Horror Dominance Spurs Film Diversity Debate

Cambodia’s cinema screens are awash with horror, but industry voices are calling for change. In 2025, around 85 percent of licensed films fell into the genre, leaving audiences with limited choice and sparking concern over the lack of diversity.

Pok Borak, Director of the Department of Cinema and Cultural Diffusion, explained that horror’s dominance stems from strong demand and ease of production. “It’s easier to produce the story, just using effects and sounds to scare the audience,” he said, noting that superstition and religion also play a role in shaping tastes.

Yet filmmakers and audiences alike are pushing back. Independent director Mony Kann Darung, whose coming‑of‑age drama Far Away Close to You premiered in February, stressed the need for variety. His film, which resonated with young viewers, has sold over 50,000 tickets — proof, he argues, that audiences will embrace other genres if the storytelling is strong. “Khmer people, especially teenagers, deserve to experience such films with their own stories,” Darung said.

Cinema‑goer Eang Vireak echoed the sentiment, questioning why producers remain fixated on horror. “I don’t have a problem with Cambodia making horror movies, but I do wonder why the industry is so stuck on this one genre,” he remarked.

Financial risk and weak scriptwriting are among the barriers to broader production, Borak admitted. But with romance and drama beginning to gain traction in 2026, there are signs of a shift. Darung’s success suggests that audiences are ready for more than just scares — they want films that reflect their lives and aspirations.

As Cambodia’s film industry grows, the challenge will be balancing commercial certainty with creative ambition. For now, the debate over diversity is gathering momentum, and the appetite for change is clear.

-2026-03-09