Modern Popular Culture
Countries where the Krasue tale is popular have adapted it to film. Several Thai films depict this spirit, including 1973 movie Krasue Sao (Ghosts of Guts Eater), Thai: กระสือสาว with Sombat Metanee, which features a fight between two Krasues, Itthirith Nam Man Phrai Thai: อิทธิฤทธิ์น้ำมันพราย made in 1984, with Tanid Pongmanoon and Praew Mardmarud, Krasue Kat Pop Thai: กระสือกัดปอบ (1990) with Bin Banleurit and Trirak Rakkarndee, Krasue Krahailueat (Bloodthirsty Krasue) made in 1995 with Thida Teerarat, Krasue (Demonic Beauty) in 2002, Krasue Valentine (2006) by Yuthlert Sippapak, Krasue (The Gluttonous Fear) Thai: กระสือ made in 2007, with Jedsada Roongsakorn and Sirintorn Parnsamutr, Krasue Phat Pop Thai: กระสือฟัดปอบ (2009) with Chutima Naiyana, in which Krasue fights against Phi Pop, and Fullmoon Devil (2011) by Komson Thripong. In all these movies Krasue plays a central role, but she also appears in many other movies in lesser roles.
Krasue, as Ap (also spelt Arp or Arb), is present in the Cambodian horror films Neang Arp (Lady Vampire) (2004), Tiyen Arp (Heredity of Krasue) (2007), Arb Kalum (The Sexiest Krasue) (2009) and Phlerng Chhes Arb. Hong Kong's Witch with the Flying Head (1977), which was dubbed in Thai as Krasue Sawath (กระสือสวาท), meaning "Lovely Krasue", and Indonesia's Mystics in Bali (1981) also feature local versions of Krasue. In the Vietnam War-era drama Freedom Deal by Camerado, President Nixon orders the 1970 military incursion into Cambodia, unwittingly unleashing a legion of local ghosts similar to the Krasue.
This ghost appears periodically in Thai television soap operas (ละคร). Krasue, a popular lakhon aired between 20 December 1994 and 21 March 1995, featured a Krasue in the central role. The theme song of this TV soap opera became very famous. There was a remake in 2011 named Krasue Chamsin, but it was poorly cast and produced, not being able to reach the popularity of the 1994 Lakhon. A Krasue was also comically featured in a Sylvania light bulb commercial for Thai audiences and it has a role as well in the Nak animated movie.
Representations of Krasue, often humorous, are very common in Thai comic books. Since this ghost is a popular subject in some places of Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand, there are even costumes, dolls, keyholders and lamps in Krasue form.
Read more about this topic: Krasue
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