Original subtitles

ALL CHARACTERS, EVENTS, AND SETTINGS DEPICTED ARE FICTITIOUS.

ORIGINAL STORY BY THAO TRANG

Since times unknown,

those with ill wills whisper about an old magic bearing a great power.

They would fight for it to resurrect the dead,

command the armies of hell, and have endless riches.

Or even,

to live forever.

People would come to know it

as just three words:

the Skull Wine.

To make this concoction,

its brewer must use the organs of five people:

the hand of a skilled soul,

the feet of a fast soul,

the liver of a brave soul,

the head of a smart soul,

and... the heart of a wicked soul.

When all the parts are present,

a maiden's fresh blood must then be offered.

The five who are killed to brew the Skull Wine

can never board the ferry to the afterlife

and can never be reincarnated.

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

That is why

forces most unholy are always preying

on those poor unfortunate souls.

They wish to return

and become

alive once more.

Madam, madam!

- Madam! - Oh, Kham!

Give this...

to Phong...

for... me!

Madam, madam!

Madam!

Madam, madam!

Madam!

Since she was young,

my daughter Phong could see those spirits.

Madam, madam!

Oh, madam!

- Madam... - Child, you tell my daughter...

that an evil presence

will force her to brew wine.

Madam!

What's wrong, madam?

Please don't die, madam!

Madam!

Mommy!

Oh, Mommy, no!

Mommy, please don't leave me!

Mommy!

Father!

Crimson sweat!

Heavens, Madam Lan has also caught it!

Crimson sweat! Crimson sweat!

Crimson sweat!

15 YEARS LATER

That year, remnants of a bandit group

escaped to the mountains where it snows year-round.

An isolated community was then built

and then so named,

Hellbound Village.

Though hidden high up,

the people still lived like they did on the flatlands,

Though everything seemed so calm,

who could have known that the land was cursed

and no one could leave the village,

except for the family of the chief.

The villagers believe that the moment the sun sets,

dark forces will emerge,

like fireflies ready to steal life from both humans and demons.

But despite that risk,

they still host feasts and rituals in the night

because they believe the dark will help hide ancient sins.

Let me join in!

Hey, Duong! Come over and have a glass.

Come over!

Listen to the singing cicada, the poem of Hellbound.

Eggplants turn round.

Bamboos flower.

Endless wonder.

Risky to tread.

Quiet, quiet, quiet!

That poem is as old as time,

- yet you all still sing it? - Cheers, all!

Just stop it.

Come and see the grasshopper I just made!

It's my gift for Miss Phong, all right?

You crafty fatty,

but the grasshopper is the only thing you can make!

Please, I beg you all!

Enough with the fighting.

Soon, we will see

a very beautiful bride, don't you think?

We like to see your puppetry down the stream like before.

The puppet show must be in the village yard.

Let Miss Phong finish her day then I'll ask the elders

to let me perform in the village yard so you can see my show.

Yes, sir!

Who's there?

All stop.

Who is it?

There's a woman in red

with a girl, over there!

You must be seeing things.

No one is there.

We should head back.

A ghost!

Child, oh, child!

- Your father's here! - Mr. Dan!

Why are you here?

I'm escorting my daughter!

A ghost! A ghost!

Curse you, man!

Retrieve the bride without a mask

and the fireflies will get your soul!

Let's go.

If we miss the blessed hour, the village chief will be angry!

Come on, dearest.

Father and the villagers are waiting.

Go on.

We must continue.

A ghost.

A ghost.

A ghost...

The newlyweds are back!

The newlyweds are here!

The newlyweds are here, everyone!

The bride is beautiful!

So gorgeous, Chief!

Hellbound Village,

ever since, has followed the tradition

to only celebrate at night while wearing rat masks.

I give thanks to all the attendees

of the wedding of Trieu Thi Phong and Tran Sang,

my daughter and my son-in-law.

- Rejoice, rejoice! - The union of these youths

is also a great beginning for us villagers.

You both

must be dutiful to all

and not act on wicked thoughts

that could sully your families' names.

Do you understand clearly?

- Yes, Father! - Yes!

Today is a happy day for you both.

I have prepared a gift,

these twin bracelets which I made from the spores of ferns

to soothe and bless you

and to protect you

and the villagers. Do you understand?

To the bride and groom!

- We thank you, sir! - We thank you!

It's the woman in red again!

She is here right now!

- A ghost! A demon! - Who? Where is she?

Demon, demon!

- Ghost! Ghoul! - Mr. Dan!

Demon, ghoul!

- Dan! - Mr. Dan!

You're drinking and blabbering on again.

My child said she saw it.

A ghost, a ghost!

Mr. Dan!

No more nonsense.

My daughter said she saw one.

