The Promise (2017) User Reviews

Despite having a super generic storyline the movie was enjoyable...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 8 June 2019]

I watched "The Promise" (aka "Puen Tee Raluek"), and while it had a very generic storyline, then I must admit that I was actually genuinely entertained by what I saw on the screen from director Sophon Sakdaphisit.

The storyline doesn't really contain anything that is revolutionary or particularly innovative. And that sort of served as an anchor to the movie, keeping it from really becoming something unique.

It was the atmosphere in the movie that really worked, because director Sophon Sakdaphisit did an amazing job of building up suspense and slowly letting it pile up. Just a shame that they opted to follow such a predictable blueprint of how-to-make-a-thriller.

The acting in the movie was also quite good. This was my introduction to Numthip Jongrachatawiboon (or Bee Namthip for short), whom played Boum. She really performed quite well and carried the movie so far.

This movie is listed as a horror, drama and thriller. I would say that the horror elements to "The Promise" are quite light, if you compare this movie to other Thai horror movies. So when you sit down to watch "The Promise", keep in mind that this is more of a thriller than it is a horror movie. There aren't really any scary moments throughout the movie, there were plenty of build-ups to something that could have proven scary, but just never culminated in a spooky moment.

"The Promise" had me entertained from beginning to end, but it is hardly a movie that I will watch a second time, because the storyline and script just doesn't have enough contents to support multiple viewings. Once you've seen this movie the first time, there simply is no purpose to watching it again. Unless, of course, you want to watch it solely for counting the times that the name Bell is mispronounced as Beow throughout the movie. It was a lot, and that actually was starting to get on my nerves towards the end.

If you enjoy Thai movies, then you should at least watch "The Promise" once.

Competent ghost movie

[pawful · 6/10 · 7 May 2018]

Boum is 15 years old, the priveleged daughter of a property developer who reneges on a suicide pact with her friend, after their father's are both bankrupted in an economic crisis. 20 years later, she is refinancing the vacant and abandoned failed development that was the site of their broken pact when her teenage daughter attracts the attention of the restless and vengeful spirit of her dead friend.

It's a creepy premise and the stylish movie makes fairly good use of the excellent location (a real-life landmark in central Bangkok) and the plush apartment Boum now lives in.

The rules of the haunting are inconsistent, which is usual in movies trying to fit in as many jump scares. The ghost has the power to possess people in sleep, move objects, control lights and and can also manifest herself in various locations. Given how powerful she is it is not clear what is stopping her achieving her revenge on Boum. I found that aspect of the story unsatisfying.

For English language viewers the subtitles are pretty basic and you only get a general idea of what is being said (the ghosts name is translated as 'instrument'. I hope this movie gets an international release and better subtitles.

One thing to be aware of, if you are at all sensitive to suicidal depictions, don't watch it because there is a lot of it. It was unnecessary for mother and daughter to compete to purposefully commit suicide to satisfy the ghosts plan, another plot device would probably be scarier and more believable.

Pretty good

[misty899 · 6/10 · 11 November 2018]

Decent movie. Not blow your skirt up amazing, but good. Definitely not scary but in the subgenre of horror due to the supernatural ghost storyline. (Honestly have no idea if the ghost element is a spoiler so just in case...) It kept my attention and I watch so very many movies in the horror section so that's something. Honestly, though, if you're looking for original, scare the crap outta you ghost story, keep looking. I would call this more of a drama than horror.

Average

[Foutainoflife · 5/10 · 23 September 2018]

Not overly impressed with this film. It was just ok in everything. Story, acting, setting, scares, effects, everything was just ok. I'm not sure what all the raving was about. It is a good movie for a day when you don't care but would like to watch a little something. I could easily see this as a Lifetime movie.

Weakest of All

[saadkhan-61833 · 1/10 · 30 August 2023]

I've been watching all the movies of this writer after I watched home for rent. The other two movies I watched were ok but this one was the weakest.

The story is pretty lame that a girl commit suicide because the economy has gone down, they feel there is no reason to live and her father beats her. The second girl could not do the same even after the promise. I think she was very smart. Nonetheless Now 20 years later she has come to haunt her.

First of all , such a big incident happened in your life and you decide to go to that same building with your daughter who starts to wander around alone in the whole building. This is not real, no one does that.

It is very clear from the beginning that it is her friends ghost but the mother takes her time to realise that and even after knowing she doesn't do much except talking to ghosts mother and taking that innocent kid to talk to the ghost and request her to leave the daughter alone which she had already made clear that she won't.

You know that your daughter life is in danger and she is going to die on Saturday , despite knowing this she leaves her alone in the hospital with the nurse and guess what she runs away from the hospital and goes to the building. If you know something like this you will stay with your daughter the whole time or even hire 10 people to not let her go out of sight.

She tries so many times to shoot herself but the gun doesn't work and on her daughter it shoots by itself what a lame and annoying writing.

There are some scenes which start to build up and you feel that its gonna scare you but at the end nothing happens. You don't see the ghost clearly at all. Its like a ghost movie without the ghost, you are just being shown the feeling that she is there and moving things but you never see the ghost.

For this lame story, I believe the ending is a bit realistic. Of course its not a happy one. When a ghost seeks out for revenge , they hurt you the most by hurting the people you love.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone.

A slick supernatural thriller ...

[dtcwee · 8/10 · 15 September 2021]

... which unfortunately doesn't stick the landing.

The sound of a VCR tape takes you back to 1997 where Boum and Ib are two best friends, daughters of affluent Thai business families.

