I watched this movie yesterday along with some new friends in Singapore,and this is the first Thai movie I have watched.I had watched the trailer of Pee Mak and thought I should watch it and boy,I was in for a treat as it turned out to be an amazing movie.What I liked the most about the movie is the perfect combination of horror and comedy.Its not like "scary movies" where the ghost is also funny and all.There is time where you are terrified with the horrific events but then the movie takes you to the opposite end of those emotions by putting some genuine comedy around it.I repeat,I quite liked how perfect the combination is.The stupidity of the boy characters and how well those characters are played out bring a lot of laughter (with tears in my case) is brilliant.And there is drama, some tiny plots that goes quite well with the story,and human emotions of love which does not want to let go of love even after death.This movie is highly recommended if you like to laugh a lot, and missing it just because you are not a fan of horror movies or Thai movies in common, would be a big miss.
34 Reviews
Enjoyable Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy-Horror!
3xHCCH28 August 2013
I think the only other Thai movie I have seen before was the thrilling and haunting horror film "Shutter" (2004). After I watched "Pee Mak," I discovered that these two films were actually directed by the same man, Banjong Pisanthanakun. "Shutter" was his directorial debut, "Pee Mak" is his latest and biggest hit.
Mak came home from the battlefield with his four soldier friends, namely Puak (with the winged victory hairstyle), Ter (with the glasses), Shin (with the bun) and Aey (with the mustache). They were met by his beautiful wife Nak with their newborn baby boy. However, it did not take long for his four friends to notice something strange about Nak. This leads to a merry comedy of errors and terrors, Thai style.
Being in a foreign language and in set in the past, I am sure a lot of the nuances are lost in translation. However visual horror and slapstick comedy is universal. While "Pee Mak" is also a horror film, the more commercial and memorable aspect of this film is actually more of its comedy. The horror takes a back seat to the comedy here.
You just simple have to watch those hilarious sequences of the silly gang at the dinner table, playing charades, in the haunted house of the amusement park, the boat on the river and in the Buddhist temple with the monk! These scenes were laugh-out-loud funny beyond words!
A deglamorized Thai/German actor/model Mario Maurer(as Mak)and the four actors playing his friends indeed have great comic chemistry and timing together. They were such a delight playing cartoonish nincompoops and stupid idiots as they were terrorized by the ghostly presence around them.
Thai/Belgian actress/model Daveeka Hoorne also has her dramatic moments as Nak, as her character was mainly the straight man of this farce. I am sure she had a difficult time keeping a straight face in front of all that livid foolishness around her.
I am sure Filipino film fans will have a good time watching "Pee Mak". The inane comedy/horror genre is also very popular here. I am sure we can even think up of specific local comedians who can play these crazy roles. What "Pee Mak" adds is the Thai cultural setting that gives it that unique exotic and mystic feel that should not be missed. 7/10.
Mak came home from the battlefield with his four soldier friends, namely Puak (with the winged victory hairstyle), Ter (with the glasses), Shin (with the bun) and Aey (with the mustache). They were met by his beautiful wife Nak with their newborn baby boy. However, it did not take long for his four friends to notice something strange about Nak. This leads to a merry comedy of errors and terrors, Thai style.
Being in a foreign language and in set in the past, I am sure a lot of the nuances are lost in translation. However visual horror and slapstick comedy is universal. While "Pee Mak" is also a horror film, the more commercial and memorable aspect of this film is actually more of its comedy. The horror takes a back seat to the comedy here.
You just simple have to watch those hilarious sequences of the silly gang at the dinner table, playing charades, in the haunted house of the amusement park, the boat on the river and in the Buddhist temple with the monk! These scenes were laugh-out-loud funny beyond words!
A deglamorized Thai/German actor/model Mario Maurer(as Mak)and the four actors playing his friends indeed have great comic chemistry and timing together. They were such a delight playing cartoonish nincompoops and stupid idiots as they were terrorized by the ghostly presence around them.
Thai/Belgian actress/model Daveeka Hoorne also has her dramatic moments as Nak, as her character was mainly the straight man of this farce. I am sure she had a difficult time keeping a straight face in front of all that livid foolishness around her.
I am sure Filipino film fans will have a good time watching "Pee Mak". The inane comedy/horror genre is also very popular here. I am sure we can even think up of specific local comedians who can play these crazy roles. What "Pee Mak" adds is the Thai cultural setting that gives it that unique exotic and mystic feel that should not be missed. 7/10.
Deliberately anachronistic and hilariously irreverent, this tongue-in-cheek retelling of the classic folk story is comedy-horror at its best
moviexclusive3 June 2013
You've probably heard of or seen one of the many adaptations of the classic Thai ghost story "Mae Nak Phra Khanong" about a soldier who returns home from war to his wife and baby not knowing that both are in fact already dead. What then makes this version by co-writer/ director Banjong Pisunthanakun so special for it to become no less than the highest grossing movie ever in Thai cinema history?
