New research shows digital technology is linked to reduced wellbeing in young kids. So what can parents do?

Technology

Once upon a time, children fought for control of the remote to the sole family television. Now the choice of screen-based content available to kids seems endless. There are computers, tablets, phones and gaming consoles offering streaming services, online content and apps.

Children also use devices at school, with digital literacy part of the Australian curriculum from the start of school.

The speed and scale of this change has left parents, researchers and policymakers scrambling to catch up. And it has inevitably led to concerns about screen use, as well as guidelines about limiting their use.

Our new study looks at the links between digital technology use and young children’s wellbeing, specifically for those aged four to six.

Our comprehensive analysis shows children who spend longer periods using digital technologies are more likely to have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. However, we can’t say at what age or level of screen use these negative effects are likely to become evident.

But for parents trying to navigate a world where technology is all around us, our study also shows there are things they can do to help their kids use screens in healthier ways.

Read more:
Why parents need to be like Big Ted and ‘talk aloud’ while they use screens with their kids

Our study

We carried out a systematic review of the research literature on children’s use of digital devices since 2011 (after the Apple iPad was launched). This means we examined all the available peer-reviewed research on digital devices and their impact on wellbeing for children.

We also focused on ages four to six age as it is a time when children are developing rapidly and beginning school. Other studies have focused on particular types of device. But we included all kinds of digital devices in our search – from televisions to phones, tablets and gaming consoles – to make sure we could provide comprehensive analysis of what kids are using.

The studies came from 20 countries, including Australia, China, the United States, Turkey, Germany and Canada. They were almost exclusively based on parents’ reports of their children and include more than 83,000 parents.

Our research also showed the the type of content children consume is important – not just the time it takes.
Morrowind/Shutterstock

4 areas of child wellbeing

From this, we analysed the relationship between children’s technology use and the following four areas:

psychosocial wellbeing: an overall measure that captures children’s happiness, as well as social and emotional adjustment.
social functioning: children’s social skills, including how well they get along with their peers.
the parent-child relationship: the level of closeness or conflict between parents and their children.
behavioural functioning: the absence of behavioural difficulties such as tech-related tantrums, hyperactivity, depression or anxiety.

We did this with a meta-analysis – a statistical method that uses data from multiple studies to draw conclusions.

Read more:
3 ways to help your child transition off screens and avoid the dreaded ‘tech tantrums’

What we found

Our analysis found more digital technology use in young children was associated with poorer wellbeing outcomes across the four areas.

It is important to note correlation doesn’t equal causation. The scope of the research means at this point, it is not possible to identify the exact reasons behind the negative relationships.

But we do know the more time children spent watching TV, playing on iPads or apps, the more likely they were to have problems with behaviour, social skills, their relationship with their parents, and their emotional wellbeing.

But tech use is more than just time

Our research also brought together emerging evidence which shows the relationship between digital tech use and child wellbeing is complex.

This means the type of content children consume, and the context in which they consume it, can also have a bearing on their wellbeing. The research shows there are several ways parents can guide their children to potentially mitigate the negative links with social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing.

With this in mind, how can you encourage healthier screen use?

Our research showed if parents watch with their kids, it can open up opportunities for conversation and interaction.
Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels, CC BY

3 tips for kids and screens

1. Keep an eye on the clock

The research cannot provide a specific “time limit” for screen use. But you can still be mindful of how much time your child spends on devices both at home and at school – moderation is key.

Try and mix screen time with other activities, such as time outside or time with friends and family, books or imaginary play.

2. Seek out quality

Research shows encouraging high-quality educational content during screen use may curb negative links between tech use and wellbeing.

Consider swapping fast-paced cartoons and time spent on lots of short clips with educational viewing, for example ABC kids programs that promote learning.

Introduce your child to age-appropriate educational and interactive games that challenge them and encourage them to be creative.

3. Use tech together

Tech time isn’t just for kids – parents can also join in.

Solo tech use may reduce opportunities for positive social interactions. But watching or playing with friends or family opens up opportunities for conversation, working together and learning.

This could include watching a movie together and talking about the characters, working on an online puzzle together or learning new coding skills together.

Educational Animations: The Business Case for Visual Learning in Corporate Training and Schools

Business News

In an increasingly competitive marketplace where efficiency and effectiveness are paramount, businesses and educational institutions alike are turning to innovative solutions to enhance knowledge transfer and skills development.

Among these solutions, educational animations have emerged as powerful tools that deliver measurable improvements in learning outcomes while offering compelling returns on investment.

The Growing Market for Visual Learning

The global educational animation market has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with projections indicating it will reach £29.6 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 16.8%. This expansion reflects growing recognition of animation’s effectiveness as a learning tool across diverse sectors.
In the UK specifically, demand for educational animations has accelerated dramatically, driven by both educational institutions seeking to enhance classroom engagement and businesses looking to revolutionise corporate training. This trend was further accelerated by the pandemic, which forced organisations to rapidly adopt digital learning solutions.
“We’ve witnessed a fundamental shift in how organisations approach knowledge transfer,” explains Michelle Connolly, founder of educational platform LearningMole. “What began as an emergency response to remote learning has evolved into strategic adoption of animation-based resources that deliver proven advantages over traditional approaches.”
For UK businesses in particular, educational animations offer distinct advantages in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Companies that implement animation-based training report significant improvements in information retention, reduced training time, and higher employee satisfaction—all contributing to enhanced operational efficiency and competitive advantage.

