Thailand's answer to "Final Destination" sees a group of high schoolers being picked off in gruesome fashion after learning of a supernatural phone number that can grant your most unattainable wishes. And while everyone who calls gets their Ferraris, dream jobs, scholarships and such, the unfortunate (or foolish depending on your point of view) youngsters soon realise that they're expected to provide something rather important in return: their lives.
It all sounds very corny and cliched but 999-9999 is actually very enjoyable teen horror from start to finish. Plotting is solid - leaving no room for holes or discrepencies - acting from all the cast is top drawer and light relief is given in the form of many hilarious one-liners / scenarios. Direction owes a great deal to the fast paced 'MTV style' so common in recent US movies but for once this is actually a good thing - 999-9999's a fun, hip movie and it's not ashamed of it.
It's very bloody and gory - which surprised me a little, to be honest - but some of the effects (anyone who's seen the airlock scene will know what I'm talking about) are poorly rendered CGI which removes any repulsion factor. One scene that can cause a quiver would be where one of the boys slices his stomach on a window ledge, catching his intestine, and then proceeds to fall to the ground with his intestines being removed as he goes. Not something to watch with the family, you see.
999-9999 is actually the first Thai movie I've ever seen - despite being a huge fan of the Japanese and Korean genres - and if this is a typical example of Thai cinema, I can see some trips to Bangkok in my near future. It has more in common with US horror than Asian but all fans of "Final Destination" should enjoy. Recommended. *** / *****