Well for starters, it isn't a horror movie in the traditional sense of the genre. Whereas Nonzee Nimibutr's 1999 film "Nang Nak" stuck to the roots of the story, Pisunthanakun approaches the familiar folk tale with the same tongue-in-cheek attitude as his shorts in "4Bia" and "Phobia 2". Yes, it's a comedy-horror more than a straight-out horror, and the fact that we have labelled it a comedy first and a horror second should give you an idea which the film is more of.
Indeed, Pisunthanakun lets you know right from the start that he intends to entertain you, more than scare you. After a brief glance of the pregnant Nak (played by Thai-Belgian actress Davika Hoorne) doubling over in pain as blood trickles down her legs, the scene switches quickly to the inside of a tentage where a soldier is giving an impassioned speech to lament about the cost of war – except that he seems to be speaking in Shakespearean English in an attempt to add gravitas.
Just as quickly, his buddy Puak (Pongsatorn Jongwilak), whose hair is styled like a pair of wings above his head, chastises him for speaking in an accentuated manner. As the camera pans around to reveal the rest of the people in the room, you know better than to take the entire scene seriously. Besides Puak, there is Ter (Nattapong Chartpong), Aye (Kantapat Permpoonpatcharasuk), and Shin (Wiwat Kongrasri), all of whom form the quartet who brought the laughs in Pisunthanakun's earlier "4Bia" and "Phobia 2" shorts.
And then there is Pee Mak (Mario Mauer), who is brought into the room screaming in pain but who has really merely sprained his ankle. One deliberately overdramatic battle scene later, Pee Mak and his buddies are headed back to the former's home village of Phra Khanong for him to be reunited with his family. There, entranced by Nak's beauty, Puak convinces the rest of them to accept Pee Mak's hospitality and stay in the empty house across the river from theirs.
Shin is the first to suspect something is amiss when the entire village avoids Pee Mak like the plague when he goes to the market the next morning. Only the lady owner of the liquor store gives some hint why – Nak has been dead for some time and her spirit has been haunting the village since. Though the rest of his buddies dismiss his suspicions initially, Ter begins to realise that there might be some truth to Shin's accusations when he chances upon a body buried in the forest with Nak's wedding ring around its finger while taking a dump.
Pisunthanakun and his fellow screenwriters, Chantavit Dhanasevi and Nontra Kumwong, have great fun in the first half of the movie with Shin and Ter's attempts to convince Aye and Puak of Nak's ghostly nature and then with their combined efforts to let Pee Mak see the truth. In particular, their game of charades as well as their subsequent decision to kidnap Pee Mak when he and Nak are inside a "haunted house" at the village fair is utterly hilarious, qualifying as two of the most inspired comedic sequences we've seen this year.
Just as deftly, the second half of the movie further plays with audience expectations of just how dead or alive the rest of the characters are – we all know Nak is probably a ghost, but what about Pee Mak or for that matter the rest of his friends? Equally memorable as the two aforementioned scenes is that of the six of them on a long-tail boat in the middle of the river, the urgency of keeping the boat afloat due to excess weight and determining just who among them is or are ghosts combining for a hysterical but also a hysterically funny time.
Though purists might object to the creative liberties that Pisunthanakun has taken with the tale, he returns to its touching core during the climax set inside a Buddhist temple. Yes, if it isn't yet apparent, the tale of Mae Nak is also meant to be a moving fable about undying love, and Pisunthanakun goes for a melodramatic but still heartfelt conclusion that reiterates the message at the heart of every retelling. Oh but of course, he does reject its tragic overtones, ending off with a postscript that is guaranteed to leave you with a big smile.
Such a revisionist take requires that his cast be absolutely clear about what each scene is meant to accomplish, no small feat considering how Pisunthanakun alternates from comedy to horror to romance within the very same scene. Thankfully, he has four actors with such great timing that you won't sense any jarring change in tone; instead, you'll probably be so enraptured by their seemingly effortless chemistry. Yes, Mauer and Hoorne might play the titular characters, but it is these four goofballs that make the proceedings such an unbridled delight.
There's little wonder, when watching 'Pee Mak', why the movie has surpassed even the most modest of expectations to become the top- grossing hit in its home country. Rather than yet another straight-up telling of the tale, this is a surprisingly lively and inspired interpretation that makes no apologies for being deliberately anachronistic and downright irreverent, with pop-culture references from David Blaine to Ang Lee to Spiderman and even 300. Like we said, this is not your run-of-the-mill Thai horror, but a laugh-out-loud crowdpleaser that is surely one of the most entertaining Thai movies we've seen in a long time.