The Science Behind Animation’s Effectiveness

The remarkable effectiveness of animations as learning tools is rooted in solid cognitive science. Research consistently demonstrates that the human brain processes visual information approximately 60,000 times faster than text alone, making animations particularly efficient vehicles for conveying complex information.
A meta-analysis of 43 studies published in the British Journal of Educational Technology found that learners exposed to animated content demonstrated 62% better knowledge retention compared to those who received the same information through text or static images alone. This dramatic improvement in retention translates directly to business outcomes, with shorter learning curves and better knowledge application.
The dual coding theory, which proposes that the brain creates separate but interconnected representations for verbal and visual information, helps explain this phenomenon. When educational content engages both processing pathways—as occurs with well-designed animations—learning becomes more robust, with multiple neural pathways reinforcing the same concepts.
“The cognitive advantages of animation aren’t simply about making learning more engaging,” notes Connolly. “They’re about aligning learning methods with how the brain naturally processes information, creating physiological conditions optimised for knowledge acquisition and retention.”
For businesses, this science translates to tangible benefits: employees learn more effectively, retain information longer, and apply knowledge more consistently—all contributing to improved operational performance and return on training investment.

Corporate Applications: Beyond Basic Training

While animations have long been associated with educational settings, their application in corporate environments has expanded dramatically, serving diverse business objectives beyond basic training:

Onboarding and Skill Development

Businesses across sectors now leverage animations to streamline employee onboarding and develop critical skills:
Process Training: Companies like Lloyds Banking Group have implemented animated explanations of complex financial processes, reducing training time by 36% while improving comprehension scores. These animations break down intricate procedures into visual sequences that employees can easily understand and recall.
Compliance Training: Regulatory compliance represents a significant challenge for UK businesses, particularly in highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Animations transform dry compliance content into engaging narratives that improve retention of critical regulatory requirements.
Technical Skill Development: For organisations requiring employees to master technical skills, animations provide visual demonstrations that clarify complex procedures and equipment operation, reducing errors and accelerating proficiency.

Corporate Communication

Beyond training, businesses increasingly employ animations for both internal and external communication:
Data Visualisation: Companies handling complex data sets use animated visualisations to reveal patterns and relationships that might remain obscure in static presentations. These dynamic visualisations enable better-informed decision-making at all organisational levels.
Change Management: During organisational transitions, animations effectively communicate changes in structure, processes, or strategy, helping employees understand the rationale behind changes and their role in implementation.
Product Demonstrations: For sales and marketing teams, animations showcase products and services in action, highlighting features and benefits through visual storytelling that creates stronger impressions than text descriptions alone.
Stakeholder Communication: When communicating complex business concepts to investors, board members, or other stakeholders, animations distil complex information into accessible visual narratives that ensure comprehension regardless of technical background.

The Educational Voice Connection

A critical component in business animations is what professionals refer to as the “educational voice”—the distinctive communication approach that transforms information into learning. UK-based Educational Voice (educationalvoice.co.uk) has emerged as a leading provider specialising in creating business animations with this precise approach.
“Educational Voice isn’t just about narration—it’s about crafting communication that transforms information into genuine understanding,” explains a spokesperson from Educational Voice. “Our work with businesses focuses on creating animations that don’t merely convey facts but actually build knowledge and change behaviour.”
The company’s approach combines visual storytelling with precisely calibrated communication techniques that guide viewers through information in ways that maximise comprehension and retention. This methodology has proven particularly effective for businesses dealing with complex products, services, or processes that require clear explanation to diverse audiences.
Educational Voice’s work spans sectors from financial services to manufacturing, demonstrating how specialised animation providers are helping UK businesses transform their approach to knowledge transfer both internally and externally.

Educational Institutions: Transforming Learning Outcomes

For educational settings, animations have progressed from occasional supplements to central components of effective teaching strategies:

Classroom Integration

Modern educational animations span the entire curriculum, with applications across virtually all subject areas:
Mathematics: Abstract mathematical concepts become tangible through animation. Number lines come to life, geometric transformations unfold visually, and patterns emerge with clarity that static representations cannot achieve.
Science: Scientific processes that occur at scales or timeframes that make direct observation impossible in the classroom become accessible through animation. From cellular processes to astronomical events, animations make the invisible visible.
Literacy and Language: Animations support literacy development by bringing stories to life, demonstrating narrative structures, and creating contextual understanding for vocabulary acquisition.
History and Social Studies: Historical events and social concepts come alive through animation, allowing students to visualise different time periods, cultures, and perspectives.

Addressing Diverse Learning Needs

One of the most significant advantages of educational animations is their capacity to support diverse learning needs:
Various Learning Styles: Animations naturally accommodate visual learners while typically incorporating narration that supports auditory processing, creating a multi-sensory experience that addresses multiple learning preferences simultaneously.
Special Educational Needs: For students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorders, animations can present information in ways that circumvent traditional barriers to learning.
Language and Cultural Differences: In increasingly diverse classrooms, animations can transcend language barriers, communicating concepts visually while supporting language acquisition for non-native speakers.

LearningMole: Setting the Standard for Educational Animations

Among the organisations leading innovation in educational animations, LearningMole has established itself as a pioneering platform providing comprehensive resources for schools and teachers. Founded by former teacher Michelle Connolly, LearningMole offers curriculum-aligned animations that support teaching and learning across primary and secondary education.
What distinguishes LearningMole’s approach is the pedagogical foundation underlying their animation resources. Each animation begins with specific learning objectives derived from curriculum standards, ensuring that engaging visuals serve genuine educational purposes rather than merely entertaining.
“Our development process always starts with clear learning objectives,” explains Connolly. “The animation itself is simply the vehicle for delivering understanding in the most effective way possible.”
LearningMole’s platform provides teachers with complete instructional packages that include pre-viewing activities, discussion prompts, and follow-up tasks designed to maximise learning outcomes. This comprehensive approach recognises that effective animation integration requires thoughtful pedagogical framing.
For UK schools operating with increasingly constrained budgets, LearningMole’s resources represent a cost-effective solution that enhances teaching effectiveness while reducing teacher workload. The platform’s subscription model provides access to hundreds of curriculum-aligned animations at a fraction of the cost of developing similar resources independently.

