OMUKADE (โอมุคาเดะ) (2026)

Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Director: Chalead Kraileadmongkon, Pakpoom Wongjinda
Cast: Narilya Gulmongkolpech, Daung, James Laver, Hideki Nagayama, Ryota Omi
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: M18 ((Violence and Disturbing Scenes)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 23 April 2026

Synopsis: Based on Japanese folklore, OMUKADE is a gripping story of supernatural horror. In an abandoned cursed mine, a British prisoner of war and his Thai guide navigate their way across the border to Burma. In the pitch-black darkness, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur. Their only chance of survival is to escape the shadows—shadows that conceal a ravenous beast, ready to devour them all, friend or foe alike.

Movie Review:

If the sight of a head exploding only to reveal a writhing centipede crawling out of the carnage sounds like your idea of a good time, then this Thai creature feature from Chalead Kraileadmongkon and Pakpoom Wongjinda will be right up your alley. Drawing from Japanese folklore about a giant, man-eating centipede said to dwell in the mountains, the film leans unapologetically into visceral horror, delivering an experience that prioritises shock, gore, and sustained tension over anything resembling subtlety.

Omukade's premise is undeniably intriguing. Set during World War II, at a time when Japan occupied Thailand, the story brings together a volatile mix of characters: villagers, Japanese soldiers and a prisoner of war. Circumstances force them into a remote mine, where they soon discover that the darkness holds more than just the weight of human conflict. Lurking within is an ancient, monstrous presence — a grotesque embodiment of the legend they cannot escape.

What follows is a descent into claustrophobic terror. The mine setting proves highly effective, trapping both characters and audience in tight, suffocating spaces where danger could strike from any direction. The lack of light amplifies the fear, and the film makes full use of its confined environment to build a constant sense of dread. There are moments where the tension becomes almost physically exhausting, as the characters stumble through narrow tunnels with the sense that something is always just out of sight.

Subtlety is not the film’s primary concern. The horror here is loud, graphic and relentless. Gore is deployed with abandon — bodies pile up, blood splatters freely and the creature’s attacks are depicted in all their grotesque detail. The film rarely gives viewers a moment to recover, stacking scare upon scare in a way that feels deliberately overwhelming. For fans of extreme creature horror, this will likely be its greatest strength.

The creature itself is, in many ways, the star. Designed to be as unsettling as possible, the giant centipede is a genuinely nightmarish creation, its movements and presence engineered to provoke discomfort. It’s the kind of monster that makes you think twice before venturing into caves or remote natural landscapes on your next holiday.

The human characters in Omukade, however, are less fully realised. While the ensemble cast — including Narilya Gulmongkolpech, Daung, James Laver, Hideki Nagayama, and Ryota Omi — brings a degree of intensity to their roles, the script offers little room for meaningful development. Relationships and backstories are sketched rather than explored, and emotional beats are often overshadowed by the next impending attack.

There is a late attempt to introduce an anti-war message, tying the human conflict to the larger horror unfolding underground. While the intention is clear, it feels somewhat out of place within a film so heavily focused on visceral thrills.

This is a film that is not concerned with nuance or depth, but delivers a relentless, nerve-shredding creature feature. For viewers seeking character-driven storytelling, it may feel lacking. But for those drawn to claustrophobic settings, monstrous horror, and unapologetic gore, it offers a brutally effective ride into the dark.

Movie Rating:

(A claustrophobic creature feature that burrows deep into gore — heads roll, blood flows, and the monster delivers with zero subtlety)

Review by John Li