Well for starters, it isn't a horror movie in the traditional sense of the genre. Whereas Nonzee Nimibutr's 1999 film "Nang Nak" stuck to the roots of the story, Pisunthanakun approaches the familiar folk tale with the same tongue-in-cheek attitude as his shorts in "4Bia" and "Phobia 2". Yes, it's a comedy-horror more than a straight-out horror, and the fact that we have labelled it a comedy first and a horror second should give you an idea which the film is more of.
Indeed, Pisunthanakun lets you know right from the start that he intends to entertain you, more than scare you. After a brief glance of the pregnant Nak (played by Thai-Belgian actress Davika Hoorne) doubling over in pain as blood trickles down her legs, the scene switches quickly to the inside of a tentage where a soldier is giving an impassioned speech to lament about the cost of war – except that he seems to be speaking in Shakespearean English in an attempt to add gravitas.
Just as quickly, his buddy Puak (Pongsatorn Jongwilak), whose hair is styled like a pair of wings above his head, chastises him for speaking in an accentuated manner. As the camera pans around to reveal the rest of the people in the room, you know better than to take the entire scene seriously. Besides Puak, there is Ter (Nattapong Chartpong), Aye (Kantapat Permpoonpatcharasuk), and Shin (Wiwat Kongrasri), all of whom form the quartet who brought the laughs in Pisunthanakun's earlier "4Bia" and "Phobia 2" shorts.
And then there is Pee Mak (Mario Mauer), who is brought into the room screaming in pain but who has really merely sprained his ankle. One deliberately overdramatic battle scene later, Pee Mak and his buddies are headed back to the former's home village of Phra Khanong for him to be reunited with his family. There, entranced by Nak's beauty, Puak convinces the rest of them to accept Pee Mak's hospitality and stay in the empty house across the river from theirs.
Shin is the first to suspect something is amiss when the entire village avoids Pee Mak like the plague when he goes to the market the next morning. Only the lady owner of the liquor store gives some hint why – Nak has been dead for some time and her spirit has been haunting the village since. Though the rest of his buddies dismiss his suspicions initially, Ter begins to realise that there might be some truth to Shin's accusations when he chances upon a body buried in the forest with Nak's wedding ring around its finger while taking a dump.
Pisunthanakun and his fellow screenwriters, Chantavit Dhanasevi and Nontra Kumwong, have great fun in the first half of the movie with Shin and Ter's attempts to convince Aye and Puak of Nak's ghostly nature and then with their combined efforts to let Pee Mak see the truth. In particular, their game of charades as well as their subsequent decision to kidnap Pee Mak when he and Nak are inside a "haunted house" at the village fair is utterly hilarious, qualifying as two of the most inspired comedic sequences we've seen this year.
Just as deftly, the second half of the movie further plays with audience expectations of just how dead or alive the rest of the characters are – we all know Nak is probably a ghost, but what about Pee Mak or for that matter the rest of his friends? Equally memorable as the two aforementioned scenes is that of the six of them on a long-tail boat in the middle of the river, the urgency of keeping the boat afloat due to excess weight and determining just who among them is or are ghosts combining for a hysterical but also a hysterically funny time.
Though purists might object to the creative liberties that Pisunthanakun has taken with the tale, he returns to its touching core during the climax set inside a Buddhist temple. Yes, if it isn't yet apparent, the tale of Mae Nak is also meant to be a moving fable about undying love, and Pisunthanakun goes for a melodramatic but still heartfelt conclusion that reiterates the message at the heart of every retelling. Oh but of course, he does reject its tragic overtones, ending off with a postscript that is guaranteed to leave you with a big smile.
Such a revisionist take requires that his cast be absolutely clear about what each scene is meant to accomplish, no small feat considering how Pisunthanakun alternates from comedy to horror to romance within the very same scene. Thankfully, he has four actors with such great timing that you won't sense any jarring change in tone; instead, you'll probably be so enraptured by their seemingly effortless chemistry. Yes, Mauer and Hoorne might play the titular characters, but it is these four goofballs that make the proceedings such an unbridled delight.
There's little wonder, when watching 'Pee Mak', why the movie has surpassed even the most modest of expectations to become the top- grossing hit in its home country. Rather than yet another straight-up telling of the tale, this is a surprisingly lively and inspired interpretation that makes no apologies for being deliberately anachronistic and downright irreverent, with pop-culture references from David Blaine to Ang Lee to Spiderman and even 300. Like we said, this is not your run-of-the-mill Thai horror, but a laugh-out-loud crowdpleaser that is surely one of the most entertaining Thai movies we've seen in a long time.
