Copyright Variety
Thai production company BeBrave Entertainment Hub and genre film studio Fearfolks are representing their psychological horror film “Mutelu” (Fortune Seekers) at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), where the team is seeking to complete fundraising and expand the project’s international footprint. The supernatural thriller follows Bua, a woman pushed to her breaking point after nearly losing her job and facing the inability to pay for her blind sister’s treatment. In desperation, she purchases mystical amulets to change their fortunes, only to unleash a dark and mysterious force that threatens everything she holds dear. “‘Mutelu’ may be a Thai film, but it is a universal story about luck, strife and desperation,” says producer Nakarin Narkpreecha. “It is a horror story, packaged with the creeps and the scares, but it really is about winning against all odds. The team found a bit of Bua, the main character, in each one of us, so we felt that the audience would do too.” The project marks a collaboration between BeBraveHub and Fearfolks, a genre-focused film studio. Hans Audric Estialbo, head of Fearfolks and producer on the film, emphasizes the spiritual dimensions of the story. “As one of the producers of ‘Mutelu,’ one of our overarching goals was to convey the terrifying fragility of faith in the face of absolute, incomprehensible evil,” Estialbo says. “The story of ‘Mutelu,’ at its core, is a desperate spiritual battle,” he continues. “We wanted the audience to feel the raw, visceral terror of being completely stripped down – physically, mentally, and spiritually – and then being forced to find a reservoir of strength they didn’t know they had.” The film will feature “Hunger” star Aokbab Chutimon as Bua, with the character’s emotional journey forming the backbone of the narrative. “She isn’t a hero; she’s just a scared unfortunate woman who has to choose to do something evil in order to do good things for the people she loves,” Estialbo explains. Helming the project is director Yanyong Kuruangkura, known for “App War” (2018), “Mother Gamer” (2020), and Netflix original series “Ready Set Love.” “Fortune Seekers” marks his first foray into supernatural horror. The screenplay comes from Ploibutsara Phattrapornphisit, co-founder of BeBraveHub and acclaimed writer behind the “SOTUS” franchise. Her character-driven approach has shaped hits like “Voice in the Rain” for VIU and “Me Always You” for Century UU. Currently in hard pre-production, “Mutelu” is slated to begin principal photography in Q2 2026, with a tentative release in late 2026 or early 2027. “We primarily aim to complete our fundraising for the film during TCCF,” says Estialbo. “We are extremely proud to take Thai horror to an international stage. While the film has been pre-sold to Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia, we also aim to find international distribution partners during the event.” BeBraveHub has produced series ranging from romantic dramas to modern thrillers, including “Catch Me Baby” for WeTV and “Return Man” for VIU. Fearfolks has distributed horror titles including “Late Night with the Devil,” “Talk to Me,” and “The Toxic Avenger” in Thai cinemas. “Horror could draw the audience to the cinemas, but it is the relatability of the story that would make them want to talk about it when they go home,” Narkpreecha notes, summing up the team’s approach to making “Mutelu” resonate beyond genre boundaries.
