If you have a Netflix account, run, don’t walk, to your nearest TV, computer, or handheld device and watch Kulp Kaljareuk’s Ziam. Coming out of Thailand, the movie features a combination of martial arts (specifically Muay Thai) and zombies. The balance of action and horror is nearly perfect, and fans of both genres will no doubt find something to enjoy.

In the movie, Singh (Mark Prin), must rescue his girlfriend Rin (Nychaa Nuttanicha), a doctor, from the hospital where she works. A viral outbreak that turns people into bloodthirsty zombies has made things quite unsafe for Rin. So Singh must fight his way, floor by floor, to his beloved. Along the way we get some incredible action scenes as well as some gruesome zombie kills. It’s a lot of fun.

I was very happy to get to ask Kulp Kaljareuk a few questions about his exciting film.

You started out directing horror TV series, and then moved on to features that weren’t horror. Why was it time to go back to the horror genre?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Actually, for my background I’m doing a lot of suspense and horror. It’s what I like from a long time ago. I mean, always. But when Netflix was coming to Thailand, I have a chance to do a series with them. And then they gave me an opportunity to do this film, that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. 

Is horror pretty big in Thailand, as a genre?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Very big. It’s mainstream in Thailand. It makes money in the cinema. The ghost story is culturally of Thailand. 

So, you combined two pretty huge things with horror and Muay Thai.

Kulp Kaljareuk: Yeah, I was like, “can we fight with Muay Thai against zombies?” I think Muay Thai is very dangerous. So, it can kill people if you’re doing it in the wrong way. I think with the Muay Thai spirit, the fighter isn’t scared of this kind of stuff. 

What were some of the challenges you had directing an action movie, because this is as much an action movie as a horror movie.

Kulp Kaljareuk: I think the thing is that zombies don’t have logic. They cannot think. So how to fight is also different. It’s not like one-on-one fighting. So we need to decide how we’re approaching all of those things.

Was it different coordinating the fights between the zombies as opposed to when Singh has to fight a human?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Zombies come in a lot and attack, right? In Ziam, zombies move forward and attack. But when fighting with the SWAT team, the idea is less Muay Thai, less MMA, make it look like a one-on-one challenge. It’s like a Big Boss. 

Who designed the zombies, and was it all practical effects?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Yeah, it’s all practical effects. We decided to do it from scratch and then we talked to a special makeup team. And they also decided. So we have many kinds of zombies. It’s like in the hospital — you have different kinds of patients there. I wanted the zombies to be very specific in each one. 

Well, they look great!

Kulp Kaljareuk: Yeah, and it’s all practical. We did add a little CG for the eyes. 

What’s the most difficult part of filming a scene with a large amount of zombies?

Kulp Kaljareuk: That last one on the helicopter. It was all green screen, so [actors and crew] didn’t see anything. Only zombies come out. And you have to choreograph like sixty zombies. So it’s quite challenging.

Were the sets constructed or did you shoot in an actual hospital?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Actually, the hospital is four sets. One, we used an abandoned hotel for the lobby and outside. And from the second floor to the eighth floor, we used a real hospital that had been closed. And then on the tenth floor, the fighting with the SWAT team, we built a set. And the last one was the helicopter. We went to the place where the helicopter is, and then we used green screen. 

The tone is really the perfect balance of action and horror. Were you worried about going too far in one direction or another?

Kulp Kaljareuk: Yeah, we tried to balance it. The horror side is the main female lead, the surviving side. But the action side is Singh. So we tried to balance, and combine them perfectly.

The movie’s ending is quite ambiguous. Does this mean there might be a franchise coming?

Kulp Kaljareuk: It’s very much about the popularity, and if people like it. I already have something in mind for the second part. 

I hope that happens. I’ll be the first person in line to see it!

Kulp Kaljareuk: Thanks. I want to do it.