- Hello, sir! - Mr. Dan!

On the way back,

I saw a woman who frightened me terribly.

She was not from our village.

- Not from our village? - Is that so?

What brat or bitch dares to enter here?

- That's right! - How dare they!

How could an outsider know about us?

Sang, we have to get to the village gate.

- Phong, but no one's there. - Sang!

What is it?

Father! Please let me handle this.

Everyone!

We do not know if an outsider has entered.

But to ensure your safety,

I, together with some others, will take a look around.

- That's right! - You should!

You stay home with your father.

I will go.

Go! Move!

- Move! - Wait, wait...

- I didn't want to go. - A ghost, a ghost!

A ghost, a ghost!

A ghost, a ghost!

No one is here.

Is Phong seeing things?

Honestly, if someone's here with no torch or no light,

if the demons don't get them, the fireflies will.

All right, how about we all do another round?

Hey!

You've only been the chief's son-in-law for half a day

and already you're barking orders?

- Miss Can, you're misunders... - Enough!

We've been searching

and haven't seen a damn thing.

If we stay here any longer, our torches will go out,

the fireflies will come,

and we'll all die.

Let's go home!

I think some people are drunk today,

so they'd be feistier than usual.

Nothing personal, sir.

Phong!

Kham!

Ah!

I heard there was an outsider here,

so I'm here to check things out.

Is everything well?

I'm not so sure.

But why is it that I didn't see you at the village square?

I felt a bit unwell.

And I was afraid

if something might have happened

that I'd upset your big day with Sang.

- Phong! - Phong!

Are you well, dear?

Phong.

I heard you are unwell, Kham?

Yes, but I also heard the villager say

that a stranger is in the village.

I plan to search for them.

There is no one here.

Some other villagers and I looked around,

but we didn't see anyone.

But I swear,

I've seen the woman in red twice

and the girl too,

once in the cypress woods

and once in the village square.

She was so terrifying.

Don't worry, darling.

I'm certain you're mistaken.

But it is also possible that someone has planned this

to ruin our wedding ceremony.

If it's true

that an outsider is here,

it will be a grave matter.

Greetings, sir!

All right, Kham.

You go home and rest.

Our household will handle this.

- Yes! - Let's go inside.

Come on!

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Sang! Sang!

Wake up!

It's the ferry woman.

Phong!

I know you've been worried these past days about our special day.

I'd like to rest more.

Stop running away with your thoughts.

Darling.

Sleep, my dear.

Sleep now.

Duong!

Come get firewood with me!

It's pouring rain today!

You're...

not entering until it's dry?

You shouldn't drink so much.

You're lucky it rained today.

Otherwise, since you're sleeping in, I might have to hit you!

Oh, Duong!

Duong!

Duong!

Duong, child! Wake up!

Duong!

Duong...

Oh, Duong! Duong!

Duong was strangled to death,

and both his hands were chopped off.

They might have been removed postmortem.

But who could have killed him so gruesomely, sir?

The cut was not clean,

meaning the culprit is not skilled with a knife.

Look here!

The puppet's hands are also gone.

Oh, sir...

Sir Chan, I must ask, have you finished inspecting the body?

The villagers would like to enshroud him.

It's unkind to leave Duong like that.

Mr. Dan!

It's the work of demons.

Demons will kill all of you.

You did it, didn't you?

How about you?

Or are you the killer?

You're the killer!

Grab Mr. Dan right now.

Slap him once to shut him up!

Yes, hit me, like you did to your father and mother!

- Be silent! - Demons will kill all of you!

Demons will kill all of you!

Murderer!

Demons will kill you all, murderers!

Six spells of day,

then five come at night.

Ghouls are outside,

so watch your souls.

What is it, my dear?

I'm not quite sure.

What are these scratches on your body?

I was careless, I think.

Our union was supposed to bring good omens to this place.

But it took just one night for...

Nobody wanted those things to happen.

- Also, it is not your f... - Sang!

Could it be that the woman I saw yesterday

has something to do with Duong's death?

Phong!

You must think rationally now.

How could outsiders find our village?

As for the death of Duong,

I don't have any idea who could have killed him.

But I'm certain it wasn't an outsider.

Duong tends to steal here and there!

But I don't think that warrants such a death.

It's all speculation at this point, darling.

But you shouldn't overthink it.

We are now husband and wife.

Remember when were we little, I made a promise to you?

Yes.

You said that when we were older, you would marry me.

Madam Tam's puppets sure are pretty.

Every time I look at these things here,

I miss Duong so much.

That poor boy...

what a kind heart,

what a grim end.

At the wedding, did Duong act strange, ma'am?

No!

He was still playing with the youngsters.

That day, Duong made this puppet for me.

