Disappointed with the ending where everyone died and the two lousy servants got away with their loots!
7 Reviews
Lacking horror, but a good story nonetheless
justinlozowski7 January 2021
I've been getting into international horror a lot more lately, as Asian film makers have a lot to offer to this genre. Sadly, this film really isn't one of them. Description set aside, there really isn't any horror in the film. It does, however, have a fresh plot, good acting and pacing, and does a great job at creating a tense, awkward atmosphere between its characters. The build-up to the end in the third act seems a bit clumsy, but is forgivable because I genuinely wanted to know what happens at the end. A good find, but definitely not horror.
Drama at the family reunion
Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews12 July 2023
This had a lot of positives and negatives and either way it was not what I was expecting. I went I to this thinking I was watching a horror movie... and that was incorrect lol It was certainly a thriller/ drama with LIGHT horror elements.
The foundation for the story was there but it was lacking any kind of explanation or background on the premonitions and the numbers... leaving a good chuck of questions up in the air. This was also most certainly a slow burn and I think could have benefited from some editing to pick up the pace. The characters and their arcs were interesting and well written, while the acting was here and there. Also interesting glimpses into aspects of life in another culture.
Interesting positives here but leveled out at a bit average. Would recommend but not fervently.
The foundation for the story was there but it was lacking any kind of explanation or background on the premonitions and the numbers... leaving a good chuck of questions up in the air. This was also most certainly a slow burn and I think could have benefited from some editing to pick up the pace. The characters and their arcs were interesting and well written, while the acting was here and there. Also interesting glimpses into aspects of life in another culture.
Interesting positives here but leveled out at a bit average. Would recommend but not fervently.
Pointless and dragging
khemass26 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The movie starts well and the camera work and overall production seems interesting. However, after watching it for a while, I found that the story moved too slowly, and the ending still doesn't explain why all the ghosts she saw had to give her number.
There are good side to the film, though. The performance of the Western husband is very good, looking natural. The two lead girls are ok in their role, too. The filming and setting seem to have quite a standard. However, the point of the film is so unclear. What are we watching? It isn't really a horror film except for the final part. As for a drama film, what is the main theme? Everybody who came to live and serve in this house turned out to be evil and cruel people, so the lady of the house has such terrible bad luck. That's all I can conclude. It's a waste of time, watching all this dragging moments in the film. The production isn't bad but the story needs to deliver something more clearly. I was disappointed with this one.
There are good side to the film, though. The performance of the Western husband is very good, looking natural. The two lead girls are ok in their role, too. The filming and setting seem to have quite a standard. However, the point of the film is so unclear. What are we watching? It isn't really a horror film except for the final part. As for a drama film, what is the main theme? Everybody who came to live and serve in this house turned out to be evil and cruel people, so the lady of the house has such terrible bad luck. That's all I can conclude. It's a waste of time, watching all this dragging moments in the film. The production isn't bad but the story needs to deliver something more clearly. I was disappointed with this one.
This is horror? Give me a break! Terrible.
frankblack-7996121 September 2021
Enjoyable if slightly flawed effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder10 May 2017
Living a life of poverty, a teenager in a remote Laos village looking after her blind cousin finds that her cousin's ability to speak to the dead has grave consequences for her and her friends as they realize that the appearances might be putting their loved ones in danger.
This was quite the effective and enjoyable effort. Like it's predecessor, this is a film heavy on story and symbolism than it is on traditional genre fare like jump-scares and gore. The central aspect of the film here is the relationship between the three with this all split between the young girl, her cousin and the husband all living together as her condition manages to wear down her conscience due to the sudden increase in luck as they start taking advantage, the result of this causing a strain on the relationship that makes the sudden influence of the supernatural quite chilling. This mindset of appealing to the division between the two as the rural-raised cousin who's used to a life of poverty against the more big-city traditions and values is explored here. Going from the different conditions here with the trips into the city and the influence of technology on their lives that's beyond their reach gives this a kind of rather intriguing appeal not usually seen in Western films. Away from this stellar class-value symbolism, the film also manages to succeed nicely as a flat-out ghost story. There's a lot to like here with the supernatural sequences that comes into play here as there's a slew of solid scenes here featuring the scenes of her and her cousin experiencing the first signs of the ghostly action, where the shock of the scenes causes her to get freaked out when the situation is completely normal otherwise so something is going on with her, while the spectacular scene where the ghost appears physically before her is a solid and creepy sequence. Though it doesn't go for the jugular like so many usually do, it more than makes up for this with a rather chilling final half that really turns the tables on what happened before and gives this a decidedly different tone than what had previously occurred here, making this quite darker than expected. Now, there are long sections of the film that won't be very enjoyable for some out there. The pacing here is quite deliberate and doesn't have the same kind of relentless energy that most western films of this nature as there's a more languid and dramatic feel here than one of abject terror and shocks. The horror scenes are well- integrated into the film but really aren't apart of that much of the film's running time. Rather, this one might be way too light on such scenes for some who want a more rapid-fire and relentless tone with jump-scares s this one doesn't have that many at all and doesn't go all-in on the horror until selected moments so there's bound to be some disappointment in this one regardless of what happens or how good the film really is. However, this might be the only real problem bringing this one down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Mild Violence.