The Asian financial crisis hits and their lives spiral to the point where they plan to execute a suicide pact atop their fathers' stalled high-rise project.

One survives and becomes a successful businesswoman with a bubbly young daughter.

Fifteen years later, the other returns.

Amazing performances and cinematography aside, this is a straightforward haunting story. There is no outwitting the ghost or questioning its motives. It is no creative monster like Elm Street's Freddy or The Ring's Samara, perhaps reflecting the relative conceptualization of spirits in South East Asia as more forces of nature than ex-humans with desires.

Unfortunately, the themes of bonds, despair, privilege, and sacrifice aren't really tied up at the end.

The filmmakers utterly nail the Asian crisis and its scarring which still haunts modern day Thailand. It's a story that is still being written, which may be why they couldn't satisfactorily resolve this tale.

Keep your promises

[datorsiers2 · 8/10 · 5 September 2018]

An amazing taiwanese ghost flick! This movie is packed with action from start to finish, most importantly, not in the casual obnoxious Hollywood fashion, it's a ghost movie, but it still maintains the ellegancy of a high class drama.

The premise itself is really interesting and the movie starts out without much filler content and background info, we get briefly introduced to the relationship between these two best friends and after that it's straight into action, without spoiling the brief intro of this film, as it is important to see for yourself. Also the acting is outstanding, even from the younger cast you can expect top notch screenplay here.

Most importantly, this movie easily holds the suspense throughout, when you think you are getting let in to fully understand what's happening, the plot changes in a way making you over think what's about to happen, making the movie feel somewhat distant, if i could describe it as that

Overall, a decent taiwanese ghost story, just enough ghosts, jump scares, drama and sorrow, nothing feels over the top here perfectly balancing everything out. Worth a watch, if you are bored of the usual Hollywood thrillers!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MOVIE

[chelsietristany · 10/10 · 4 August 2018]

First of all, if you are the type of audience who wants to watch a VERY SCARY horror movie, with lots of freaking scary-looking ghost, don't watch this. Personally, I really like this movie because it is one rare out there where it can serve emotionally dramatic but also scary movie (for me it's scary enough, even tho we don't see Ib's ghost very much). It has jump scares, like any other horror movie. The thing that I particularly like is the emotional aspect of the movie. How mother and daughter struggling to help each other and so. It also shows a very modern sight of horror movie, instead of going to shamans (which ALMOST always portrayed in every Thailand horror movie, because shamans is almost like a unique aspect that is very Thai), Boum chose to fight for her daughter alone. It didn't end very well, tho. But I think the ending is quite satisfying and emotional. The thing that still bother me is, why Ib's mother didn't take any action of her daughter's murderous revenge plan for her best friend? And why Ib must involve an innocent young girl, even if the girl is her betrayer best friend's child? But no matter what, I still think that Boum's decision to cancel her suicide plan is the most correct thing she's done in her life. She indeed is at wrong for asking Ib to go on suicide together impulsively, but imagine us being in Boum's place. OF COURSE WE WOULD BE TERRIFIED AFTER WE SEE OUR FRIEND DIED. I think it is very scary and traumatizing. Boum would never have the guts to take the gun and killed herself after watching Ib died like that. Anyway, this movie is soooo worth watching for those Thai horror lovers. One of a gem of Thai horror movie.

This movie is extremely OK in everything.

[smtntd · 9/10 · 27 November 2017]

After watching this film, i must praise for everything it has done.

-The most thing i love of The Promise (TP) is ACTING. I cant stop giving compliments for the cast and crew. Especially the main character Boum and her daughter Bell, the two young friends Boum and Ib is also excellent at acting. Thanks to cast for showing such excellent acting skill. I want to mention the older Boum, she is the real actress. Her actions, her expressions, her voices... everything is breathtaking. And i seemed to fall in love with her from the first sight. I m telling the truth that she and young Boum is very Thailand traditionally beautiful. in addition, i love Thailand student's uniform, too. And Boum's style is also attractive. I FEEL THAILAND MUST HAVE MANY MORE TALENTED QUALIFIED ACTORS, AND GOOD NEW GENERATION ACTORS.

-About the CONTENT, as a normal watcher, i find TP not too horror or scaring. It just made people thrilled, a bit scared in some scenes. In general, for one who is mad for horror films, TP is not suitable in many ways. But, for one who doesn't want to be too scared but cares about many loving relationships in society, wants to be grossed in dramatic scenes, TP is suitable. The plot of TP is extremely OK for every1 in general.

-A bit about my feelings about TP: It is worth-watching and OK in everything, a qualified piece of art. You know, in the cinema room, not only me but also other people couldn't keeping our feelings and we really enjoyed every minutes with the movie.

--> TP sometimes gives you many feelings: from scariness to sadness, deepness. It spreads many meaningful messages. You may sometimes startle, shout out loud and even burst to tears.

And one thing i don't like about TP, which makes me mark it 9/10 is the making use of actors' good acting skills which seems makes TP to become a social psychology movie in some way. But it isn't a huge problem.

I think you also should experience this new horror style movie like THE PROMISE.

GREAT MOVIE

[Vienaperissia · 10/10 · 13 April 2020]

I haven't watched Thailand's horror in a long time, because this year there have been many American horror films. I used to watch a Thai horror movie and really liked it, because it was very scary. And now I watch this film, omg it's perfect. Both from story, effect, property. The story is very dramatized combined with a touch of Thai-style horror, the house, jumpscare, everything is perfect.