- www.moviexclusive.com
Highly Entertaining - worth the price of 3 tickets.
moviesbest11 June 2013
This is another movie that you will best enjoy if you know less of it. The more you know of the details and events in the movie, the less you will enjoy. So don't read reviews of those who gave the full story away. The comedy appears too rowdy or overdone to me, but most audience will like it. The horror part is well done too but I find the romance part the best, very touching. So it's like watching 3 nice movies of different genre for the price of one. I enjoyed those twists as the film goes along. Very intelligently done. The male lead, probably the best-looking actor today put away his good look and proved that he can act well. Don't miss the end credit parts where they show in a small screen. There are many scenes there that continues after the movie end. They may use it as a sequel since the movie was so successful in Thailand and most neighbouring countries. Don't miss it. I give it 9 because I watch the movie without knowing much.
A new vision of Thai ghost stories...
paul_haakonsen24 August 2013
"Pee Mak Phrakanong" is sort of an interesting Thai ghost movie. It stands out from the usual ghost movies that come from Thai cinema, as this one is a mixture of horror and comedy - sort of a Thai ghost version of "Ghost of Mae Nak" meets "Shaun of the Dead". And the end result is actually quite enjoyable, fun and exciting.
The story in "Pee Mak Phrakanong" is about Mak (played by Mario Maurer) who returns home to Phrakanong after having served in the war. Here at his how awaits his wife Nak (played by Davika Hoorne) and their child. Mak have invited his war buddies along home with him. However, something is wrong in Phrakanong, and the villagers are avoiding Mak at all costs, claiming that his wife is dead. But how can Nak be dead when she is right there in their home, cooking his meals and looking after their child?
Storywise, then "Pee Mak Phrakanong" manages to blend the horror and comedy genre quite well, and the movie has lots of funny moments and also manages to build up some suspense - suspense that usually climaxes into something hilarious and will have you laughing instead of being scared.
And the story actually had a good love-story woven into its fabric as well. However, if you have watched "Ghost of Mae Nak" from 2005, then you should essentially be familiar with the story told in "Pee Mak Phrakanong".
The acting is good enough in the movie, although you should be prepared for some really scared and whiny characters. But despite this, then the characters were fun and likable.
The movie was great, lots of laughs, thrills and funny moments. However, it got a little bit over-dramatic towards the end. It was as if the balloon deflated once you get the to the temple scene as the movie draws to a closure. The ending could have been better in my opinion.
But all in all, a good new take on the Thai ghost genre, and a much welcomed addiction to the genre mix of horror and comedy. I rate "Pee Mak Phrakanong" 6 out 10 stars.
The story in "Pee Mak Phrakanong" is about Mak (played by Mario Maurer) who returns home to Phrakanong after having served in the war. Here at his how awaits his wife Nak (played by Davika Hoorne) and their child. Mak have invited his war buddies along home with him. However, something is wrong in Phrakanong, and the villagers are avoiding Mak at all costs, claiming that his wife is dead. But how can Nak be dead when she is right there in their home, cooking his meals and looking after their child?
Storywise, then "Pee Mak Phrakanong" manages to blend the horror and comedy genre quite well, and the movie has lots of funny moments and also manages to build up some suspense - suspense that usually climaxes into something hilarious and will have you laughing instead of being scared.
And the story actually had a good love-story woven into its fabric as well. However, if you have watched "Ghost of Mae Nak" from 2005, then you should essentially be familiar with the story told in "Pee Mak Phrakanong".
The acting is good enough in the movie, although you should be prepared for some really scared and whiny characters. But despite this, then the characters were fun and likable.
The movie was great, lots of laughs, thrills and funny moments. However, it got a little bit over-dramatic towards the end. It was as if the balloon deflated once you get the to the temple scene as the movie draws to a closure. The ending could have been better in my opinion.
But all in all, a good new take on the Thai ghost genre, and a much welcomed addiction to the genre mix of horror and comedy. I rate "Pee Mak Phrakanong" 6 out 10 stars.
One of the best film of this year!
phuc23039429 June 2013
Firstly, I'm not good at English so if there is some mistake from my words. Please forgive me. Thank you Secondly, about this film. It is one of the best and worth every second of your money. It is really good at its audience. It isn't much about horror, comedy or romance film. But it does very nice in every platform. You will be surprised at the quality of the film. From beginning to the end, you will not get out of the screen because it leads you very fluently, very attractive. You can not know what would happen to every characters. The content of this movie is very meaningful. It will tell you about the friendship, about family and love. Trust me, this movie is so nice and one of the best film so far. A very solid one. Thirdly, about the actors and actress. Yep, they nearly perfect at their roles in the film. They known their characters so well, and they act with their souls. Overall, this one is a solid one. The one that makes me forget about time, about the complaints while watching this film. It is romantic - horror - comedy that you SHOULD watch it in this summer.
An original horror comedy!
