This is How Movies Should Be Made

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

I find that Nang Nak could be considered as a typical example of a sub genre of horror movies. It can be defined a "religious horror" movie since it highlights the horror-generating element's (in this case the ghost) human component. Rather than scare the audience, it triggers deep religious compassion. In fact, the story centers on a young woman, Nak, who refuses to acknowledge her own death. Her binding love for her husband is too deep to be defeated by Death. Hence, convinced that she is still human and not a ghost, she awaits his return from the war even after her death during delivery. This is why she kills all those who attempt to warn him about the strange situation. The movie reaches a climax in the last scene, which is intense and charged with pathos. Deep in the forest a group of monks forms the setting for the exorcism, calling to mind the chorus of a Greek tragedy. There is no horror in the scene, which is instead a religious ceremony conducted with respect for the dead. The High Priest represents all that is sacred, unlike the exorcist who attempts to free the village from the curse by violating Nak's tomb and destroying the body. The High Priest treats Nak like a person who has the right to wish her husband goodbye in order to rest in peace. The scene in which husband and wife join hands for the last time is charged with aching emotion. The narrator's off-screen voice inserts the story among Thai legends and the audience perceives that it verges on reality and as such could occur again.

Mac returns home form the war to live with his wife Nak and newborn baby after being nursed back to health by some monks. When he gets home he's unaware that both his wife and child are ghosts. So, when his neighbours and friends try to warn him, he doesn't believe them and also contributing to it is that his wife tells him that their friends treated her poorly when he was gone.A damn right weird, but beautifully told and directed horror feature from Thailand. It's quietly intriguing and also it flows with some originality. Something about this film is just plain hypnotic with its change of moods, moving score and luminous locations. The cinematography was rather provocative and relentless in its treatment. This added to the film's whole uneasy feel, which somehow really gets under your skin rather effectively. The actual plot is a tale of everlasting love and loyalty to the one we care for and share our life with, no matter the circumstances. This is portrayed in such a haunting and subtle way and the direction follows the same suit. So when suddenly some frantic scenes of violence and bizarre makeup effects pop up, it just felt out of place compared to the overall tone that was created to begin with. The pace of the film because of it was a bit bumpy, but nonetheless it's hard to find a massive fault about it. No matter if nothing was really happening on screen, you just can't keep your eyes off it. One reason for that is the good performances, and that's especially from Winai Kraibutr as Mak and Intira Jaroenpura as Nak. You do care for these characters. Although, sometimes maybe the dialogue was a bit of a stretch and tad melodramatic, but a dreamy experience with some nightmarish occurrences creates some unsettling moments and develops a decent and meaningful drama within. Even if it's a tad slow. But, hey it did deliver a unique story and also the tension that was built was well sustained.This unusually tragic love story was a wonder to view.

I just wanted to react to a previous Thai commentator meaning that "foreigners will not understand the legend behind this film". Come on... Of course this movie sets a traditional tale of Thai culture. But if you know a bit about tales generally, you will realize that there is one or more versions of this particular one in almost every culture and western ones are not an exception to the rule (go to a Tales Festival and you'll find out for sure). I am not saying anything extremely original here : Carl Jung found out about the universality of messages included in tales way back in time... I saw this movie at the Brussels Independent films festival yesterday (nov 12, 2000) and I can assure you that the western public reacted extremely favourably and that there was nothing particularly difficult to understand about it. It has flaws (problems of rythm) but it sounded extremely sincere, emotional, fresh. It is undoubtedly worth seeing (the photography and actors are extremely beautiful as well). Too bad that it'll probably never get distributed around here...

Nang Nak is the first Thai film that has got Thai people back watching Thai films. It is Director Nonzee Nimibutr's second film.Unfortunately foreigners will not understand the legend behind this film. It is a true story and the legend is very much alive in every Thai person's mind. The Temple (Wat MahaWoot) is still an active temple and even today people flock to the temple to get good luck (lucky numbers) for their lottery tickets.The story has been told many times in film and also for television - but it still has a great impact on the Thai.The film is well worth watching. The sound is excellent. There are a few problems with English sub titles but overall the Director did an excellent job. Small budget, good casting, excellent sound.