In the ever-expanding universe of zombie apocalypse films, few manage to break the mold and offer something genuinely new. Ziam (2025) does just that, fusing the kinetic energy of Muay Thai martial arts with the relentless terror of a zombie outbreak, all set against the richly textured backdrop of contemporary Thailand. Directed by Kulap Kanjanak, a filmmaker renowned for his gritty realism and emotional storytelling, Ziam stands as a bold testament to the creative power of Thai cinema. This film is not merely a genre mashup; it is a visceral, emotionally charged odyssey through chaos, love, and the struggle for survival.
From its opening frames, Ziam plunges viewers into a world on the brink of collapse. Climate change has triggered the release of ancient bacteria from melting glaciers, unleashing a deadly pandemic that decimates both marine life and humanity. Thailand, once vibrant and bustling, is now a wasteland of abandoned cities, shattered communities, and a population teetering on the edge of extinction. Against this backdrop of despair, the film introduces its unlikely hero: Shin, a former Muay Thai champion whose fighting spirit is matched only by his devotion to his girlfriend, Lin.
The heart of Ziam lies in its characters and their desperate bid to preserve their humanity amidst unimaginable horror. Shin, portrayed with raw intensity by Mark Prin Suparat, is not your typical action hero. Scarred by loss and haunted by memories of a better world, he ekes out a living as a courier, risking his life each day to deliver food and supplies to scattered survivors. His only solace is Lin (Nutanicha Dungwattanawanich), a compassionate doctor who clings to hope even as the world crumbles around her.
What sets Ziam apart from countless other zombie films is its refusal to settle for mindless violence. The film is as much about the struggle to maintain dignity and compassion as it is about survival. Through its characters, Ziam poses difficult questions: How far would you go to save someone you love? What values are worth clinging to when civilization falls apart? Is survival enough, or does true victory mean holding onto one’s humanity?
Movie Ziam
- English Title: Ziam | Korean: 지암 | Japanese: ジアム 2025
- Genres: Action, Horror, Thriller
- Director: Kulap Kanjanak
- Screenplay: Wathanyu Ingkaewiwat, Kulap Kanjanak, Nut Nuaphang
- Starring: Mark Prin Suparat, Nutanicha Dungwattanawanich, Johnny Anfone
- Release Date: 2025
- Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Production Budget: –
- Break-even Point: –
- Network: Netflix
- Rating: 15+
Table of Contents
Ziam Movie Ratings
- IMDb: 4.9 (19 ratings, as of July 2024)
Movie Ziam Cast and Characters
- Mark Prin Suparat : Thai top star, plays the Muay Thai fighter protagonist.
- Notable works: Ziam (2025), My Secret Bride (2020)
Prin Suparat (English name: Prin Suparat) is a renowned Thai actor and model, born on March 19, 1990, in Chiang Mai. His birth name is Prin Suparat, and he grew up in a Thai-Chinese family. From a young age, he showed talent in sports and was admitted to Rangsit University’s Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality as an athletic scholar, earning a black belt in judo. He was active on the university’s judo team and even ranked first in national competitions.
He was discovered by a Channel 3 manager and made his entertainment industry debut in 2010. Afterwards, he gained attention as a member of Channel 3’s leading male actor group, the “4+1 Superstars.” Prin Suparat has been loved for a long time for his outstanding acting skills, diligent self-management, and attractive appearance.
He has a strong fan base, with millions of followers on social media, and is active in commercials and variety shows. As hobbies, he enjoys singing and soccer, maintaining a bright and healthy image. On a personal note, he became engaged to actress Kimberley Anne Woltemas, his girlfriend of nine years, on April 17, 2022, and they held their wedding at Lake Como, Italy, on September 14, 2023. He has one older sister.
Prin Suparat has starred in dramas such as “Punya Chon Kon Krua,” “Rak Nakara,” “Kleun Cheewit,” “My Husband in Law,” “Game of Outlaws,” and “Eclipse of the Heart,” gaining great popularity not only in Thailand but also across Asia. He has also appeared in films such as “Necromancer,” “Haunted Tales,” and “Ziam,” showcasing a wide range of acting abilities.
- Johnny Anfone : Veteran Thai actor.
- Notable works: Ziam (2025)
- Nutanicha Dungwattanawanich : Popular Thai actress, plays Lin, the protagonist’s girlfriend and a doctor.
- Notable works: Ziam (2025), 14 Again: I Love You Two Thousand (2023)
Director Kulap Kanjanak’s Filmography
Kulap Kanjanak is recognized for his realistic action and human drama in the Thai action and thriller genres. Previous works include The Legend and The Champion. For Ziam, he collaborated with real Muay Thai fighters to maximize authenticity and worked closely with special effects and stunt teams to deliver a blockbuster experience. The film’s action choreography and zombie makeup highlight the strengths of Thailand’s film industry.
Ziam Plot Summary
When ancient bacteria awaken from the glaciers, the world plunges into uncontrollable chaos. As global warming melts the ice, hundreds of millions of fish die en masse, and the bacteria begin to have a deadly impact on all living things, including humans. Humanity rapidly heads toward extinction, and social order collapses. In the ruined cities, only corpses and debris remain, and the few surviving humans endure each day, distrusting one another.
Despair and fear fill the streets, and the survivors live under extreme tension…
The film opens in a near-future Thailand devastated by food shortages and famine. The government and social systems have collapsed, and both cities and rural areas are overrun by a zombie virus, forcing humanity into a desperate fight for survival. The protagonist is a Muay Thai fighter, struggling to survive in a remote village with his beloved, Lin (Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich).
