Karina Thyra
Bio
Fangirl of sorts.
Twitter: @ArianaGsparks
Stories (190)
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Movie Review: Tha Rae: The Exorcist – Faith, Folklore, and Family Drama in Taweewat Wantha’s Chilling Thai Horror
Tha Rae: The Exorcist (2025), directed by Taweewat Wantha, is a Thai horror film that skillfully blends folklore, faith, and family drama against the backdrop of Tha Rae, a village in Sakhon Nakhon, and home to the largest Catholic community in Thailand. Leading the cast are Jirayu Tangsrisuk as Father Paolo, the determined exorcist called in from Bangkok; Phiravich Attachitsataporn as Sopha, the male Yao who channels ancestral spirits and livestreams his rituals; Nichaphat Chatchaipholrat as Malee, Ming’s estranged daughter drawn back into her family’s dark secrets; and Thaneth Warakulnukroh as Old Ming, the patriarch whose past decisions and encounters with the supernatural set the story in motion. Supporting them is Sawanee Utoomma as Aunt Seng, the sister-in-law whose own history intertwines with the family’s haunting.
By Karina Thyra4 months ago in Geeks
What I Learned About Youth, Power, and Solidarity at the World Expression Forum (WEXFO)
WORLD EXPRESSION FORUM – LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY What do young people need? After six days of listening, sharing, grieving, and laughing at the World Expression Forum, I think I’m beginning to understand. I recently participated in the World Expression Forum (WEXFO) from May 30 - June 4, 2025, held in both Utøya and Lillehammer, thanks to a nomination from Awareness 360 — a youth-led NGO committed to empowering young people to support and uplift their communities.
By Karina Thyra7 months ago in The Swamp
Splashes, Strangers, and Stillness: Songkran Through My Lens
Before the splashes, there is stillness. Songkran, Thailand’s New Year, is often celebrated as a joyful, three-day-long splash fest—but its roots are much deeper. Traditionally, it’s a time for renewal and reflection. Families visit temples to pour water over Buddha statues, pay respects to elders, and wear the color that corresponds with the day they were born (mine is green for Wednesday).
By Karina Thyra9 months ago in Photography
From Crime Scenes to the Silver Screen: The Many Lives of Roland Sanchez
Manila, Philippines – For over two decades, Roland Sanchez has been at the forefront of law enforcement as a dedicated agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). With unwavering commitment, he has spent his career exposing crime and corruption. But beyond his work in the field, Sanchez has also made a name for himself as an award-winning independent filmmaker, using cinema to bring hard-hitting social issues to light.
By Karina Thyra10 months ago in Interview
Born Among Ruins
There had been signs. They started becoming more noticeable in 2016 AD - whispers of false prophets, the persecution of the innocent, and a world that had forgotten mercy. Tolerance waned, cruelty was applauded, and the false god — money — was worshipped above all.
By Karina Thyra11 months ago in Fiction
The Echoes of My Year's Lessons were Found in Tarot Cards at a Karaoke Bar
2024 feels both endless and fleeting—a leap year stretched long yet passing in the blink of an eye. Like 2020, it’s been a year of ups and downs, but the overall forecast is (cautiously) optimistic.
By Karina Thyraabout a year ago in Motivation
Dear Nuno
Dear Nuno, It’s been a while now since you passed. I remember being in Thailand a few months before you passed, at the time, thinking that Christmases and holidays would never be the same again. This is a letter of gratitude, but somehow I’m also laying bare my shortcomings—things that, with hindsight, I now see differently. Maybe it’s just “character development,” as the cynic in me might say, so I could become a more reflective storyteller.
By Karina Thyraabout a year ago in Humans
Elle Woods and the Realities of Justice: Why Legally Blonde Still Matters
This evening, as we prepare for our internships in different places, I found myself watching Legally Blonde (and Legally Bonde 2!) with my friends. As an elder Gen Z, I feel it’s my responsibility to introduce them to the best chick flicks of 2004. My friends, who come from Myanmar, have often remarked on how this movie, released in 2001, still feels so fresh and relevant. They’ve noted how impressive the technology looks compared to films they’ve seen, perhaps because they haven’t experienced many Hollywood productions; Asia has its own thriving film industry and beloved favorites.
By Karina Thyraabout a year ago in Geeks
Mabini's Lot
I died once. Or at least, that’s how it felt. When I was six years old, we briefly returned to my grandparents’ old neighborhood. We used to live near the area, so we briefly visited there too and finally to play at the playground nearby. I was walking over to the slides after playing on the seesaw with my brother when I froze. Mid-walk, I just froze—I couldn’t move. I imagine that’s how a deer caught in headlights feel; too stunned to react until the inevitable crash happens. The kid on the swing was going high and fast, and I got caught right in the middle. I was paralyzed, staring blankly as a child on the swing hurtled toward me. I don't blame him, though; I never did. I kept saying it was just his slipper that hit me. “I’m fine,” I insisted.
By Karina Thyraabout a year ago in Fiction
Daria Morgendorffer: The Ace-Coded Icon I Never Knew I Needed
When I think about asexual representation in media, the first character that always comes to mind is Daria Morgendorffer. Watching Daria for the first time felt like staring into a mirror—her cynicism, her sharp wit, and her disinterest in romantic entanglements echoed so much of what I had felt my whole life. She wasn’t detached or emotionless, she simply didn’t care about the things that seemed to consume everyone else around her—things like dating and sex. For the first time, I saw a character who reflected the way I move through the world, and it was profoundly validating. It was in Daria Season 1, Episode 13 "The Misery Chick" that I realized Daria was a character I didn't know I needed; she's not a misery chick, she just not quick to emotions like most people are, and that's okay.
By Karina Thyraabout a year ago in Pride
