Thai Actress Denis Opens Up on Horror Film Career Path

Nineteen-year-old Thai-American actress Denis Jelilchaha Kappun has established herself as a regular in horror films, from the sci-fi thriller The Wailing through her current role in The Confession of a Shaman Doctor, now playing in cinemas. Another horror film, Exchange, is scheduled for release in early November. Denis opened up about her frequent work in the horror genre, life in the entertainment industry, and the goals she hopes to achieve.

On her character in The Confession of a Shaman Doctor, Denis explained: "This isn't just an ordinary ghost film—it's more like a life drama that tells human stories. I play Mali, a factory worker who becomes the girlfriend of Doctor To, played by Alek Theeradej. She brings light into his world, and as a character, she sets many things in motion. I can't really spoil this character, so everyone should watch the film."

When asked how the role challenged her, Denis said: "This is another character I've never played before. I'd only done the three Wailing films where I played the same character for three years. Moving to Mali, who is quite different from that character with a different life story and added complexity—even if there aren't many heavy scenes, there are small details to capture. There are also some cute moments. Beyond Alek's dark storyline, all the characters are dark and dramatic, but my part shows a sweeter side of Doctor To."

On working alongside veteran actor Alek Theeradej, Denis praised his dedication: "Alek committed fully and lost weight very quickly. By the time we started filming, he'd already slimmed down significantly. During our workshop, we had to prepare scenes together because the relationship develops rapidly—from strangers to lovers. We needed to build chemistry before filming those scenes."

Denis also expressed gratitude for working with other accomplished actors, saying she felt fortunate to learn from experienced cast members including Alek, Chakrit, Bam, Ranya, Wai Faulkner, and Am Amporn. "Each person has their own style and technique, and I'm grateful to have worked with them all."

On life at nineteen, Denis reflected: "This year started quite heavy. I've been busy constantly—traveling abroad frequently, flying often for work and filming while studying. I've been growing and learning alongside my age. Life gets busier each year, but that's good. If life were always easy, I might get bored. My life isn't easy at all, but there's plenty to learn and it's actually quite fun."