼氣球 The Night Curse of Reatrei (Chinese)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 YesAsia, The Night Curse of Reatrei (2024) (DVD) (Taiwan Version)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 IMDb, The Night Curse of Reatrei (2024)