He promised us

he would ask the elders

for permission to perform puppet shows.

Now that he's gone...

I think the puppets will miss him!

I feel sorry for Minh.

That child is always ill.

It really makes me worry.

- Kham! - Oh, Phong?

Be with you in a bit!

What is afflicting Minh

must be treated slowly before it can leave, ma'am.

I thank you.

My illness troubles you so, Kham!

Miss Minh, you're too formal.

Healing the villagers

has been the duty of my household.

Please drop the "Miss", Kham.

It makes us strangers.

- Sister Minh! - Huh?

It's fun when Kham is here, right?

Kham is plenty busy.

I see that Minh is a good soul.

She has eyes for you.

You better not let the moment pass you by.

I once did just that to someone else.

And now,

frankly, I've stopped thinking about love.

My daughter.

Where are you off to now?

The ghosts might get you. Go!

- Come with your father! - Mr. Dan!

I am Phong, not your daughter, sir.

- Come! Come with me! - Mr. Dan!

Are you all right, Phong?

You bullied me.

You all bullied me.

I will tell the ghosts.

They'll get you all.

Phong is a married woman.

Kham, do you understand that?

Phong and I met at Madam Tam's place.

We were both heading the same way,

chatting about what happened to Duong.

Please don't misunderstand.

Regarding the death of Duong,

you needn't mind it, Kham.

Moreover,

touch not what is not yours.

Your actions may be thoughtless, but they'll have people thinking.

What do you mean by "touch not what is not yours"?

I was on the same road as Kham, and we were just talking.

Kham is our friend!

Phong!

I'm very sorry about earlier.

But honestly,

I don't think we should stay here any longer.

Someone we know just died.

How could we get up and leave?

I could never guess what you're thinking, dear.

It's only because I care for you

that I'm thinking of a way for us both to leave this place.

Life out there, it'll be better than in here.

But my father has spoken.

No one except my family can descend the mountain.

Even though

I have become your husband,

I'm still an outsider?

Sang!

Kham!

Kham, Kham!

Oh, Kham!

You are Kham, correct?

What are you holding in your hand?

Kham!

This is yours!

Remember your doses.

Don't forget any, you hear?

- I'll be off! - All right.

Mother, please help me!

Sister Minh, help!

Mother!

Sister Minh, help!

Mother!

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Sang!

Sang!

I just saw little Huong in front of our house.

But it was strange!

It was quite late, so why would she be there?

Little Huong is missing! Quickly, let's find her.

Little Huong is missing! Quickly, let's find her.

Little Huong is missing. Madam Tam has searched all over.

I'll join the rest to look for her.

- Move out, all! - Let's go! Let's go!

Little Huong is missing! Quickly, let's find her.

- Little Huong is missing! - Huong!

Quickly, let's find her.

Huong!

- Huong! - Huong!

- Huong! - Huong!

- Oh, Huong! - Huong...

- Huong! - Oh, Huong! Where are you?

Little Huong is dead!

- Little Huong is dead! - Heavens, why here?

- Huong, my child! - Huong!

My daughter!

- My child! - Madam Tam, please come with me.

You had better take Huong's family home right away.

Why must you suffer so much, my child?

Let's go!

Child, come back to me!

- Leave, let's go all. - Please let me die!

My child!

- Madam Tam... - My child!

Oh, child!

- Return to your mother! - Madam Tam, listen here...

How could little Huong die so horribly?

Little Huong was strangled to death.

Her eyes were gouged out.

Her legs were also severed.

They're the same type of cuts as those on Duong's body.

Perhaps she died just a few hours ago.

- Huong! Oh, Huong! - Who, who killed my child?

Who here killed my child?

My dear!

Let me go!

Let me go! I want to be with her.

Huong, you're moving on without us, dear!

My child!

My child! Why must you leave us so soon?!

Huong!

Little Huong's puppet

is also legless.

Duong's also had parts missing.

Damn it all!

She was only a child!

Who? Which one of you?

Show yourself and face my fists.

Such joy! Two lives are now gone.

You deserve it!

You deserve it!

Everyone, grab him!

You deserve it!

My child!

The girl died, precisely as my son had said.

I am afraid

all these deaths have to do with...

Go on.

resurrection through murder.

Though witchcraft was said to be lost to time,

wicked forces could possess the living to achieve their goals.

But what dark art could be this cruel?

I'm not sure.

It's also possible that these two deaths

were the work of one person.

As village chief, you must do something!

Could we all leave?

It has only been a few days, and two people are dead.

Maybe tomorrow,

any one of us would be the next to fall.

If we stay, there is only death.

Staying here will doom us all.

I have told you.

Not just anyone can leave.

If you doubt me, try and go.

My child!

Return to me!

Come back to your family.