The Business Case for Educational Animations

For organisations considering investment in educational animations, the business case extends beyond learning outcomes to include compelling financial and operational benefits:

Return on Investment

The financial case for educational animations is increasingly well-documented:
Reduced Training Time: Businesses implementing animation-based training report 28-47% reductions in time required for employee proficiency, translating directly to cost savings and faster deployment of skilled personnel.
Improved Compliance: Companies using animations for compliance training report 31% fewer compliance violations compared to those using traditional methods, reducing risk exposure and associated costs.
Enhanced Retention: Improved information retention means less need for refresher training, with studies indicating that animation-based training reduces the frequency of required refresher sessions by approximately 35%.
Scalability: Once developed, animations can be deployed to unlimited users with no additional cost per learner, making them particularly cost-effective for large organisations or those with distributed workforces.

Operational Advantages

Beyond direct financial returns, animations offer operational benefits that contribute to organisational effectiveness:
Consistency: Animations ensure that every learner receives identical information presented in the same way, eliminating the variability that often occurs with instructor-led training.
Accessibility: Animation resources can be accessed anytime, anywhere, allowing for flexible, self-paced learning that accommodates diverse work schedules and locations.
Updating Efficiency: When procedures or information change, animations can be updated centrally and immediately deployed across the organisation, ensuring all employees promptly receive accurate information.
Analytics Integration: Modern animation platforms incorporate robust analytics that provide detailed insights into learner engagement and comprehension, allowing for continuous improvement of training effectiveness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-3eArinB7E

Implementation Best Practices

For organisations seeking to leverage educational animations effectively, several best practices have emerged:

Strategic Content Selection

Not all content benefits equally from animation. Organisations achieve optimal results by prioritising animation development for:
Complex Processes: Procedures involving multiple steps or interactions between various components benefit significantly from visual representation.
Abstract Concepts: Theoretical or conceptual information becomes more accessible when visualised through animation.
High-Risk Procedures: Tasks where errors could have significant consequences are excellent candidates for animation-based training that demonstrates proper execution.
Frequently Referenced Information: Content that employees or learners will need to access repeatedly benefits from memorable visual presentation that enhances recall.

Quality Considerations

The effectiveness of educational animations depends largely on their quality, with several key factors influencing outcomes:
Pedagogical Foundation: Effective animations begin with clear learning objectives and are designed to address specific knowledge gaps or skill requirements.
Visual Clarity: Animations should maintain visual simplicity that focuses attention on key information rather than overwhelming viewers with excessive detail.
Appropriate Pacing: Effective educational animations maintain pacing that allows cognitive processing, with strategic pauses that give viewers time to absorb complex information.
Professional Narration: Quality voiceover that maintains clarity, appropriate pacing, and engagement significantly enhances animation effectiveness.
Duration Optimisation: Research indicates that educational animations achieve optimal effectiveness when segmented into modules of 3-7 minutes, allowing for focused attention and preventing cognitive overload.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28apWGxljpo

Emerging Trends: The Future of Educational Animations

As technology continues advancing, several trends are reshaping the landscape of educational animations in both corporate and academic contexts:

Interactive Animations

The boundary between passive viewing and active participation continues to blur as educational animations increasingly incorporate interactive elements. These features allow learners to influence outcomes, make choices, and engage directly with content.
Next-generation animations respond to learner input, adapting scenarios based on decisions and providing personalised feedback. This interactivity reflects the active learning approaches increasingly valued in contemporary education and training.

Augmented and Virtual Reality Integration

The integration of educational animations with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) represents a particularly exciting frontier. These technologies allow learners to interact with animated educational content in three-dimensional space, creating immersive learning experiences.
In corporate settings, employees might practice complex procedures in simulated environments that provide real-time feedback without real-world consequences for mistakes. This approach proves particularly valuable for high-risk operations where errors could have significant safety or financial implications.

Adaptive Learning Systems

Perhaps the most significant emerging trend is the integration of educational animations into adaptive learning systems that personalise content based on individual learning progress and needs. These sophisticated systems track learner interactions and adjust content delivery accordingly.
“The future lies in responsive animation systems,” notes Connolly. “If a learner struggles with a particular concept, the system might show an alternative animation approaching the topic differently or provide additional visual explanations targeting that specific area of difficulty.”
While fully adaptive systems remain in development, organisations like LearningMole and Educational Voice are already implementing elements of this approach, creating branching animation pathways that address common misconceptions and provide additional support where learners typically struggle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQKy19e2OQ

AI-Driven Development

Artificial intelligence technologies are beginning to influence educational animation development, potentially transforming production processes that have traditionally been time-intensive and costly:
Automated Storyboarding: AI tools can generate initial storyboards based on script input, accelerating the pre-production process.
Voice Synthesis: Advanced text-to-speech technology is approaching human-quality narration, potentially reducing production costs and enabling easier updates.
Personalisation Algorithms: AI systems analyse learner interactions to identify optimal animation approaches for different content types and learner profiles.
Content Generation: Emerging technologies show promise for generating basic animations from text descriptions, though human refinement remains essential for quality assurance.

The Business Imperative of Visual Learning

As UK businesses navigate an increasingly competitive global landscape, the strategic adoption of educational animations represents not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental enhancement to how organisations develop their most valuable asset—human capital.
For educational institutions, animations offer evidence-based tools that improve learning outcomes while addressing the diverse needs of modern student populations. Platforms like LearningMole provide ready access to these resources, enabling schools to implement visual learning approaches without prohibitive development costs.
In corporate environments, animation resources deliver measurable improvements in training effectiveness, knowledge retention, and operational efficiency. Specialised providers like Educational Voice help businesses transform complex information into accessible visual narratives that drive genuine understanding and behaviour change.
What unites these applications is a recognition that visual learning aligns with human cognitive architecture in ways that traditional text-based approaches cannot match. By leveraging this alignment, organisations create conditions optimised for knowledge transfer and skill development.
As technology continues advancing, educational animations will likely become even more sophisticated, interactive, and personalised. Organisations that embrace these tools now position themselves at the forefront of a transformation in how knowledge is conveyed and skills are developed—a transformation that promises significant competitive advantages in an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.