Film_Fan_Raja26 June 2020
I saw this yesterday with kids in Netflix. Family friendly Thai movie. The genre is horror-comedy but it had more comedy than horror really.
Most of the ideas looks like we have copied in Tamil movies (specifically there is a scene completely copied in Darling movie- ghost gopal varma). It is stretched at places and would have done good to reduce the content.
Overall - it had some really laugh out loud comedy and I should say it used comedy very cleverly. It is a period film but makes current references - right from movies to history.
See if you have time to kill.
Most of the ideas looks like we have copied in Tamil movies (specifically there is a scene completely copied in Darling movie- ghost gopal varma). It is stretched at places and would have done good to reduce the content.
Overall - it had some really laugh out loud comedy and I should say it used comedy very cleverly. It is a period film but makes current references - right from movies to history.
See if you have time to kill.
An excellent mix of Comedy, Romance and Horror.
TomvanWoerkom9 September 2013
Pee mak Phrakanong was a movie that was surprisely good. The Director managed to have a nice mix of Comedy, Romance and Horror. It wasn't too much of anything.
I think you have to get adapted to the Thai humor. It is completely different compared western comedies, but I must admit that I can appreciate the Thai humor more than nowadays.
The movie didn't have way too much romance and the horror part was good. It wasn't the best horror or romance movie you'll probably have watched, but this three genre's are making it into a great movie. One of the better ones for me in 2013.
I think you have to get adapted to the Thai humor. It is completely different compared western comedies, but I must admit that I can appreciate the Thai humor more than nowadays.
The movie didn't have way too much romance and the horror part was good. It wasn't the best horror or romance movie you'll probably have watched, but this three genre's are making it into a great movie. One of the better ones for me in 2013.
One time watch
piyushg90217 February 2020
Good movie,Entertaining,The plot is same like all the previous thai movies based on their famous folklore stories but i liked the way that the crew managed the whole movie in the horror genre as well as comedy genre,It would not disappoint you,Great job by actors specially by lady actress.
Get ready to scream and laugh at the same time!
ctowyi29 June 2013
We were not disappointed. We laughed until our stomachs ached. Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter, Alone, 4bia, Phobia 2) is a freaking genius! This time he used the over-used Nang Nak legend and craft out a comedy-horror fest. Yup, it's comedy first followed by horror.
If you are a fan of the best part of 4bia and Phobia 2, you will find yourself in the familiar company of the four irrelevant dudes. I thought we would be jaded since we are fans of the mentioned anthologies but we were laughing like nuts at all the ingenious situational comedy. There are also quite a number of pop-culture references like Ang Lee, David Blaine, 300, Last Samurai thrown out at us with gusto.
It did get a bit repetitive in the middle act but the final climatic act in the monastery saved it. Pisanthanakun even brought on the indispensable melodrama then and it managed to surprise me with a nice twist on the legend I know quite well. Pisanthanakun could also balance the movie very well - shifting from comedy to horror in a heartbeat. But he had great help from the 4 actors whose comic timing is just impeccable.
If you are a fan of the best part of 4bia and Phobia 2, you will find yourself in the familiar company of the four irrelevant dudes. I thought we would be jaded since we are fans of the mentioned anthologies but we were laughing like nuts at all the ingenious situational comedy. There are also quite a number of pop-culture references like Ang Lee, David Blaine, 300, Last Samurai thrown out at us with gusto.
It did get a bit repetitive in the middle act but the final climatic act in the monastery saved it. Pisanthanakun even brought on the indispensable melodrama then and it managed to surprise me with a nice twist on the legend I know quite well. Pisanthanakun could also balance the movie very well - shifting from comedy to horror in a heartbeat. But he had great help from the 4 actors whose comic timing is just impeccable.
Once the war was over, Mak invited his four best friends to visit his home at a town called Phra Khanong. When they arrived to Phra Khanong
chinji_love_hatsue3 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
During the beginning of the Rattanakosin Dynasty, many Thai men were drafted to serve in the war. "Pee Mak" or "Mak" (Mario Maurer) was no exception and had to leave his pregnant wife to join the fight. While at war, he met, saved, and formed a close bond with four fellow soldiers: "Ter" (Freud-Nattapong Chartpong), "Puak" (Pongsathorn Jongwilas), "Shin" (Auttarut Kongrasri), and "Aey" (Kantapat Permpoonpatcharasook) -- (The 4 main cast from Phobia 2 Episode "In The End")
Once the war was over, Mak invited his four best friends to visit his home at a town called Phra Khanong. When they arrived to Phra Khanong, Mak introduced them to his beautiful wife "Nak" (Davika Hoorne) and "Dang" his newborn baby boy. Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey decided to stay in Phra Khanong for a while and moved into the old house across from Mak's house.
