Ghost of Mae Nak (2005)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Mark Duffield

Writer:

Mark Duffield (writer)

Release Date:

15 September 2005 (Thailand)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The Return of Nang Nak

Plot:

A young couple reawaken the spirit of a famous old Thai legend.

Plot Keywords:

Nightmare | Corpse | Telephone Call | Journalist | Head Wound

Cast

Pataratida Pacharawirapong	...	Nak
Siwat Chotchaicharin	...	Mak
Porntip Papanai	...	Mae Nak
Jaran Ngamdee	...	Por Mak
Meesak Nakarat	...	Angel

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Germany:16 | Taiwan:R-12 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Thailand

Company:

De Warrenne Pictures

Trivia:

This is the 20th film version of the Thai legend of Mae Nak.

Movie Connections:

References The Exorcist (1973)

Haunted by a Legend

In Bangkok, the groom Mak (Siwat Chotchaicharin) is scared, having successive nightmares with a ghost woman, Mae Nak, an ancient Thai legend. He meets his beloved fiancée Nak (Pataratida Pacharawirapong) to visit an old house in Phrakhanong with the unscrupulous real state agent Angel (Meesak Nakarat) and they decide to buy the property. After their wedding, two small time thieves break into the house and steal their gifts and other objects. When Mak sees the criminals on the streets of Bangkok selling his goods, he chases the burglars and they run their van over Mak, who gets into a deep coma. Mae Nak protects the young couple against Angel and the burglars, but in return she holds the soul of Mak. Nak finds the remains of Mae Nak in an ancient cemetery, and with some monks, they exorcise Mae Nak from Mak and release her spirit.

"Ghost of Mae Nak" is an interesting ghost story, which seems to be based on a Thai legend; at least the film provides this explanation in the very beginning. The screenplay is flawed but the greatest I hole is the lack of explanation why the ghost of Mae Nak, after one hundred years, haunts Mak, inclusive leading the young couple to buy her house. Further, the character Kong is absolutely unnecessary in the plot. Pataratida Pacharawirapong is a very beautiful young woman and good actress. Siwat Chotchaicharin is not so convincing, his performance is weak, but he shows a good chemistry with Pataratida. Meesak Nakarat is perfect in the role of the scum Angel. I liked this creepy movie and in my opinion the IMDb Rating of 4.6 is a little underrated. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Atormentados" ("Tormented")