Mother, have some congee.

Minh!

Phong.

This is for little Huong's eyes.

Help me out.

I don't want her soul to suffer.

I thank you, Phong.

Puppets draw near.

Puppets draw near.

Listen to the singing cicada.

If you're wicked,

puppets draw near.

Drown and die here.

Rest still on stones.

Too fast you've gone.

Trees hide your bones.

Dangle at home,

dry like an ore.

Thoughts nevermore.

For head is off.

The wicked scoffs.

The heart gets lopped.

Poor child.

Everyone has stayed in.

They're afraid that if they come out,

- they'll meet badness. - Oh.

Can we call this a funeral

when so few are attending?

- A ghost. - My gods!

- A ghost. - Heavens!

Mr. Dan!

Soon, you'll scare me to death!

It's not your turn yet.

What'd you say?

Eventually, all will fall.

Quiet, quiet, quiet!

If you don't leave, you'll die and dead!

Die and dead!

Badness, badness, badness!

Begone, begone, begone!

- Die and dead! - Badness, badness!

How could you utter such nonsense, such drivel.

Yes!

- But he has a point, sir! - Huh?

If we remain here,

sooner or later, it will be our turn.

You have to come with me now.

Both of us have to do something.

Let's go!

We're leaving, we're leaving!

We're leaving!

- We're leaving, we're leaving! - We're leaving, we're leaving!

- We're leaving! - We're leaving!

Little Huong hasn't even been laid to rest.

We're leaving, we're leaving!

- So why are you all here? - We're leaving, we're leaving!

We want to leave the village.

- You must lead the way. - We're leaving, we're leaving!

Dan, you must stop.

If you continue being angry, you'll only make yourselves suffer.

Your child died, do you remember?

My daughter's there! My daughter's there!

I must be with my daughter.

- I... - Stop now!

My child's not dead.

She is not dead!

She's not dead!

- Village Chief! - My child's not dead!

You must help us descend.

There's a killer among us.

Who knows whom they'll target next?

- That's correct! - We're leaving, we're leaving!

Enough!

The way down the mountain is treacherous.

Don't you dare try to scare us.

If you won't show the way, we'll find our own.

Ngo!

Everyone!

Please do not leave.

My father is saying the way is not as easy as we think.

What if we let the people descend just once, sir?

- That's right! - I have spoken.

I will lead no one.

Not a single soul.

Fine!

We'll go by ourselves.

Let's move, everyone.

Humans or demons, I don't give a damn.

There's only death here if we stay.

- Yes! - Indeed!

If his family can go, so can we.

Move!

- We're leaving, we're leaving! - We're leaving, we're leaving!

- We're leaving, we're leaving! - We're leaving, we're leaving!

We're leaving, we're leaving!

- Don't go, everyone! - We're leaving!

- We're leaving! - Sir Moc Tang!

We're leaving!

- Sir Moc Tang, please stay. - We're leaving!

Phong, dear.

My whole life, I've never been bold,

but at this moment,

I have no choice.

No, sir! Please listen to me.

No!

You stay and be well.

I have to leave.

- I must go. - Sir!

We're leaving, we're leaving!

For you, stepmother.

Where's that boy, Sang?

He told me he wanted a moment to himself.

My dear!

More than half of the villagers have descended.

I'm so afraid to once more witness

the same sight as before.

What is it, sir?

Our villagers,

none of them can leave this place.

If they aren't killed,

they would go insane.

Day in and day out,

saying that

spirits are out there

in great numbers.

At the end of that year, when you suddenly became ill,

you were so feverish that I thought you would die.

- Phong! - Phong! Oh, Phong!

At one point, your mother and I both dreamt of a woman in red

who showed our family the way down the mountain.

We woke up,

and we decided to try and descend.

And then,

everything we dreamt happened.

You got better. We returned to the village.

Then the woman in red again appeared to us,

saying only our bloodline could come and go safely.

Even so, your mother led Madam Lan,

or Sang's mother, down the mountain.

When they descended midway, they both caught the crimson sweat.

Why didn't you tell everyone that, Father?

I told them,

but no one believed me.

They all agreed that

the crimson sweat was just a sickness

that anyone could catch.

Eventually, the elders told us to stop,

to never again tell that story.

But Sang,

he is now part of our family.

You wouldn't even tell him?

In the end, your husband

is only our family in name.

I also doubt that he would believe the story.

Sir!

What's that noise?

It hurts so much! It hurts... hurts...

Return to the village! The village!

Quickly! Return to the village! To the village!

To the village, now!

- To the village! - Run!

Everyone!

Keep the torches lit!

Watch out for the fireflies.

Everyone, we're close to the gate.

Don't let the light go out.

