Thai Horror Recommendations
Outside of Shutter, I’ve seen and enjoyed a number of Thai horror movies. Here are some that I would recommend to others. Your comments and thoughts are welcome.
Phobia 2 (aka 4Bia 2) (2009) – This is an impressive anthology of horror films. In “Novice” (30 minutes), a juvenile is sent to a monestary by his mother, but offends the local spirits. This has some nice karmic undertones, pretty forest environments, and a satisfying, unique ending. In “Ward” (15 minutes), a guy stays overnight in a hospital room with another mysterious man. This is hampered by way too many annoying jump scares and a predictable ending. “Backpackers” (25 minutes) is a very good British-style zombie flick that is far better than most Asian theatrical films of this kind. In “Salvage” (20 minutes), a used car saleswoman desperately looks for her missing child within the dealership’s parking lot. This is a non-stop thrill ride with well-crafted suspense, a creative scenario, and a fantastic ending. “In the End” (25 minutes) is a hilarious horror/comedy about the ghostly phenomena that occurs on the set of a horror film. This is easily the most impressive horror/comedy from Thailand due to its clever scriptwriting and witty dialogue. When all is said and done, this anthology is one of the best to ever come out of East Asia.
Alone (2007) – A woman is tormented by the spirit of her dead siamese twin. The storylines are interesting; the acting and soundtrack are strong. Character development is also well done; this is especially important as it slowly and efficiently escalates the conflicts. There are some jump scares, but these are easily overpowered by a number of well-executed horror scenes. The ending is one of the most exciting finales of any horror film in recent memory.
Sick Nurses (2007) – I’m in the minority on liking this one. After killing one of their own, a group of organ-stealing nurses pay the consequences. This is quite possibly the most entertaining Thai horror film ever made. The characters are hyperbolized to the point where they are intrinsically interesting to watch (not to mention the fact that all of them are gorgeous Thai girls in scantily clad nurse uniforms) and they also add an element of black humor. Even the ghost herself shatters genre cliches with her obvious sadism and enjoyment in reaping vengeance. The main attractions, however, are the cool death scenes that arrive during the latter half. These are highly imaginative with impressive quantities of blood and so much fun to watch. There are one or two scenes with poor CGI, but this is an extremely inventive horror film with frenetic pacing and excellent camerawork and lighting.
13: Game of Death (2006) – A down-and-out businessman with huge debts gets a mysterious phone call to play a game for a huge sum of money. This premise has been done before, but in this case the challenges are numerous and diverse. There is a constant aura of black humor throughout, at times caused by the simplicity of a particular challenge; in other cases the viewer will cringe at a disgusting or macabre scenario. There are some laugh-out-loud moments early on, but the level of seriousness (and violence) does pick up as the film progresses. The clothesline scene during the latter half is excellent; that sequence alone is worth the price of admission. With non-stop pacing, this is one to watch.
Memory (2008) – This is a high-quality, classy dramatic horror film that ranks within the upper eschalon from Thailand. The acting and camerawork are top notch, the pacing is slow but steady, and the horror elements (making use of both creeps and shocks) are restrained to fuel the conflicts rather than simply existing for their own right. Although the storyline is a familiar one (about a psychiatrist who treats a little girl with a mysterious past), it maintains interest due to strong character interaction. The conclusion is well conceived and a logical extension of preceding events.
Phobia (aka 4Bia) (2008) – This is an anthology of 4 short supernatural horror films (approximately 25 minutes each). “Loneliness” is a cool segment about a girl who befriends a mysterious man via text messaging. Despite using some genre formulas, the execution is very impressive (especially the camerawork, scoring, and acting). “Deadly Charm” is a solid entry into the witchcraft slasher sub-genre, with some stunning visuals and death scenes. There is some misplaced CGI near the end, but this is fun stuff. “The Middle Man” is a horror/comedy about a group of friends who take a camping trip into a desolate woodland area. The humor works well as the story tosses in references to other horror films. “Last Fright” is about an airplane flight gone bad. Nothing new here, but it’s good. Overall, this is a very impressive, entertaining anthology.
Art of the Devil 2 & 3 (2005, 2008) – Be sure to skip the first entry, which is mediocre. These films are witchcraft slasher flicks that provide some real nasty, graphic death scenes that should please viewers who like that sort of thing. Both films are flawed to a certain extent in terms of character development, but they are briskly paced and feel different from typical slasher/torture flicks due to the witchcraft angle.
The House (2007) – While investigating a series of murders, a reporter visits an abandoned house for answers behind the killers’ motives. Both the synopsis and title are generic, but this is amongst the higher quality ghost films. There are a few genre cliches (the ghost girl makes a few appearances), but they are employed with some panache and exist as part of a fairly diverse set of scares which include 10-foot tall, lanky, shadowy ghost men. The finale is intentionally projected early on, but this movie makes no qualms about making a bee line towards an inevitable conclusion at 100 mph while tossing in a boatload of horror elements along the way for maximum pacing. Oh, and the lead actress is very good.
The Victim (2006) – An aspiring young actress gets hired by the cops to reinact the deaths of murder victims in an effort to catch their perpetrators, while spirits haunt the premises. The lead should be commended for creating one of the more likeable protagonists in recent horror film memory. Pacing is phenomenal, with horror-based sequences occurring frequently. There are some stand-out moments in this movie (e.g., the bathtub/hallway scene, the wall shadows, etc.), many of which have doses of welcomed originality. The most noteable contribution though are the various acts of deception on the part of the scriptwriters that keep the viewer off balance. This is a very strong and compelling entry to the genre.
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