Horror comedies such as Pee Mak Phrakanong could be hot exports for Thailand's rapidly improving film industry
The flood of Chinese domestic blockbusters since the turn of the year is the strongest hint yet that the country is capable of being a Hollywood for Asia, and setting the cinema agenda for the region. But it's not the sole player around. At the end of March Thai audiences flocked to see horror comedy Pee Mak Phrakanong – based on the Mae Nak folktale about a man who returns from war and unwittingly settles back in with the ghost of his wife, who has died in childbirth. It had the second biggest opening (21.2m baht/£478,000) ever for a Thai film, and with over 300m baht to date, it is closing on the all-time box-office record (550m baht) held by 2001's war epic The Legend of Suriyothai.
Thai audiences seem to love their history:...
The flood of Chinese domestic blockbusters since the turn of the year is the strongest hint yet that the country is capable of being a Hollywood for Asia, and setting the cinema agenda for the region. But it's not the sole player around. At the end of March Thai audiences flocked to see horror comedy Pee Mak Phrakanong – based on the Mae Nak folktale about a man who returns from war and unwittingly settles back in with the ghost of his wife, who has died in childbirth. It had the second biggest opening (21.2m baht/£478,000) ever for a Thai film, and with over 300m baht to date, it is closing on the all-time box-office record (550m baht) held by 2001's war epic The Legend of Suriyothai.
Thai audiences seem to love their history:...
- 4/16/2013
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
The recent popularity of Thai horror continues with “Ladda Land”, directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit, who also helmed the entertaining genre flick “Coming Soon”, as well as scripting Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom’s superb “Shutter” and “Alone”, and working on the hit “4bia” anthologies. Drawing upon an urban legend, the film relocates from the usual Bangkok setting to Chiang Mai, revolving around supernatural occurrences in a new upmarket housing estate and attempting to balance its ghosts with financial and domestic terrors. The film follows Saharat Sangkapreecha (“The Legend of Suriyothai”) as Thee, a marketing manager who leaves Bangkok to take a higher paying job in a new Chiang Mai area called Ladda Land, bringing with him his wife Parn (Piyathida Woramuksik, “The Sisters”), angsty 14 year old daughter Nan (Suthatta Udomsilp) and young son Nat (Apinya Sakuljaroensuk). Despite ongoing pressure from his nagging mother in law, Thee is determined to make...
- 12/21/2011
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
To say that director Chatrichalerm Yukol thinks big would be a gross understatement. A bona fide Thai prince, Yukol makes films on an epic scale. His Suriyothai was a lavish spectacle that caught the attention of Francis Ford Coppola and he has since been working on a series of four films dedicated to a key figure from Thai history: King Naresuan.Yukol's cycle of four Naresuan films are by far the largest cinematic undertaking in Thai history with seemingly no expense spared to get the story right. This is old school cast-of-thousands stuff in a lavish period setting, all of it in service to the story of the man who freed Siam - which would later become Thailand - from Burmese control.The fourth and final...
- 7/18/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Thai gore cinema has been really coming on of late, arguably achieving same giddy heights as the Hong Kong industry during height of the category III boom in the early 1990s thanks to films such as the “Art of the Devil” series and others. And so, appropriately enough the genre now gets its first proper “Untold Story” style noodle shop cannibalism film in the succulent form of “Meat Grinder” from “The Fatality” director Tiwa Moeithaisong. Far from being a low budget shlockfest, the film boasts fine production values and a cast of proper actors, including actress Mai Charouenpura from “The Legend of Suriyothai” in the psychotic lead role. Charouenpura stars as Buss, a woman in 1970s Thailand who has led a particularly harsh life and is somewhat disturbed as a result, hearing voices in her head and being tormented by visions. Having been taught some pretty dubious and unconventional food...
- 4/17/2010
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
Some suitably atmopheric posters are just in for Pakpoom Wongchinda’s soon to be released horror Who Are You. But it’s the news that the script has been written by Ekasit Thairat (who penned “13 Game of Death,” one of the best, visceral horror thrillers to come out of Thailand in the last few years) that’s now really upped our expectations on the production. On the cast front, Thai veteran actress Sinjai Plengpanich who’s appeared in everything from the sweeping epic “The Legend of Suriyothai” to “Air America?!” leads, along with relative newcomer Pongpitch Preechaborisuthkul. A trailer is due soon. Meanwhile, here’s a summary of the intriguing plotline…Synopsis: Nida, a Porn DVD vendor is the mother of Ton a boy with a severe psychological disorder called Hikkikomori (Acute Social Withdrawal). He has locked himself in his room for the past 5 years, not going anywhere or meeting anyone.
- 1/18/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
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