The woman in red you saw in your dreams

and the woman in red I saw at my wedding,

they might be the same person.

Do you think she is some demonic spirit?

I'm not certain that the crimson sweat is a natural illness.

Without the woman in red,

you'd already be dead.

And given your place in the house,

what do you know?

Because of the woman in red, you could descend to trade goods.

Because of her, you became the chief.

You wouldn't want things to change, correct?

Silence!

Don't you dare make assumptions.

If the story gets told,

the villagers might think

I hold the power to command spirits,

to control demons and to hurt people.

Phong!

Oh, Phong!

Listen to your stepmother here.

All you've heard,

mute it as you live,

bring it as you die.

If this becomes known,

we'll break a promise

we made to the woman in red.

It could be deadly.

Child!

Oh, child!

Child...

- Kham! - Yes?

Go and check on them.

- Yes. - Check their pulses, child.

Yes.

Sir Moc Tang! Sir Moc Tang!

What is all this, sir?

Sir, oh, sir!

- Sir! - It hurts!

Sir, how are you feeling?

Our village...

we can't leave this place.

- Sir! - This village is cursed.

Sir!

- Oh, sir! - Sir!

A ghost!

A... a... a ghost is out here!

I can't believe this scene is happening again.

More than 15 years have passed,

but the death of my mother then remains clear as ever.

They were adamant about leaving.

My father said they shouldn't.

Phong!

They were just looking for freedom.

Life is still good here.

You think there's a good life in a place like this?

Does a "good life" mean that when night comes around,

people are afraid to leave their homes?

That the villagers are on the verge of going crazy?

Did you see what happened last night?

If you leave, you die.

I'm fine with death,

as long as it's not here.

Ngo!

Why are you playing with fire?

Huh?

Hey!

Tell me something.

What happened in the village

that caused you all a million miles away, huh?

- Ngo! - Huh...

Tell me what happened.

Her child died.

She went crazy like Mr. Dan,

always acting like a possessed person.

I must descend the mountain

to...

find more medicine for us.

But if you go now, I worry that...

The lack of medicine,

what could be worse for us than that?

I have spoken,

so I'll get to it.

Enough idle chatter.

Oh, little Huong!

The crazy woman!

- Come home to me, dear. - Crazy, the crazy woman!

- Huong! - Run, it's the crazy woman!

- The crazy woman! - Huong!

- The crazy woman! - Oh, Huong!

Mother!

Mother!

Come with me to the village chief's place!

I will retrieve Huong's puppet for you.

Come on!

- Mother! - Listening to the singing cicada,

the poem of Hellbound.

Eggplants turn round.

Bamboos flower.

Endless wonder.

Too fast you've gone.

Trees hide your bones.

Dangle at home,

dry like an ore.

For head is off.

The wicked scoffs.

The heart gets lopped.

Listen to the singing cicada,

the poem of Hellbound.

Eggplants turn round.

Bamboos flower.

Endless wonder.

Risky to tread.

If you're wicked,

puppets draw near.

Where have you been since this afternoon?

I followed your father.

But the trail was challenging,

and so I lost track of him at one point.

Why are you so stubborn?

Is leaving the village a must for you?

Sang!

There is no descending this mountain.

It is dangerous.

The crimson sweat,

then the fact that these woods are lethal.

Aren't you afraid at all?

If you want to know, I will tell you now

why only my bloodline can descend this mountain.

In the past...

Everyone!

Have any of you seen my daughter?

- Where is my daughter? - What is wrong, Mr. Tam?

- You mean Minh? - Yes!

She... she vanished!

- Oh, Minh! - Where has Minh gone?

Minh!

Daughter, dear!

Minh!

My child!

Minh!

Phong! Phong!

- Minh! - Minh!

Oh, Minh!

- Minh! - Minh!

Minh!

Minh!

Minh!

- Minh, oh! - Minh!

- Oh, Minh! - Minh!

Are you afraid?

The youngsters in this village,

every single one of them is a coward.

If you're scared,

go the hell home.

Trieu Thi Phong...

Trieu Thi Phong...

Trieu Thi Phong...

Minh!

Minh!

Where are you?

Minh!

Oh, Minh, where are you?

Come and I'll return your puppet.

Please come home to me.

Minh!

Oh, Minh, where are you, dear?

Oh, gods!

That is not Minh. That is...

Miss Can.

Miss Can is dead.

Minh! Minh!

Where is Minh then?

- Where is Minh? - Where has she gone?

Another puppet.

Her liver is gone!

Sir, I've carefully inspected her.

Miss Can was stabbed from the back.

But that only got her guard down.

The actual cause of death

was drowning.

The puppet, again.

All of you, look at it.

All of you, look at it.

Out of everyone, only Duong makes puppets.

But he is dead.