Inside the Lab Where Scientists Are Bringing Back Extinct Animals

Science and Health

The DailyInside the Lab Where Scientists Are Bringing Back Extinct AnimalsSave this storySave this storySave this storySave this storyYou’re reading The New Yorker’s daily newsletter, a guide to our top stories, featuring exclusive insights from our writers and editors. Sign up to receive it in your inbox.“Within eighteen months of our putting the name ‘dire wolf’ down on a whiteboard, we birthed dire wolves!” A genetics startup has created three pups that contain ancient DNA retrieved from the remains of the animal’s extinct ancestors. The first journalist to meet the wolves describes his trip to the front lines of deëxtinction. And then:How Trump crushed the stock marketThe art of political resistanceSeth Rogen’s notes on HollywoodD. T. Max Max has been writing for The New Yorker since 1997.I love writing articles about people who try to fix something broken, but only maybe succeed—because it means the story continues. Where I stop, you begin. This week’s case study? The cutest transgenic animal in history: the dire wolf.My reporting for this story happened fast, and, in a sense, I’d been waiting my whole life for it. It’s late January, and Colossal Biosciences—a billionaire-backed biotechnology company that has been dominating the “deëxtinction space”—gets in touch to say it is coming close on a project they don’t yet want to talk about but will soon want the world to know all about. Very showbiz-y, for science. With a setup like that it was an easy decision to buy a plane ticket. They were just one time zone away, after all, in Dallas. And I was only walking my dog.Now, I don’t know when I first felt sad about things that are gone. Probably it involved what was then called a brontosaurus, which in its small, plastic form—tiny paradox coming—I liked to shoot with my water gun in the bathtub. But the realization really hit home for me in 2005, when I went to South Africa and wrote about efforts to breed back into existence the quagga, a half-striped zebra-like creature that humans had eradicated in a fit of absent-mindedness.Fast forward to the space-age setup at Colossal. It was like a James Bond movie, with groups of people moving through huge spaces as if to launch a rocket in T minus 5. A multimillion-dollar lab manufactured in just months, in which teams are working on bringing back four long-extinct animals the way another company might make cookies, chips, dips, and crackers: the dodo, the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dire wolf. The last of these creatures, I learned, has already been made deëxtinct. And I am invited to go see two of them!So I do—very hush hush, though. I go … I can’t say where. A black car sidles up to take me on the final leg. And then there they are—two big pups, seeming a little zonked to be back in the world, and shockingly white, like pure things in an impure world. But is this really a dire wolf? A sort-of dire wolf? A gray wolf tricked out by Hollywood-style gene substitutions to look just enough like a dire wolf for his closeup? I’m there to write the article, so the world can know. But it’s for the reader to decide. As I say, the story continues.Read or listen to the story »More Top StoriesHow Donald Trump Crushed the Stock MarketJames C. Scott and the Art of ResistanceSeth Rogen Has Some NotesIt’s a Typical Small-Town Novel. Except for the NazisDaily CartoonCartoon by Greg NussbaumCopy link to cartoonCopy link to cartoonLink copiedShopShopMore Fun & GamesPlay today’s challenging puzzle. A clue: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee dubbed “the high priestess of punk-poetry.” Ten letters.Today’s Shouts & Murmurs: “Return of the Plastic Straw”Play Laugh Lines No. 14: Doctors.P.S. At a loss for what to watch after “The White Lotus”? Inkoo Kang offers three recommendations. 📺

A Minecraft Movie’s Best Battle Already Happened, And You Never Got To See It

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Warner Bros.

In Jared Hess’ new video-game-based blockbuster “A Minecraft Movie,” Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Garrett (Jason Momoa), and Steve (Jack Black), are being chased by an army of evil Piglin warriors through the Overworld. In a panic, they flee up a staircase, only to find a dead end. They stand on a precipice, looking down at a rocky ocean, many hundreds of feet below then. Steve, thinking quickly, extracts two palm-sized widgets from his pockets. He explains that these are Elytra, a pair of special, back-mounted gliding wings they can use to soar away. He slaps one on Henry’s back and pushes him off the cliff. Henry screams in terror as he plummets, only for the wings to spring open and unfold at the last minute, allowing him to fly. 
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The following sequence sees Henry and Garrett figuring out how to execute high-speed midair gliding maneuvers in order to outpace the Piglins pursuing them via floating Ghasts. It’s a comedic chase, as Steve forgot his own Elytra (he could have sworn he had three), and has to ride on Garrett’s back. 
“Minecraft” players watching “A Minecraft Movie” will know that it’s very impressive that Steve even had Elytra. In the mythology of the game, Elytra can only be retrieved when one defeats the Ender Dragon, the toughest enemy in “Minecraft,” which dives at players and spits acid. Although “Minecraft” is an open-ended sandbox game that lets players tinker around however they like, the Ender Dragon is kind of the game’s “final boss” — and there’s only one Ender Dragon in each world. Defeating it in combat unlocks access to the only areas of the game where Elytra can be found.
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That means that if Steve has Elytra in “A Minecraft Movie,” he has already defeated the Ender Dragon. That implies that the toughest enemy in the “Minecraft” universe is already dead, and we won’t be seeing it in any potential sequels.

