Laddaland (2011)

Thee, a struggling 40-year-old marketing officer, moves from Bangkok to Laddaland, an upmarket housing estate in Chiang Mai, bringing along his wife Parn, his rebellious teenage daughter Nan, and lively young son Nat. Thee is certain that the move is the best solution to all the financial problems of his company, which sells dietary supplements. Parn is concerned about the hefty mortgage payments for their new house.

Thee also hopes to mend his relationship with Nan, who is resentful of her parents due to spending much of her life with her maternal grandmother per an agreement between Thee and Parn's mother — Nan was born out of wedlock when her parents were still in high school, and Parn's mother, who has never accepted Parn's relationship with Thee, demands Nan in return for their continued relationship. Nan is unimpressed despite Thee's best efforts to make good of the situation, and wishes to return to her grandmother.

While Laddaland appears to be a relatively ordinary if quiet neighborhood, Thee and his family realize that something is wrong with the environment, since the place seems to sow discord among the households to commit violence. A Burmese housemaid is found dead in a grisly murder. Somkiat, Thee's next-door neighbor, regularly beats his wife and son while mistreating his elderly mother; the family eventually perishes when Somkiat commits murder suicide, with his son's death being the most horrific as he disfigures his face by vertically cutting it. Meanwhile, Nan experiences supernatural phenomena when she is swayed by her friends to visit the house where the Burmese maid was killed. Thee's refusal to believe Nan causes her to move to her boarding school until the end of the term.

Thee and Parn eventually succumb to the discord. Thee discovers that his boss is committing fraud and forcing him to work in odd jobs. Parn also faces the stress of Nan's absence and her own supernatural encounters. Nat is the only one who remains unaffected by the environment and seems happy to live in Laddaland. However, Parn feels worried when she learns that Nat has started an imaginary friendship with Somkiat's deceased son.

The dysfunction reaches its nadir when Nan, on the day of her return from boarding school, is haunted by the spirit of Somkiat's wife and mother next door and has to stay at a mental hospital so she can be calmed down. Parn lashes out at Thee and says that she and the children will move back to Bangkok to join her mother. Thee discovers that Nat is missing that night and searches Somkiat's house, where he is haunted by the spirit of Somkiat's son. He is followed by Parn, who finds him shooting at a wardrobe, where Nat is hiding while playing hide-and-seek with the ghost of Somkiat's son. Nat survives the shot, but Thee, thinking that he has killed his son, commits suicide.

Parn drives her children back to Bangkok after the tragedy. She recounts to Nan how she became accustomed to Thee, how she lost her dreams when she discovered her pregnancy, and how in spite of everything, Thee always tries to do his best and love his family. The film ends with flashbacks showing Thee and his family in happier times.