- Maybe he... - Dong!

- Yes? - Rush to Duong's place now,

gather all the puppets, and bring them to my place.

I'll see if they've become demonic,

or if someone else is behind all this.

Yes, sir!

Since the chief has said so,

then it shall be done.

I hope

it will soon be over.

If not,

your whole family...

will pay with your lives.

Yes! Pay with your lives.

Who's there?

Stepmother?

Stepmother?

Phong! Phong! Phong!

What happened, dear?

Dear?

Again, it was the woman in red

and those puppets.

Where?

I don't see anything, child.

Never mind!

Get in the house.

Come in with me.

Go!

Now!

Come!

It's dark out. Where were you going, Phong?

Sang!

You must keep an eye on your wife.

You have no idea where she went?

Forgive me.

It's late now.

You had better go to bed.

Yes.

Where were you going, Phong?

Sang,

if I were to tell you I can see spirits,

the dead, and the wicked,

would you believe me?

There is something I've never told you.

When I was born,

hard karma was in my blood.

That is how I can see the unseen.

You must stop speaking like this.

Do you remember

how people still talk

about a place called hell?

It is a real place.

I have seen the spirit of my mother

and of the other villagers going there with the ferry woman.

But all of the recently deceased,

I don't see any of their souls on the ferry.

And by their bodies, there is always a puppet.

Correct?

Those puppets may have trapped the souls of Duong,

little Huong and Miss Can.

You...

Phong!

Do you remember the woman in red

that I saw during our wedding?

Just now, I saw her reaping the puppets' souls

with my own eyes.

I swear that my words are true.

I wasn't at all dreaming.

Are you well or not, Phong?

What is "reaping souls"?

I'm sure someone is practicing dark magic here in this village.

It's possible that the puppets besides the bodies

- are a part of them. - Enough, Phong!

If you feel that staying here is becoming too dangerous,

then we can always leave here.

Don't you get the situation here?

How in the world can we leave?

Why are you refusing to solve this with me

and are so set on running away?

Or am I not the person you would want to leave with?

Listen closely, dear.

I will leave this place.

If you and your father can do it,

then so can I.

So orders the chief...

Unless in cases of emergency,

women and the elderly

must remain indoors.

Phong!

Where are you going?

Return at once.

It has been ordered that no one can be outside.

I'm looking for your father.

Listen to the singing cicada,

the poem of Hellbound.

Eggplants turn round.

Bamboos flower.

Endless wonder.

Risky to tread.

Hold on, Kham.

What is Madam Tam singing?

A poem we used to recite together when we were young.

We used to recite it?

How come I have no memory of it?

I think there's something in the poem.

If you're wicked,

puppets draw near.

Drown and die here.

Rest still on stones.

Too fast you've gone.

Trees hide your bones.

Dangle at home,

dry like an ore.

Maiden's fresh red

to serve things dread.

Madam Tam!

Madam Tam!

She fainted from exhaustion.

Just let her rest and she'll come to.

As for the poem,

it's been sung

since your father and I were kids.

Every child in Hellbound Village

knows it by heart.

Sir Chan and Kham, listen.

Puppeteer Duong was missing his hands.

Little Huong,

a known fast runner, was missing her legs.

Miss Can now has no liver.

That's three lives, gone.

And next to their bodies

was a puppet with similar wounds.

If we listen to the poem,

it means two more shall die.

Thoughts nevermore.

For head is off.

The wicked scoffs.

Lost be your heart.

The killer still needs a head and a heart,

then they'll have a complete body.

Maiden's fresh red

to serve things dread.

Minh is "the maiden".

Minh might still be alive.

True.

The killer has abducted Minh to use her blood.

So before all the five are murdered,

the killer will keep Minh alive.

What this means

is that someone is practicing dark magic.

Sooner or later,

another villager will fall.

Phong!

Rush home and tell your father

to gather everyone together

and allow no one to roam around on their own.

Mr. Dan!

- Why are you out in the sun? - Who's there?

- Which one? - Mr. Dan...

Why are you here?

It's dangerous to have a knife, sir. Please hand it over.

Daughter.

Where are you going, dear?

Come dine with me.

Dine with your father, dine with your father.

Dine... dine with your father!

- Eat up, it's good! - Mr. Dan! Mr. Dan!

Calm yourself, sir, and listen to me!

Your daughter is dead.

This woman is not your own blood.

This is Phong.

You lie!

Where's my girl?

Daughter! Daughter!

Where has she gone?

Child, don't leave me!

Daughter!

- Village Chief. - Father!

Phong and I would like to share something vital with you.

How fortunate I am

to see Kham willing to assist me,

with my daughter by his side too.

Father, Sang...

- he is... - Go home!