This was quite the effective and enjoyable effort. Like it's predecessor, this is a film heavy on story and symbolism than it is on traditional genre fare like jump-scares and gore. The central aspect of the film here is the relationship between the three with this all split between the young girl, her cousin and the husband all living together as her condition manages to wear down her conscience due to the sudden increase in luck as they start taking advantage, the result of this causing a strain on the relationship that makes the sudden influence of the supernatural quite chilling. This mindset of appealing to the division between the two as the rural-raised cousin who's used to a life of poverty against the more big-city traditions and values is explored here. Going from the different conditions here with the trips into the city and the influence of technology on their lives that's beyond their reach gives this a kind of rather intriguing appeal not usually seen in Western films. Away from this stellar class-value symbolism, the film also manages to succeed nicely as a flat-out ghost story. There's a lot to like here with the supernatural sequences that comes into play here as there's a slew of solid scenes here featuring the scenes of her and her cousin experiencing the first signs of the ghostly action, where the shock of the scenes causes her to get freaked out when the situation is completely normal otherwise so something is going on with her, while the spectacular scene where the ghost appears physically before her is a solid and creepy sequence. Though it doesn't go for the jugular like so many usually do, it more than makes up for this with a rather chilling final half that really turns the tables on what happened before and gives this a decidedly different tone than what had previously occurred here, making this quite darker than expected. Now, there are long sections of the film that won't be very enjoyable for some out there. The pacing here is quite deliberate and doesn't have the same kind of relentless energy that most western films of this nature as there's a more languid and dramatic feel here than one of abject terror and shocks. The horror scenes are well- integrated into the film but really aren't apart of that much of the film's running time. Rather, this one might be way too light on such scenes for some who want a more rapid-fire and relentless tone with jump-scares s this one doesn't have that many at all and doesn't go all-in on the horror until selected moments so there's bound to be some disappointment in this one regardless of what happens or how good the film really is. However, this might be the only real problem bringing this one down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Mild Violence.
Parasite.
morrison-dylan-fan4 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Coming up to the end of my 30 day Shudder free trial,I decided to search online for more details about their exclusive titles. Finding comparisons Parasite (2019-also reviewed) coming up,and a very good lone review on this site,I got set to meet a dear sister.
View on the film:
The only Horror director,and the first women film maker in Laos, Mattie Do & cinematographer Mart Ratassepp eye the mysterious figures Ana speaks to, with restrained, fractured angles that allows the viewer to make their own full impression of them. Entering Ana and Jakob's luxury building from the dusty side-shots hanging round Nok's poor rural life, Do builds a excellent contrast in glossy,crystal clear tracking shots round the house,which Do shatters into spike-driven jump-cuts,as the vision to the lifestyle Ana surrounds herself in becomes visible to her.
Bringing Nok in to care for her rich blind cousin who believes she can talk to the dead, the screenplay by Christopher Larsen subtly transforms the horror from ghouls, to greed,as a revaluation of a gift Ana unknowingly has from her blindness, leading to poor Nok becoming a parasite, desperately trying to grab the money that trickles down from Ana, whilst Ana's old servants try to drag Nok off her place, in order to stay at the end of the ladder,where they have been kept for years.
Continuing his relationship writing scripts for Do, Larsen impressively avoids taking easy money, by instead going for superb, detail characterization where no one is simply good or bad, thanks to keeping the fear Nok (played by a fantastic,spiky Amphaiphun Phommapunya) has of being pushed back down to the poor house, staying at the front of all the choices she makes, whilst Ana (played by a outstanding debut turn from Vilouna Phetmany) is gripped by her blindness blinding Ana from being at ease to give her full trust to people,even Ana's dearest sister.
View on the film:
The only Horror director,and the first women film maker in Laos, Mattie Do & cinematographer Mart Ratassepp eye the mysterious figures Ana speaks to, with restrained, fractured angles that allows the viewer to make their own full impression of them. Entering Ana and Jakob's luxury building from the dusty side-shots hanging round Nok's poor rural life, Do builds a excellent contrast in glossy,crystal clear tracking shots round the house,which Do shatters into spike-driven jump-cuts,as the vision to the lifestyle Ana surrounds herself in becomes visible to her.
Bringing Nok in to care for her rich blind cousin who believes she can talk to the dead, the screenplay by Christopher Larsen subtly transforms the horror from ghouls, to greed,as a revaluation of a gift Ana unknowingly has from her blindness, leading to poor Nok becoming a parasite, desperately trying to grab the money that trickles down from Ana, whilst Ana's old servants try to drag Nok off her place, in order to stay at the end of the ladder,where they have been kept for years.
Continuing his relationship writing scripts for Do, Larsen impressively avoids taking easy money, by instead going for superb, detail characterization where no one is simply good or bad, thanks to keeping the fear Nok (played by a fantastic,spiky Amphaiphun Phommapunya) has of being pushed back down to the poor house, staying at the front of all the choices she makes, whilst Ana (played by a outstanding debut turn from Vilouna Phetmany) is gripped by her blindness blinding Ana from being at ease to give her full trust to people,even Ana's dearest sister.
See also
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