In this desolate world, Shin, a former Muay Thai champion, ekes out a living by delivering dangerous goods. Every day, he risks his life to find food and deliver it to people, but his hands bear deep scars. In his heart, there is a desperate desire to protect his lover Lin, who works at a hospital. The hope that they might one day return to their hometown and reclaim a normal life keeps him going.
At the hospital, Lin works as a doctor. One day, Basu, the CEO of a global food company, visits the hospital to save his paralyzed wife. He claims that feeding her the liver of a surviving fish will help her recover, but the doctors express concern about the risks. Suddenly, among the patients brought to the hospital, strange symptoms begin to appear.
The patients awaken from death and turn into zombies, and the hospital instantly descends into chaos. Screams, confusion, and the stench of blood fill the hospital corridors. Lin and her colleagues hide to survive, while cries and screams echo throughout the hospital.
As the zombie outbreak spreads, the government completely seals off the hospital. Inside, the chaos intensifies. The survivors hide in supply rooms or empty wards to avoid the zombies’ gaze. Lin, too, searches for a way to survive amid extreme fear. Shin rushes to the hospital to rescue Lin. He fights his way through hordes of zombies, battling them fiercely in the depths of the hospital. As a former Muay Thai champion, Shin knocks down zombies with his bare hands, pressing forward undaunted by the threat of death.
Inside the hospital, survivors with different stories distrust and sometimes cooperate with each other. The nurse, her young son Buddy, and Lin join forces to protect one another. The government plans to blow up the hospital to stop the zombie outbreak, deploying soldiers to control the situation. The soldiers prioritize rescuing medical staff and VIPs, thoroughly ignoring ordinary survivors. Shin clashes with the soldiers to save Lin and Buddy. On the way to the rooftop, hordes of zombies close in, and conflict with the soldiers erupts.
On the rooftop, a rescue helicopter waits, but the soldiers only allow VIPs to board, completely blocking ordinary survivors from escaping. Shin sends Lin and Buddy up to the rooftop first and fights a final bloody battle with the zombies. During this process, Shin is severely wounded, and Lin gives him emergency treatment. However, as the building’s sprinklers activate, those infected with the zombie virus undergo a second mutation, turning into a new type of zombie mixed with fish genes. These new zombies are far more ferocious and evolve rapidly.
Basu’s wife also turns into a monster, and Basu ends his life along with her. Lin and Shin attempt a final escape from the rooftop, but the explosion timer set by the soldiers is triggered, and the helicopter leaves without Shin. Before Lin’s eyes, Shin collapses with the building. Lin breaks down in despair, feeling as if everything is over. After the hospital explosion, Lin and Buddy escape the ruined city and return to their hometown. However, the world remains under the threat of the zombie virus. In the final scene, there is a brief hint that Shin is resurrecting in the rubble of the destroyed hospital.
Ziam Ending
The disaster triggered by ancient bacteria goes beyond a simple zombie outbreak to threaten the very survival of humanity. As the glaciers melt, bacteria awakened from the ice spread to humans via fish, and the infection that began in the confined space of a hospital spreads uncontrollably. Inside the hospital, the infected patients and medical staff turn into zombies, and the remaining survivors, desperate to live, distrust each other.
Even in despair, Lin struggles to survive with Buddy, and Shin risks his life to save his lover. The soldiers, following orders, only rescue VIPs, abandoning ordinary survivors. The government’s inhumane decisions and the soldiers’ coldness reveal the true face of society in the midst of disaster.
On the hospital rooftop, even the last hope disappears…
The rescue helicopter leaves with only VIPs, and Shin, fighting zombies, collapses with the building. Lin witnesses Shin’s death and weeps in agony. After the hospital explosion, Lin and Buddy escape the devastated city and return to their hometown, but the world remains in the grip of the zombie virus. In the final scene, there is a hint that Shin is resurrecting in the rubble of the collapsed hospital, bringing the story to an end.
Ziam Ending and Interpretation
The film’s ending is both tragic and hopeful. Shin’s sacrifice underscores the themes of love, dignity, and humanity in the face of overwhelming horror. The ambiguous final shot, with Shin possibly surviving, leaves the door open for a sequel or a message that hope persists even in ruin. Ziam ultimately asks: how much of our humanity can we retain when the world falls apart?
Ziam Reviews
Since its release, Ziam has garnered a passionate following among fans of action, horror, and international cinema. While some critics have noted the film’s ambiguous ending and occasionally uneven pacing, most agree that its strengths far outweigh its flaws. The combination of high-octane action, emotional storytelling, and social commentary has resonated with viewers around the world.
The film’s ambiguous final scene—hinting at Shin’s possible survival—has fueled speculation about a potential sequel and left audiences eager for more. More importantly, Ziam has set a new standard for what is possible in the zombie genre, proving that even the most familiar stories can be revitalized through cultural innovation and creative ambition.
Ziam is more than just a Muay Thai zombie movie; it is a powerful meditation on love, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Through its unforgettable characters, stunning action, and unflinching exploration of moral dilemmas, the film offers a vision of hope amidst despair. It is a testament to the power of cinema to entertain, provoke, and inspire—even in the darkest of times. For anyone seeking a fresh take on the apocalypse, Ziam is a must-watch, and a milestone in the evolution of Thai action-horror.
KPop Demon Hunters cast plot summary songs singers voice actor (+tiger)