I have ordered all villagers

to close their doors and stay inside.

How dare you be out

and be following another man!

Dear husband...

if our child has done this deed,

- there must be a good reason. - Shut your mouth!

You're not her birth mother. How the hell would you know?

Father!

A killer is performing dark arts within our village.

We must let everyone know, so it can be stopped.

Otherwise, more people will die,

exactly the way the children's poem g...

Quiet, quiet, quiet!

Do you trust me now, sir?

Your daughter goes on and on about a villager practicing dark magic.

It's all a pretext to hang around Kham.

Correct?

What dark magic?

What children's poem?

More villagers died here back then.

Are these stories

meant to make me a laughingstock?

Are you placing your pride above others' lives?

Insolence!

My child!

Husband... my dear!

Don't be sad.

The way your father is

has always been clear.

And so...

we should avoid getting into their affairs, child.

I will take care of things myself.

If he won't act, then I will.

Did you do all this, Phong?

Trieu Thi Phong...

Trieu Thi Phong...

Father!

I found the medicine you need.

No, no, no...

No...

No, no, no...

No, no, no!

- Where's the chief? - Sir Khoi!

- Come quick, Sir Khoi! - Come here, Chief!

Come here, Chief!

There he is!

My father is dead!

I locked those puppets up.

So how are they on my grounds now...

next to my father's corpse?!

Kham...

Kham, calm yourself.

Don't!

What did you promise us?

What did you promise the entire village?

Oh, oh...

Husband! Dear!

- You... - Or are you the dark art practitioner?

Killing people based on the poem?

Sir Khoi!

Do you remember your promise to us?

That if anything else happened to us villagers,

that you would all pay with your lives?

- Pay up! - Pay up!

- With your lives! - Pay up!

With your lives!

- Pay up! Pay up! - Pay up!

- With your lives! - How is it

that only his household can leave this place?

Since we're all barred from leaving,

how the hell could we know about the demons he's befriended?

Everyone!

There are still unanswered questions, so please wait and listen to me.

Even now, you still refuse to confess, Phong?

Take another look at your wounds.

You forget how you got them?

What? What did she do?

Last night, you went wild and knocked me out.

When I came to, these things were in the house.

Each item is evidence against you, Phong.

The killings are her family's plan.

That's right, it's her family.

Steal a life, pay a life!

Steal a life, pay a life!

Steal a life, pay a life!

Your household must pay!

Murderers!

Damn your family!

Steal a life, pay a life!

Steal a life, pay a life!

- Steal a life, pay a life! - Murderers!

Return my daughters!

Return them both!

Madam Tam!

What did my Huong do to be killed by you?

Devils, all of you! Go to hell!

- Wicked bunch! - Return my child to me.

Evildoers!

You've been so wicked, Phong.

I can never save you again.

Round up these killers.

Oh, Kham!

Let me have a peek.

Kill it!

- Monsters! - You scoundrel!

- Die! - Go die!

Burn her!

Mr. Dan, where is my father?

I'm here, here to save my daughter.

Hang on, hang on...

Crazy Dan! I've had enough of you.

I'll get rid of you both in one shot.

Lay your hands on my girl

and I'll bite the fuck out of you.

Do you dare?

Go, Phong!

- Go! - Just run!

Phong!

This is the formal dress we wore to mark our union.

But today,

I'm wearing mine to banish your house to hell.

Revenge for the village!

- Revenge! - Revenge!

- Get Phong out here now! - Revenge!

- Revenge... - Everyone!

None of this is my family's doing.

Phong!

Your father's here!

- Phong! - Oh, child!

Kham!

She has fooled you and killed your father.

But you remain stupid,

stupid enough to still protect her.

The wicked scoffs.

Lost be your heart.

Maiden's fresh red

to serve things dread.

Brew up some wine

to command the guards,

to live again.

When did you first decide to do this, Sang?

Everyone, think.

If I'm really the murderer,

would I be careless enough to leave evidence around my place

for others to be able to charge me so easily?

- That's right! - True!

- True, true! - That's right!

Everything is this scum's doing.

What are you saying, Phong?

Can you hear your words right now?

Do you have any proof?

Or will you once again use the poem to call me wicked?

Huh?

My mother used her last words

to talk about the Skull Wine.

Keep this book

then give it

to Phong.

Oh, Phong!

I used to be a priestess.

That year, our bandit ancestors

murdered a clan.

All were killed except an expecting woman.

I've always had a feeling that

she would return to take revenge.

When I arrived at Hellbound,

I blessed the gate so no lost soul could enter.

But your hard karma may cause the safeguards to dissolve.

How many lives you took,

that much cost you'll pay.

I will curse your seeds and heirs.

One will let me enter the village.

One will help me kill.

And one will forget about my past.

