Customer Reviews

The Ghost of Mae Nak

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The legend of the ghost of Nang Nak is a part of Thai folklore, the story of an 19th Century 'angry ghost' who lived in a bucolic palm-fringed village outside of Bangkok named Pra Khanong..

By 2005, Pra Khanong is part of the dirty old metropolis, the giant grey concrete slab of Bangkok. No longer a place for a rural ghost.

I have never even been there - there's no compelling reason to go. It is ten minutes from where I live, but it is just another part of inner city urban blight nowadays.

This movie works because it treats Bangkok not as a glitzy tourist venue, full of pachyderms, tuk tuks, ladyboys and long-tail boats, but a functioning, ordinary, third-world city in which regular Thai people live with limited budgets and modern fears.

Into this is transported a semi-Gothic, semi J-Horror story, that derives from the old mythology.

Thai movies are often unsophisticated, self-referential and burlesque. This one doesn't fall into that trap, perhaps because it is Directed by a Westerner and doesn't play to stereotype.

I liked it.

This is by far Tartan's worst release. For a distributor that has brought us great titles as The Booth, the vengeance trilogy and else, this is scary at its lowest. The legend of the ghost is explained in other reviews, and it is quite interesting, to say the least. But this pseudo movie is not even that. Directed by a long-time contributor of B-movies (check his filmography), The Ghost of Mae Nak fails to be scary, is not stylish, and not even interesting. But it certainly is predictable, boring, lame, has the worst dialogues you'll hear in a long time, and it is plainly mediocre. Perhaps it is the style of the westerner director, he has shown that he likes/loves Thailand (Butterfly Man), but his skills as a director are not enough to create anything interesting.
Watch Shutter, that one is truly creepy and is told by Thais who really understand Thai and know how to film. Don't waste your time with this dud.

I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS NOT A MOVIE YOU WOULD WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON. REALLY. I WOULD ALSO NOT RECOMMEND EVEN RENTING ( BUT DO THAT IF YOU MUST SEE FOR YOURSELF ) IT AS AFTER THE FIRST APPEARENCE OF THE GHOST IT'S ALL A STRAIGHT DOWNHILL RIDE. IF AMAZON HAD A NO STAR THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THIS. YOU'RE WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT THAT REALLY NEVER COMES. A VERY WEAK EFFORT.

Another reviewer I think already hit on the key point that this movie is more about love than about horror. I watched this movie last summer on DVD and really enjoyed it. For many people this will probably be their first Thai movie they've seen. I've seen a few as I've travelled to Thailand on a few occasions. I've certainly seen scarier Thai horror movies than this one, but I don't think it was the director's intent to make this a "scary" movie. As others have pointed out, this is a folk tale, and the movie feels like a folk tale being told to us. It's not supposed to be Jason v. Freddy with special effects and 12 different camera angles showing someone's head coming off. And I think it is more of a love story than it is a ghost story. If you are expecting blockbuster effects you will be disappointed. If you like seeing a folk tale or a good ghost story you might tell around a camp fire come to life, then you'll likely enjoy this one.

Ghost of Mae Nak is a love story first, a horror movie second. The cast is excellent and the screenplay is original. If you give this film a chance, I think most people will enjoy it. It`s not a gross-out, slice and dice horror film, and it`s not supposed to be. It has it`s scary moments, but it`s the love between the lead characters, both living and dead, that makes this movie unique. It wasn`t what I expected, and that turned out to be a good thing.

I will be the first to admit that I was expecting this film to be a little better than it was. Having seen the film "Nang Nak," directed by Nonzee Nimibutr, and starring Initra Jaroenpura as Nak, and Winai Kraibutr as Mak, I guess I expected a little too much from this film. I do not wish to discourage other viewers from viewing the film; however, it just is not a very good film. I can understand the viewers below giving it one star. It should have been better. For those who are not familiar with this legendary ghost story; Mae Nak Phrakhanong is one of the most familiar folklore legends to come out of Thailand. And if you have seen the 1999 film, the story is a very sad one.