Steve seems to have already slain the Ender Dragon

Mojang Studios

In “A Minecraft Movie,” the film’s protagonists — Henry, Garrett, Henry’s sister Natalie (Emma Meyers), and their real estate agent Dawn (Danielle Brooks) — find their way into the Overworld. “Minecraft” players will be able to tell you that the Overworld is the first of three dimensions that one can visit in the game. It’s a pastoral and garden-like realm where one can relax and mine to their hearts content, only needing to hide in a house at night (as that’s when the monsters come out). Portions of “A Minecraft Movie” also take place in the Nether, a darker, volcano-like realm overrun by Piglins and Ghasts. 
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The third “Minecraft” realm, and one that is not seen in the movie, is the End, a miniature dimension only accessible through End Portals found in strongholds. If “Minecraft” does have a “last level,” the End would be it. Players enter the End specifically so they can fight the Ender Dragon, hoping to prove their mettle. Once it’s defeated, you can find those little gliding wings that will, thereafter, make the “Minecraft” realms that much easier — and more fun — to navigate. 
Of course, if Steve already has two Elytra, then he — by the game’s logic — found an End Portal, went through with weapons and armor, killed the Ender Dragon, and won his prize. “Minecraft” fans may be dismayed to realize that the epic Ender Dragon battle already happened before the movie begins, and they didn’t even get to see it.
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But then, we just might. By the rules of the game, there is a way to re-summon a dead Ender Dragon. If a player can collect four End Crystals and arrange them just so around the End’s exit portal, it can spawn a new dragon. “Another Minecraft Movie” (or whatever it may be called) could potentially introduce strongholds, End Portals, and a plot that requires characters to resurrect a dead Ender Dragon. The promise of seeing the ultimate “Minecraft” mob on the big screen would make the sequel an even bigger hit than the first. 

15 Best Thai Horror Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Static Media

The film industry in Thailand has been active since the 1920s, and the horror genre has been a part of it for most of that time. The genre saw its biggest rise, though, as part of the Asian horror boom of the early 2000s. While Japanese horrors like “Ringu” (which inspired “The Ring” franchise in the U.S.) and “Dark Water” are among the country’s best horror films, Thailand made waves with the release of 2004’s “Shutter.” The genre has stayed a constant ever since.
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While Thai horror filmmakers deliver the occasional slasher or creature feature, the bread and butter of the country’s horror output remains tales of the supernatural. The country’s culture is rich in folklore, and it’s well-served by a populace that gives far more credence to the idea of ghosts, spirits, and magical powers than westerners do. Where an American horror movie might take half its running time before characters come to believe they’re being haunted, its Thai counterpart passes that marker just a few minutes in leaving more room and time to deal with the threat.
Here’s a look at the 15 best Thai horror movies.

Laddaland

Birch Tree Entertainment

“Laddaland” is in some ways the most generic of the films on this list, and it’s arguably a little too long, but the 2011 film’s themes and inciting elements are as timely today as they ever were. A family moves out of Bangkok and into a manufactured suburban neighborhood, but rather than be a step up, the move sees them falling towards their doom. Neighbors are dying, there’s rumors of ghosts haunting the subdivision, and the air is heavy with stress, worry, and violence. What’s driving it all, you ask? Capitalism, baby!
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Financial distress is a massive concern for people in every country, and it’s a natural fit for the horror genre, as it works to create feelings and fears that we’re all too familiar with. 2010’s “Dream Home” remains the most horrifying take on the subject, but the themes are well-executed here leading to a third act that hits harder and harder until the final death brings home the tragedy. Ghostly visions and jump scares are essentially attempts at misdirection as the true terror creeps in with painful worries about the inability to support your loved ones. It’s a gut punch.

Dorm

Golden Village Pictures

Comparisons to Guillermo Del Toro’s 2001 chiller “The Devil’s Backbone” (one of the 106 best horror movies ever made) have dogged “Dorm” ever since its release in 2006, but the similarities don’t stop Songyos Sugmakanan’s film from standing on its own. A young boy named Ton is sent to boarding school where he struggles to fit in and find friends, but he finds one friendly face after hearing stories about a ghost who haunts the halls. Two points to you if you can guess something about Ton’s new friend…
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Still, while you’ll probably see some of the story beats coming, the film unspools its narrative with care for both its characters and atmosphere. It’s spooky and sad in equal measure, and both of the lead child performers do strong work in showing their isolation and the joy of ultimately finding a friend. The old buildings offer opportunities for both beauty and creepiness, and the film’s color-drained look only adds to the oppressive feeling of loneliness. 

Scared

CN Entertainment

Thailand’s genre film industry isn’t heavy on the slashers and instead leans mostly towards the supernatural. “Scared” is one of the rare exceptions, and a mild misstep of an ending aside, it’s a terrifically gory (though maybe not one of the goriest movies ever made) and thrilling time for fans. The setup sees a busload of high schoolers take a misguided turn that lands the bus in a river and the teens in the crosshairs of a deadly killer. It’s an unusually big ensemble meaning there isn’t really much time for viewers to connect with any of them.
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That’s normally a bad sign, but that large pool of protagonists means something very good for slasher fans. Once the killing starts — fairly quickly, another bonus — they never really stop. One is skewered by a homemade booby trap, and the rest start falling almost immediately as the killer unloads on them with a veritable bevy of murderous tools ranging from blades to their exhaust-spewing SUV. Our focus narrows, and soon we’re rooting for the handful making an attempt at fighting back with both ferocity and ingenuity. Just maybe stop the film when it cuts to black five minutes before the end.

Death Whisperer 2

Niu Vision Media

Should you watch 2023’s “Death Whisperer” before pressing play on “Death Whisperer 2” that followed in 2024? Yes, probably, but this sequel is still the superior film, upping the ante on the original’s fairly traditional story and execution. It’s been three years since Yak (spoiler alert) watched his friends and his sister die at the hands of a dark spirit, and it upended his entire life. He now spends his days hunting and killing malevolent entities while always searching for the one who caused his sister’s bloody demise: the woman in black.
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Genre fans can never have enough action/horror hybrids, and while this one can’t touch the likes of the sensational, gnarly “Overlord” when it comes to the firepower, it’s still an energetic and exciting step in the right direction. The film covers its horror bases with possessions, bloody assaults, zombies, and more, but it stands apart from the usual Thai horrors by adding in lots of gun play. Yak takes a page from “Evil Dead” and Ash with both his look and his boomstick, and it works to give an aggressive, adventurous approach to the spooky stuff. Here’s hoping they continue ramping it up for part three.