Despite having met Nak and Dang, a village rumor was going around that Nak had died giving birth to her stillborn baby, Dang.
It turns out that Auntie Priak, owner of the local liquor shop, was the source of the town rumor. This was completely absurd to Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey. The four friends refused to believe this to be true and were determined to prove the rumors wrong.
Aunty Priak was found dead a few days later, her body floating along the river. Up until this point Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey had never considered the possibility that Nak and her baby could be dead and now lingered on as haunting ghosts.
Initially, the four friends didn't dare tell Mak about their suspicions because they were afraid that they would end up just like Aunty Priak. It didn't take long before their conscience caught up with them and they realized they owed Mak the truth since he had once saved all of their lives. Now they must risk their own lives to somehow convey to Mak that the living and dead shouldn't coexist together.
In the end, it will be up to Pee Mak to choose between love and reality.
Once the war was over, Mak invited his four best friends to visit his home at a town called Phra Khanong. When they arrived to Phra Khanong, Mak introduced them to his beautiful wife "Nak" (Davika Hoorne) and "Dang" his newborn baby boy. Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey decided to stay in Phra Khanong for a while and moved into the old house across from Mak's house.
Despite having met Nak and Dang, a village rumor was going around that Nak had died giving birth to her stillborn baby, Dang.
It turns out that Auntie Priak, owner of the local liquor shop, was the source of the town rumor. This was completely absurd to Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey. The four friends refused to believe this to be true and were determined to prove the rumors wrong.
Aunty Priak was found dead a few days later, her body floating along the river. Up until this point Ter, Puak, Shin, and Aey had never considered the possibility that Nak and her baby could be dead and now lingered on as haunting ghosts.
Initially, the four friends didn't dare tell Mak about their suspicions because they were afraid that they would end up just like Aunty Priak. It didn't take long before their conscience caught up with them and they realized they owed Mak the truth since he had once saved all of their lives. Now they must risk their own lives to somehow convey to Mak that the living and dead shouldn't coexist together.
In the end, it will be up to Pee Mak to choose between love and reality.
Boring plot, not recommended unless you just want to watch slapstick comedy
grapevinevine23 August 2015
I watched this film because I read that Pee Mak is the highest grossing film in Thailand and I had never seen a Thai film before so I am curious. After reading some positive reviews, I had high expectation for the film.
1) My main concern is that the PLOT IS TOO SLOW AND SIMPLE. I even fast forwarded through some parts and felt bored throughout the movie. The plot feels like it is going around in circles and around the same topic. Only the beginning and the end have plot progression; the middle is drag-y. The plot twists that the director put in are comical but are trivial and not well-executed; overall, the plot is straightforward and too simplistic.
2) This FILM IS FUNNY. I laughed out loud for some parts and I think the four friends are hilarious. Even in the most serious parts, the director managed to make it amusing.
3) The ROMANCE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. I understand that this film is a blend of romance, horror, and comedy so romance is not supposed to be the focus. But the romance seems under-developed and the main couples' characters are not developed enough for the viewers to really care about them. That makes the romance unconvincing. I am usually emotional when it comes to romances but this failed to make me feel anything.
4) JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HORROR FOR A SCAREDY CAT LIKE ME. I was afraid that it would give me nightmares, but it turned out to be not scary at all. It does have enough suspense to make me nervous (good), but the suspense always leads up to something funny (good too).
Overall: I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED overall because I found the movie to be boring for the most part. But the humor aspect of it saved it from being a total disappointment. I generally do not recommend this film, but if you are watching just for its slapstick comedy, I would say go for it!
1) My main concern is that the PLOT IS TOO SLOW AND SIMPLE. I even fast forwarded through some parts and felt bored throughout the movie. The plot feels like it is going around in circles and around the same topic. Only the beginning and the end have plot progression; the middle is drag-y. The plot twists that the director put in are comical but are trivial and not well-executed; overall, the plot is straightforward and too simplistic.
2) This FILM IS FUNNY. I laughed out loud for some parts and I think the four friends are hilarious. Even in the most serious parts, the director managed to make it amusing.
3) The ROMANCE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. I understand that this film is a blend of romance, horror, and comedy so romance is not supposed to be the focus. But the romance seems under-developed and the main couples' characters are not developed enough for the viewers to really care about them. That makes the romance unconvincing. I am usually emotional when it comes to romances but this failed to make me feel anything.
4) JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HORROR FOR A SCAREDY CAT LIKE ME. I was afraid that it would give me nightmares, but it turned out to be not scary at all. It does have enough suspense to make me nervous (good), but the suspense always leads up to something funny (good too).
Overall: I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED overall because I found the movie to be boring for the most part. But the humor aspect of it saved it from being a total disappointment. I generally do not recommend this film, but if you are watching just for its slapstick comedy, I would say go for it!