In the 1999 film, "Nang Nak," which took place in the 19th-century, Nak and her baby have died while the husband Mak was off to war. When he returned, he resumed his life with his family, unaware that his loved ones were dead. Therefore, the villagers tried to warn Mak that his wife and child were dead. Buddhist monks and others interfered to help Mak, however, he refused to listen. That is until one day he discovered while looking between his legs [part of seeing a ghost in Thai legend] that he uncovered the truth. Nak's love for Mak was great, and she tried to reach out to Mak. Meanwhile her body was given a formal Buddhist ritual which finally put her and child to rest. At least in theory. Fast forward to the 21st-century and Mae Nak is still not at rest.

I will not give out spoilers to the film as it is pretty much a new release here in the west, and many have not seen the film. The story is set Bangkok, and two young newlyweds, Mak (Siwat Chotchaicharin) and Nak (Pataratida Pacharawirapong) have settled into a new home, which bring both of them into contact with the ghost Mae Nak. They have also acquired an old antique brooch [purchased by Mak]. This brooch has a connection to Mae Nak [no spoilers] The spirit of Mae Nak (Portnip Papanai) however is not at rest, and there are certain interactions she makes between these two newlyweds. I don't wish to give out too much which will ruin the film for you, however, this film is a huge disappointment. Especially considering that it is a Tartan Release. This is not a scary film, however, horror is a genre that each of us see differently. I recommend that you rent the film first. However, be prepared to be disappointed. [Stars: 1.5]

This movie is a ghost story made out of a legend. It was well written and the acting was excellent. If you like actual ghost stories, this one is definitely for you!

I watched this movie just to see what it was about and I felt that it took too long to get to the point. There are many other JHorror filmz that out beat this trilogy, like wise. The beginning of it took 30 mins or so to pin point the wedded couple's relationship. I mean, they were so lovie dovie that it made me want to vomit...which is sad! It's sad because usually a viewer would want to puke after watching a grousome/blood slashing scene. Indeed it has only one spellbounding-death scene that caught my eye (The part where the con-man gets chopped in half by a falling sheet of window glass for a newly constructed office building w/in the city) and that's it. I'm sorry, but I just hated the storyline of the whole feature all together.

Ghost of Mae Nak: 7 out of 10: First we had J horror ( stark white Japanese female ghosts with long black hair that scream) then Korea developed K Horror ( featuring stark white Korean female ghosts with long black hair that scream) and now we have T horror (featuring stark white Thai female ghosts with long black hair that scream). From the looks of all things alphabetical can a home grown Vietnamese ghost story be too far behind.


Now I am not that big fan of ghost stories and the Japanese take on the subject has done very little to impress me. There are only so many faulty florescent lights and violin screams that one man can take. So it surprised me that Mae Nak is as entertaining film in its own right. For one thing this is more a romance than a ghost story.


The story revolves around two very likable kids (named Nak and Mak) who are getting married and settling down when one of them (the guy) is haunted by a ghostly vision (see above). They have true love and the ghost is jealous or vengeful or in pain or something. So they have to help her spirit to rest because (SPOILER ALERT) they bought the house she used to live in and pledged their love on her unmarked grave and received part of her skull as a wedding gift. (No I'm not making this up) The non-ghost scenes however with the couple buying a house and dealing with various relatives and cultural demands are delightful and fresh to these western eyes. And the two leads are both attractive and pleasant and give of the aura of being real people with real lives. (They both have actual jobs and go to punk rock bars with friends).


The movies other asset is the Final Destination style death scenes the ghost uses to exact revenge or protect the couple or whatnot. The special effects are excellent and the camera isn't to shy about the gore.


The film clearly has a healthy budget and talent behind the camera. On the negative side the movie plot is right out of a Scooby Doo episode and the film is about as scary as one. Lack of fright aside for a J horror style ghost story this is a pretty good film.

This was such a good movie!! I rented it and liked it so much I had to buy it! It is not so much a jump out and make you scream movie as it is just a plain good story with charming characters and some interesting creepiness! If you want a fun time...give it a try!!