Rahtree: Flower of the Night

Bangkok Filmex

A young woman named Rahtree leads a solitary life, but things change when she’s wooed by a young man who knocks her up, encourages an abortion, and then abandons her back at her apartment where she bleeds out and dies. It’s at this point where I should mention that, yes, “Rahtree: Flower of the Night” is a comedy. Rahtree’s landlady discovers her corpse, but the dead woman refuses to leave. Instead, she haunts the entire building, driving away tenants, hurting and vomiting on a series of exorcists, and generally feeling sorry for herself.
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Writer/director Yuthlert Sippapak’s 2003 feature spawned three sequels and a director’s cut (a concept that only exists because of “The Twilight Zone”), and while its tonal tightrope sometimes wobbles, it’s easy to see why Rahtree’s fans are ride or die for her. The character is wronged by her lover, assaulted by her stepfather, and generally ignored by everyone else. It’s a tragedy both for her and for society at large knowing how many of us are content looking the other way when it comes to other people’s problems, but it also brings great jokes and some amusing “The Exorcist”-related gags.

Killer Karaoke (aka Premika)

ITN Distribution

The karaoke horror subgenre is as niche as it gets, but if 2003’s excellent “Karaoke Terror” is its past and the upcoming “Bad Karaoke” is its future, well, its present is the delightfully unhinged horror/comedy called “Killer Karaoke” (aka “Premika”). Prepare for some tonal whiplash as the premise kicks off with a teenage girl being killed and dismembered with her heart being tucked inside an old karaoke machine. A hotel’s grand opening sees the machine turned on resulting in the undead Premika stalking guests and demanding they sing a song — nail it, and you live, but if you sing off-key or mess up the lyrics? Well, as the opening song from “What We Do in the Shadows” says, “You’re dead, you’re dead, you’re dead.”
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The film’s third act finds some dark and surprisingly emotional beats, but getting there is a broadly comedic romp as the hotel’s guests are introduced, interact with each other, and face their fears with a microphone in hand. Each song is presented almost like a live music video with costume changes and props, and they keep the film visually popping with color and energy. Check your serious bone at the door, and just settle in for the goofy fun.

Alone

24 Frames

It’s not news to suggest that guilt, grudges, and ghosts go hand-in-hand in the horror genre, and that’s made true once again with 2007’s “Alone.” Pim is a happily married young woman who returns home for a family issue only to discover that something has been waiting. Ghostly images and whispers haunt her childhood home, and she soon realizes that the entity just might be her long-dead conjoined twin, Ploy, who didn’t survive their surgical separation. Pim had promised her they’d stay together forever, but that promise died in an instant alongside her sister. However, it looks like Ploy has neither forgotten nor forgiven.
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That’s already enough of a premise to support a horror movie, but genre veterans Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun have a bit more up their sleeves. The third act delivers some intriguingly messed up story turns adding new layers to everything that’s come before, and it gives the movie an extra emotional punch. The film’s combination of setup and twist is simple and satisfying, as evidenced by a whopping seven remakes it’s received.

Pee Mak

Netflix

The legend of Mae Nak is a well-known part of Thai folklore and has been the basis of two dozen or so films over the years. A man returns from war to his wife and baby, but he’s oblivious to the truth that neither is still alive. 1999’s “Nang Nak” is a solid and serious take on the legend, but 2013’s “Pee Mak” raises the ante by adding both a real budget and some unexpected laughs. It’s essentially a horror/comedy finding laughs with both wit and some very broad gags, and it’s currently Thailand’s highest grossing film of all time.
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Familiarity with the legend and past films adds context, but audiences coming into it fresh will still find both laughs and thrills. Mak is the husband blind to his wife’s ghostly status, and it’s his war buddies who first realize something is amiss. The comedy comes from their varied reactions and attempts at getting through to Mak, but the film is also pretty heavy on the pratfalls and slapstick, even as it makes time for the emotional core of its all. It walks a fine line, and while it tinkers and has fun with the story, it still honors the tragedy at its heart.

The Pool

815 Pictures

“The Pool” is only the second film to make this last that finds its horror thrills without ever touching on the supernatural, and it’s also the last. Instead, the film is a blend of creature feature and survival horror that kicks off with a premise that’s as ingenious as it is ludicrous. Hired to clean up an Olympic-sized pool, an unfortunate young man instead falls asleep while floating atop the water, only to wake up to discover the water has been drained and there are no accessible ladders. Oh, and there’s a hungry crocodile nearby too.
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Opinions vary sharply on this one, but your odds of appreciating it increase if you go in on its own darkly comic wavelength. The film marries its genre elements with some pitch-black humor, regarding everything from our protagonist’s situation to his efforts at escape to the name of the poor guy’s dog. You’ll cheer when he gets close, you’ll shake your fists when he fails, and you’ll smile at the endlessly creative ways that director Ping Lumpraploeng finds to use and explore an empty pool.

Art of the Devil II

Asian Crush

It’s not often that sequels overwhelmingly surpass their predecessors, but here’s a second example. “Art of the Devil II” carries over only two things from the first film: the title and the general theme of revenge. This time out, it’s a teacher seeking supernaturally fueled justice against her former students. Seems simple enough, but you’re going to want to wear a neck brace while watching this one as the numerous story turns might just strain your neck. No one’s innocent, everyone’s guilty of something, and the odds seem slim that anyone’s going to make it out alive.
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Curses, torture, ghostly visitations, and infidelity are just the tip of the unpleasant but highly entertaining iceberg here, and it’s something of a small miracle that a story this heavy in flashbacks and misdirects remains as easy to follow as it is, especially seeing as there are a whopping seven credited directors. I can’t pretend to understand how that was accomplished, but the end result is a gory, mean, and devious slice of horror about actions and consequences.