The darkest art of my whole clan

will ensure you stay empty, stay barren.

She will need the souls of five people,

and to obscure the ferry woman,

she will trap the soul inside an object

then wait for the right time to show up and reap it.

You must take care.

For once she has arrived, she will find only you

and possess you so you will kill with no awareness of it.

My son and I shall meet again,

in flesh and soul.

And the final killing would be to retrieve

the heart of a wicked soul.

Killing my family will be useless.

For the heart that is wicked

is the one inside you.

You think I believe this book?

Huh?

You think I'm still a child?

Huh?

Where is your fern bracelet?

Please spare me my life!

You killed my father.

You animal! You killed my father!

Kham.

It was him!

- Monster. - Murderer.

- Demon! - Scoundrel!

Return my daughters!

Mother!

Oh, mother!

Sir Chan! Sir Chan...

please save my mother!

Let go!

What is there to save?

You all will die soon.

Why ask for my help?

Do you want me to be cursed too?

Crimson sweat!

On this day,

I will kill all you dogs,

I will take your heads,

I will have your livers,

I will gouge out your eyes...

all for my mother.

The Skull Wine

will bring me to you, child.

Five souls total

for one hallowed wine.

You take the flesh,

I reap the soul.

You must marry someone with hard karma,

so that they will locate the body parts for you.

The soul reaper...

...will assist the brewer.

At this point then, does anyone still wonder

who has been killing based on a children's poem?

- It's me! - You monster!

Give me back my daughters!

Do you know who the Skull Wine brewer here is?

It's me!

I wish I knew where the five parts were,

so I didn't need to use you.

All you are is a meek woman,

unable to do something so basic as kill.

Sang, please help me!

The hand of a skilled soul.

The feet of a fast soul.

Phong, run!

The liver of a brave soul.

The head of a smart soul.

Lady Thap!

Without my help, how will you get those five souls, am I right?

You need me!

The Skull Wine is mine!

All mine!

Sang!

Heavens, Sang has become demonic.

- Animal! - Everyone, run!

He is planning to kill us all.

- Run! - Run away!

- Run! - Shut your mouth, old man.

You all really think your lives are worth living?

One is a thief. One is an adulterer.

One is a liar.

But you are a murderer.

Let my daughter go!

Murderer where?

Who is the murderer?

Who? Who is it?

Who is it? Who is the murderer?

Murderer! Murderer!

Daughter!

Where are you going, dear?

Lay your hands on my girl and I'll bite the fuck out of you!

Your daughter is dead!

You lie!

Where's my girl?

Where has she gone?

Child, don't leave me!

Father!

Phong!

Run now, Phong!

Phong! Run! Get away!

Phong! I know you are here.

Minh!

Sister Phong!

Run!

Run away, Minh!

Die! Die!

Minh!

Run now!

Your mother's here!

Sang!

Quiet down, bitch!

Did you forget that I can see the unseen?

Your mother is looking at you!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Where is she?

Where is she?

What Lady Thap needs

is your wicked heart and your rotten soul.

Since the start, Lady Thap has blinded you.

The Skull Wine only asks for five body parts,

but she desires more.

She also needs five souls to be able to return in the flesh.

You are just a puppet to Lady Thap, dear Sang!

So it turns out that when you said

that you saw the soul reaper,

you weren't lying.

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Trieu Thi Phong.

Why now...

are you here all on your own?

My father won't let me go down.

I've asked and asked again.

I bet it's fun down the mountain.

How about...

you take me into the village?

I promise

I'll lead your family down.

What is your name?

It is Lady Thap.

We will

soon meet each other.

This soul here is mine.

All you evildoers

will never be ferried to the hereafter.

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

Don't ever think that only you can reap souls.

Don't forget that you yourself are a soul, Lady Thap!

I shall die with you.

I resent you all!

I resent you all!

I resent you all!

Come and take my life.

All I am is just a murderer.

Phong!

Phong!

Oh, Kham, something's wrong with Sang!

Sang! Sang! Please wake up, Sang!

Sang!

You were that worried that I had died, Phong?

What if I died for real? Would you be sad?

You promised me you would marry me,

at night, wearing rat masks.

How can you die before then?

If in the future we are to face hardship,

we will face it together, yes?

At times, I have asked

if death was the only way for someone to leave Hellbound.

Oh, soul! Climb aboard!

The villagers once said that

if there were any more deaths,

Phong's family would have to pay with their lives.

But now, we ask for no more death around us.

Phong must live to be punished by the villagers,

even when she didn't mean to commit the crime.

Some villagers have also left,

for Lady Thap has disappeared,

and the protective charm has waned.

Only we have chosen to stay.

I will marry Minh

and create our future here.

In the end, life goes on.