An excellent movie with the best combination of emotions
pallavik87 July 2014
I was just browsing for some Thai horror movies to watch and came across Pee Mak. I didn't go for reviews coz i just wanted to spend my time some way or other. But to my surprise this movie turned out to be one of the best movies i have ever seen. A perfect combination of horror, comedy and romance. All the 3 in 1 platform makes it the best Thai movie i have ever seen. There are some scenes where i was laughing and the next moment i was crying and the very next moment i was again laughing. Anyone would think i went mad. This movie is that awesome!! A must watch!! If you don't watch this movie then you gonna miss something very awesome in your life. So don't wait. Just go and watch it. Its available in youtube.
Pretty Funny
Foutainoflife23 September 2018
This was a really cute, somewhat romantic, comedy horror. The story was solid and that is a big thing for me. I liked all the actors and felt they played their parts well. It had little special effects but what were used were ok. My biggest complaints were that I had to read the subtitles, which diverts my eyes from the screen, and I had a hard time getting past their teeth. I guess that is a bit petty but it just bothered me. Having said what I did about the subtitles, let me add that this is the type of movie that makes watching foreign films worth the effort. I'll recommend this to my friends. Hope others will give it a chance. It is worth the watch. (Loved the credits!!)
Applause
gk30300721 September 2019
I clapped aloud after watching this movie. Perfect sense of humor, comedy timings mix with pinch of horror. I dont see much movies which are blend of horror and comedy. The best moment was when the characters were playing dumb charades. Watch it if you like comedy and some thing different from plain vanilla stuffs.
A fun watch but devoid of any subtlety. Could've been much better.
Andrew42624 November 2020
Pee Mak is a fun enough watch out of curiosity for the mythology its based off of and for its bombastic nature, but for that very reason it lacks much substance in its horror or humour. All jokes that were actually funny are immediately ruined by a character instantly clarifying the joke afterwards. Either that or its followed with the old "dramatic crescendo into silence" gag or the odd "bad joke" sound que, like during a weird scene in which a man holds his decapitated arm stump up with a "wah wah wah" trumpet noise during, which just felt very dumb.
In terms of horror, all tense scenes are always met with obnoxious sound-ques and constant rising-crescendos, with the actors always putting on an overexaggerated 'terrified' face that makes any scene devoid of any subtlety at all. It wouldn't have been so bad if the film led up to this kind of thing but its spread across all three acts of the film so nothing changes. So all in all the film isnt particularly funny or scary. FOR ME at least. Unless you're into a three-stooges-esque horror routine, which if you are, you will have a blast with this movie. I guess judging if this film is your kind of thing can be summed up in a single scene in which one of the characters asks Nak if she could throw her baby overboard to lighten up the weight of a boat...Twice. If thats the kind of bombastic and nonsensical humour your looking for then by all means. Unfortunately for me it just didnt hit the mark.
Not to say that there isn't anything to salvage. I will say all four actors do a fantastic job at playing off one another and acting like bumbling morons but its also complemented with a lot of overacting (either a good thing or bad depending on perspective). There is a particularly effective horror scene in which the character with the glasses (Ter?) goes to Nak's house, and that whole sequence I will say was very tense. Sometimes the nonsensical humour actually works in its favour, such as when characters reference celebrities who couldn't have possibly been alive during the mid 19th century, which was probably the funniest aspect of the film, because it actually felt high brow since it was never addressed. The third act in particular was so chaotic that I enjoyed it quite a bit. The presentation as well is beautiful. I would very much like to see more South-East Asian films set in this historical time period.
Ultimately, a few little nudges here and there and this film would have been a horror-comedy masterpiece. For now, though, it just didn't resonate with me as it did with others.
In terms of horror, all tense scenes are always met with obnoxious sound-ques and constant rising-crescendos, with the actors always putting on an overexaggerated 'terrified' face that makes any scene devoid of any subtlety at all. It wouldn't have been so bad if the film led up to this kind of thing but its spread across all three acts of the film so nothing changes. So all in all the film isnt particularly funny or scary. FOR ME at least. Unless you're into a three-stooges-esque horror routine, which if you are, you will have a blast with this movie. I guess judging if this film is your kind of thing can be summed up in a single scene in which one of the characters asks Nak if she could throw her baby overboard to lighten up the weight of a boat...Twice. If thats the kind of bombastic and nonsensical humour your looking for then by all means. Unfortunately for me it just didnt hit the mark.