Shutter

Palisades Tartan

As mentioned at the start, “Shutter” wasn’t the first horror film out of Thailand, but it was the one that made international audiences sit up and take notice of the country’s genre filmmaking. Like Hideo Nakata’s “Ringu” before it, it pairs a ghostly tale with the aid of a visual medium inside the film itself. Here it’s a variation on spirit photography, the idea that a camera can capture a spirit’s image, and it’s triggered when a couple accidentally run over a pedestrian with their car and  leave her to die.
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She reenters their lives through their photographs, and it’s made immediately (and understandably) clear that she’s back with ill intentions. The film finds some truly creepy beats through its use of photography and lighting, and the scares are ultimately heightened by some dark story turns in the film’s third act that will have viewers revisiting their allegiances. It’s worth noting that, while not as bad as its reputation suggests, the Hollywood remake (also called “Shutter”) starring Joshua Jackson really can’t compare to this Thai original.

Countdown

Birch Tree Entertainment

The Thai film industry is still small enough that’s it’s fairly uncommon to see a production set elsewhere, let alone filmed outside of Thailand. “Countdown” was shot mostly in country, but its story plays out in a New York City apartment on New Year’s Eve. Three young Thai transplants are living their best lives on their parents’ dime, but they get a reality check when a new-to-them drug dealer named Jesus turns a simple transaction into an awkward night of terror. These ungrateful youths are about to see both their choices and their beliefs tested in some very uncomfortable ways.
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All three protagonists are given solid performances, but Jarinporn Joonkiat does an especially compelling and affecting job as Bee, the film’s most sympathetic character. We can’t help but feel for her situation, both past and present, as she gives the film its heart. Still, it’s David Asavanond’s Jesus who steals the movie. His shift from obnoxious dealer to uncomfortably threatening houseguest to moral avenger is endlessly entertaining and unsettling, and it helps give what’s essentially a single-location tale some real energy and sizzle.

The Medium

Digital Stores

Found footage films and horror-themed faux-docs come with all manner of issues that are difficult to avoid, but the good ones succeed at diverting viewer attention with a combination of compelling narrative and thrilling visuals. “The Medium” is one of the best and scariest found footage films, as it drops audiences into a filmmaker’s attempt at documenting the beliefs and behaviors of a shaman named Nim. She’s reportedly a skilled practitioner capable of expelling evil spirits from human hosts, and it’s not long before the film crew gets to experience those claims firsthand.
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Banjong Pisanthanakun’s second solo effort on this list unfolds with a sturdy, slow burn approach to a subject treated with serious and detailed respect. The intricacies of various rituals add weight to the characters and proceedings, and it works to make the horror more compelling once things get increasingly out of hand. The intentional pacing of the first half ramps up with aggressive energy, satisfying scares, and unsettling visuals featuring some wonderfully creepy beats you won’t soon forget.

Operation Undead

Cathay

“Operation Undead” is a terrifically affecting anti-war film (even if it didn’t make our list of the best anti-war movies) exploring its themes with energy, style, and pathos. Its focus is a group of green recruits directed into battle by older men secure and safe away from the carnage, and director Kongkiat Khomsiri gives as much detail and weight to the young men’s emotional state as he does the violence, pain, and physical suffering of war. It’s a tragedy painted in swathes of red and screams of horror, and things only get worse for everyone involved when the young men killed on the battlefield return to life as zombies.
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The extra twist of the knife here is that these zombies are far from the mindless brain munchers we’re used to. These guys are driven by an unquenchable hunger for human flesh, but they also retain their own memories, awareness, and human consciousness. They know what they’re doing is horrifying, and that knowledge in the face of an inability to stop is an idea more terrifying than most zombie films would bother to address.

Inhuman Kiss

Netflix

Thailand, along with some other Southeast Asian countries, is home to legends about a mythological creature called a krasue. Young woman possessed or inhabited by the being experience something horrifying at night as their head detaches from their body, complete with dangling entrails, and flies away in search of blood, only to return before sunrise. It’s an incredibly visceral and visual image that’s been brought to life in numerous films before this, but it’s 2019’s “Inhuman Kiss” that nails the horror and tragedy equally while also delivering an attractive and thrilling watch.
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There’s a tragic love triangle at the heart of the film as a young woman is afflicted and tries to hide it from everyone including the two young men who love her. It’s layered with social commentary as well, though, following the introduction of a band of krasue hunters powered by misogyny, faith, and fear of the unknown who feel very aligned with the witch hunters of our own country’s past. All of that said, the film doesn’t shirk on the bloodletting, and the krasue itself, while created with CGI, looks incredible.

A Minecraft Movie Post-Credits Scenes Explained: Who Is That New Character?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

There was some controversy or, more precisely, mockery involving “A Minecraft Movie” before it was released. This was especially the case when it came to Black’s casting as Steve, one of the only notable named characters in the early days of the “Minecraft” video game universe. That version of Steve wasn’t a character with a backstory or a personality; he’s merely the default “male” player avatar. In time, Steve became the face of “Minecraft” media, and he can be seen on much of the franchise’s merchandise around the world. Nevertheless, having Black play Steve was seen as somewhat risible by the (sizable) “Minecraft” community. It would be like making the mermaid figure from the Starbucks logo into a movie character.
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Luckily, “A Minecraft Movie” is — shockingly — not that bad. Even Black avails himself well, relying on his usual over-enthused shtick.
There was, notably, also a “female” player avatar added to the “Minecraft” game in 2014. This new avatar, Alex, had long red hair and a green blouse. Alex, like Steve, didn’t have a personality, but her mere presence made her an equal to her “male” counterpart. Reams of fan fiction were soon produced, sussing out the relationship between Steve and Alex. Were they siblings? Friends? Lovers? Are Alex and Steve symbols for Adam and Eve?
Regardless, should Hess’ film receive a sequel (and it likely will, given how successful “A Minecraft Movie” has been), Alex will play a part. Both Black and McKinnon are hilarious comedians, so it will be fun to see them play off each other in a whimsical “Minecraft” universe. It will also fulfill a vital new character in the minds of “Minecraft” players. One cannot have Steve without Alex.
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More recently, other named default skins have been added to “Minecraft,” including Sunny, Kai, Makena, Zuri, Efe, Ari, and Noor. Again, none of them have actual backstories or personalities, but it’s nice to see a wider panoply of humanity in the block-headed game. Perhaps if Alex appears in “Another Minecraft Movie” (or whatever it ends up being called), then those other seven will as well.
“A Minecraft Movie” is now playing in theaters.

