The best things to do in Bangkok in October

Fans of Japanese manga horror artist Junji Ito can’t miss this thrilling exhibition dedicated to his work. To make things more exciting, a collection of his comics is stylized as a terrifying haunted house.The Junji Ito Horror House first opened in Taiwan to positive reception, welcoming over 100,000 attendees. Bangkok will be the next in Southeast Asia to have this experience.

The rare chance we get to watch films from Hong Kong is back. This month until next features the return of the Hong Kong Film Festival in Bangkok at House Samyan Mitrtown. This year’s event, named “Next Generation: Emerging Directors Exhibition & Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation”, will feature talks, an exhibition, and, most importantly, screenings of Hong Kong films that represent the island’s film industry right now. This includes A Guilty Conscience. Touted as Hong Kong’s highest-grossing film of all time, this mystery crime-comedy is directed by Jack Ng and stars leading HK actors such as Dayo Wong, Louise Wong, and Tse Kwan-ho. Released in January this year, the movie has grossed more than HKD114.2 million.  A Guilty Conscience will be screened on Oct 22 and 23. Here’s the schedule of the rest of the films to be shown: Oct 22 16:30 — A Guilty Conscience 19:40 — A Light Never Goes Out Oct 23 16:30 — A Guilty Conscience 19:40 — Mad Fate Oct 24 19:20 — Hong Kong Family  Oct 25 19:20 — Elegies   Oct 26 19:20 — Nomad’s (4K Director’s Cut)  Oct 27 19:20 — Over My Dead Body All films will be shown at House at Samyan Mitrtown. Tickets are priced at B160 for each film.

Following the highly successful Van Gogh Alive exhibition, Iconsiam will once again host a groundbreaking immersive exhibition that digitizes the world's greatest art. This time, it's Monet & Friends Alive Bangkok, an exhibit featuring more than 3,500 works from one of the world's greatest artists, Claude Monet, and 14 other Impressionist artists from his era, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas.  The exhibit will open on Sep 22 and run until Jan 7, 2024, at Iconsiam. Ticket details haven't been announced.

Thai artist Surita “Noinah” Uthairatsamee is having her first solo exhibition at True Digital Park until November. In this exhibition, she focuses on the character LonelyPop and themes of friendship and loneliness in a collection of digital art, paintings, and sculptures. 

The famous Japanese bear figures will have their debut showcase in Southeast Asia right in the heart of Bangkok at the sky-high Other Café at King Power Mahanakhon (78/F). See 70-centimeter-tall Be@arbrick 1000% figures that have been designed by both international and Thai artists.You can also pop into Other Café for a pop-up event inspired by the figures. And keep an eye out for cool merch like keychains, tote bags, and T-shirts.Early bird tickets are priced at B500 (available until 30 September). 

If you want to unwind after a hard week at work but can’t be bothered to leave the city, feel free to pop into the Grill & Chill event at Avani. The hotel is staging a movie night and showing a series of Hollywood blockbusters that you and your crew can enjoy while working the grill.The price is set at B990 per person and the event will take place on the weekend starting on October 6. For more information and reservations, call 0 2079 7555 or email fbreservation.vsuk@avanihotels.com.

Bandai has finally landed in Bangkok with an exhibition dedicated to Gundam figures. See larger-than-life models of RX-78-2 and MS-06S ZAKU II, which go up to six meters high. Get your money ready too—the show will feature an exclusive line-up of merchandise that you may want to add to your collection.

Nawapol “Ter” Thamrongrattanarit is back with a new exhibition that explores the development of digital media in the film industry through more than 120 photographs that portray the stories of artists and filmmakers involved in his past works, including Happy Old Year and Fast & Feel Love. You can also have an immersive experience with each of the pictures.The name of the exhibition, Heavy, comes from how Nawapol thinks each photograph carries a heaviness of emotion and a story that can’t be touched.