Not to say that there isn't anything to salvage. I will say all four actors do a fantastic job at playing off one another and acting like bumbling morons but its also complemented with a lot of overacting (either a good thing or bad depending on perspective). There is a particularly effective horror scene in which the character with the glasses (Ter?) goes to Nak's house, and that whole sequence I will say was very tense. Sometimes the nonsensical humour actually works in its favour, such as when characters reference celebrities who couldn't have possibly been alive during the mid 19th century, which was probably the funniest aspect of the film, because it actually felt high brow since it was never addressed. The third act in particular was so chaotic that I enjoyed it quite a bit. The presentation as well is beautiful. I would very much like to see more South-East Asian films set in this historical time period.
Ultimately, a few little nudges here and there and this film would have been a horror-comedy masterpiece. For now, though, it just didn't resonate with me as it did with others.
You have to love this movie
shourovchakma12 March 2021
Would have gotten a 10 if not for the ending.
iamstandoffish15 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is my first time writing a review. Because, first, I have the time. Second, I hate bad endings to great movies. Lastly, I don't watch horror films but for some reason I watched this. ^^
This will make you laugh so hard. And also scare you to the point of screaming. It's also like the suspense-thriller type slash comedy movies. In the middle of the it, I badly need to go to the bathroom to pee but it's the type of movie you wouldn't want to miss a single moment of. However, the ending disappointed me. I'm not much for the mushy, forced crying scene, and disappearing chemistry at the end. I understand it was a comedy/horror film but if that's how they end it with comedy, I'd rather they settled for a horror/sad ending instead. It was an overkill.
Over-all I liked the movie. The actors most especially. Again, it would have gotten a 10 for me, if not for the ending. :)
This will make you laugh so hard. And also scare you to the point of screaming. It's also like the suspense-thriller type slash comedy movies. In the middle of the it, I badly need to go to the bathroom to pee but it's the type of movie you wouldn't want to miss a single moment of. However, the ending disappointed me. I'm not much for the mushy, forced crying scene, and disappearing chemistry at the end. I understand it was a comedy/horror film but if that's how they end it with comedy, I'd rather they settled for a horror/sad ending instead. It was an overkill.
Over-all I liked the movie. The actors most especially. Again, it would have gotten a 10 for me, if not for the ending. :)
One of the most creepy and funny and smartly written films ever made
nmsahu-8519325 September 2020
Pee mak is based on a Thai Urban legend it's one of the most funny and creepiest film I ever seen it's very very smartly written and very well directed and very acted currently it's the highest grossing of Thailand if you seen many horror films and comedy films you will love this it's sometime gross and creepy but also funny and also heartwarming it'sthemes are friendship and love well done film
Nice film
xnwmaamyr21 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This film is a comedy-horror-romantic genre, it's also a good film. The main story of this film is that the mak (male) goes to war and leaves his wife. When his wife went back and forth to become a ghost, from the film just take the positive points, the film depicts loyalty and most of a husband's love for his wife.
The ghost is gone
g-8962218 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The story of the Thai ghost is a combination of comedy and horror. The bridge of the title is really very happy, but it also dilutes the horror of the mood. I feel that watching this movie is more happy, but the most horrible thing is not the plot and the picture. It's the... teeth of the characters in the film! Everyone has a big black tooth, not only horrible, it is disgusting. The film is full of true feelings and moving. One sentence, "I am afraid of ghosts, but I am more afraid of not seeing you." Straight tears.
Horror Doesnt Have To Be Scary.
luipasi4 April 2024
Lets start by addressing that this movie IS not meant to be scary at all, in some areas people might see it as a red flag that a horror movie to be as what Pee Mak Phrakanong (2013) is.
Such story of a lover who wont let death torn the two of them apart is just nice to see, especially when its done right and wasnt trying too hard to be what its aiming for.
The lines created, whenever it is for a joke, or for a tense dramatic scene, is spot on, some of it might hit you in your own feelings.
Might be a joke for some people, but if seen as what its meant to be seen as this movie is a just a gem.
Production wise, its wasnt the greatest but everything is great, quality is emaculate and spot on.
The only thing im not fond of about this movie, is the fact that it doesnt get the recognition that it deserve.
Such story of a lover who wont let death torn the two of them apart is just nice to see, especially when its done right and wasnt trying too hard to be what its aiming for.
The lines created, whenever it is for a joke, or for a tense dramatic scene, is spot on, some of it might hit you in your own feelings.
Might be a joke for some people, but if seen as what its meant to be seen as this movie is a just a gem.
Production wise, its wasnt the greatest but everything is great, quality is emaculate and spot on.
The only thing im not fond of about this movie, is the fact that it doesnt get the recognition that it deserve.
It's one of the funniest horror comedy
jintusarma-9427914 April 2021
The movie is very funny, some scenes are so funny I laughed so loud my mother thought what's wrong with me😛 the movie has a romantic side too, in some scenes your eyes will be filled with tears, it successfully makes you laugh,fear and emotional, it's a complete movie, the actors did a great job.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