This Travel-Ready Charging Station Keeps Reviewers Organized, And You Can Grab It For $20

Travel

AmazonSnag this travel-friendly charging station for under $20.If you’re an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod person, you’re no stranger to the rat’s nest of wires required to keep your devices juiced. While charging docks provide a solid option for sprucing up your desk or bedside table, they often aren’t travel-friendly. Or so we thought.To our delight and yours, we spotted a folding, magnetic wireless charging pad for Apple products that’s currently 24% off in white. While the brand slates the usual price at $32.99, our trackers show it often goes for $25.99. Regardless, today it’s under $20, a solid price for a daily tech item reviewers call a “great purchase” and even a “game changer.” Advertisement

$19.75 at amazon (regularly $25.99)AmazonThis three-part MagSafe charger pad works with iPhones 12 and newer, most Apple Watches and AirPods that have a MagSafe charging case.When it’s folded, the case is about the size of an iPhone, making it easy to slip into a back or desk drawer. The brand says the strong magnetic suction latches quickly and makes charging straightforward. “Really happy it keeps everything together and charges pretty fast,” one user said. “Takes up very little space! Compact and looks very organized.” The built-in protections keep your devices from over current/voltage/charging and the phone section is built to protect your iPhone camera lens. While the pad charges your devices wirelessly, the station needs to stay plugged in, though it comes with the needed cord. Many reviewers say they bought this option for travel but love it so much they use it at home. Lots of users have purchased multiples, keeping some at work, on their desk, in their travel bag and even at their mom’s house. “I was having difficulty with my watch, falling off chargers and not charging at night, one said. “However, this one does not do that and I’ve had great success with it.” Advertisement

$19.75 at amazon (regularly $25.99)If you’re looking to keep your Apple devices charged without taking up too much time, space or money — grab this pad while it’s on sale. And check out more promising reviews of the portable, travel charging station before you grab one for yourself! “I bought this charger for a vacation, and it turned out to be perfect! It’s lightweight, compact, and worked flawlessly. I’ve tried other chargers that claim to handle my phone, watch, and AirPods, but there’s always been an issue with one of them. With this charger, there is no setup, just unfold it, and no need to fuss with each piece to make sure it’s connected. The phone clicks right into place, and charging my watch and AirPods is effortless. I originally bought it for travel, but now it lives on my desk and I use it daily, a great bonus! Highly recommend!” — p“Works great for my IPhone 15 pro max and my Apple Watch and AirPods. Really happy it keeps everything together and charges pretty fast. Takes up very little space! Compact and looks very organized. Worth the money !!” — Kybaby66“So I absolutely love this. At the end of the day, I put my phone my earbuds and my watch on it and it charges them super quickly. There’s not a lot of cords all over the place. I’m never running around looking for everything because they’re all in one place I was shocked at how cheap it was for what it is. It’s small. I put it right on my desk. I don’t know how I lived without this.” — Marcie J.“Purchased this as a gift for my mom and ended up using it at her house and now we own two more! The MagSafe portion of the charger works really well and durably holds the phone in place, while the magnet for the watch/ipods exceeded my expectation. I was having difficulty with my watch, falling off chargers and not charging at night. However, this one does not do that and I’ve had great success with it. We have had it for four months now and I would highly recommend.” — Laura“I like this device so much, that I now have three. It’s perfect for travel charging. I don’t know if it’s the fastest charging device, because I typically charge my phone and watch at night. It works consistently, and my wife and I have used it for almost a year for several trips. And just so you know, I did NOT get this for free as a promotion for my review. I bought all three.” — Larry H.$19.75 at amazon (regularly $25.99)The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.) Advertisement

RelatedAmazon travelsalesTechiPhoneReviewers Say This Budget Glow Balm Is Better Than The Expensive Version, And Today It’s Under $11Reviewers Say This ‘Ingenious’ Toothbrush And Water Flosser Has Drastically Improved Their Gum Health — And It’s Under $56We Track Sales For A Living. Here Are The 31 Best Deals On Amazon This Week.

Nicole Shanahan: HHS Forming Investigative Team on Chemtrails as Geoengineering Debate Intensifies

2024 Election

Nicole Shanahan says the window has opened for a global conversation on weather modification, demanding transparency from major institutions. By yourNEWS Media Newsroom Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has confirmed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is forming a team to investigate atmospheric geoengineering and chemtrails,…

Downton Abbey star lets slip pregnancy plot in final movie

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt told BBC viewers what they can expect to see in the upcoming Downton Abbey movie.20:46, 07 Apr 2025Actress Joanne Froggatt shed light on the anticipated new Downton Abbey film during her Monday night appearance on The One Show, chatting with hosts Gethin Jones and Alex Scott.The BBC host eagerly asked about the final chapter of the cherished period drama, which drops in September, as she questioned: “Are you ready to say goodbye?”Article continues belowTo which Joanne responded: “Oh my goodness, it’s going to be hard! We’ve said goodbye a few times, thinking, ‘This is the end’, at the end of the seasons. Then we did one movie and we wondered if we’d get a second movie.”This really is, the third and final, so this really is goodbye. It’s going to be emotional, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose.”Downton Abbey star lets slip pregnancy plot in final movieAudiences will recognize Joanne from her enduring role as Anna Bates in the ITV saga, emerging onto the scene back in 2010, reports the Express.The series concluded in 2015 with her role capping off an impressive run, though she reprised her role for the subsequent movies, with the first launching four years post-finale in 2019.As Joanne confirmed this marks the cast’s last curtain call, host Gethin Jones couldn’t resist probing for some juicy tidbits about the finale.Challenged about spilling any details, Joanne divulged: “Look, I think I can say Anna, my character, is pregnant because I was pregnant when we were filming and there’s been pictures out there, so that’s one spoiler.”Joanne is known for her role as Anna Bates on the ITV period drama(Image: