999-9999

After several gruesome deaths at another school the members of the "daredevil's club" wonder what happened to kill all the kids. When a student from the affected school transfers to their school they learn that the victims all called a certain phone number which would grant your wish then kill you. Partly out of curiosity and partly to get what they want, the kids begin calling the number, and dying.

Not as bad as some recent Thai horror, nor as good as others, this film plays like Goonies-lite meets a gory horror film as the fun loving kids are killed in rather nasty ways. The mixing of the styles doesn't work since the film never seems to know what it wants to be. It doesn't help that you almost instantly know whats going on because the film doesn't really give you a chance to think anything else.

Some people I know thought this was going to be the next big thing, unfortunately they were wrong and we're left with an unremarkable horror film that will probably be completely forgotten in another couple of years.

This movie provides a Thai perspective of the slasher genre with a supernatural twist. While not very original, it is well made and suitable gory. It will not satisfy the die-hard gore hounds, but is recommended for anybody who's interested in modern Thai movie making. For a superior Thai take on this genre, try 303 Fear Faith Revenge (1998).

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. *** / *****

"A wish granted at midnight... but the debt paid at dawn."

999-9999 is a compelling Thai horror-thriller directed by Peter Manus that borrows structure from "final destination" style narratives but infuses them with Southeast Asian folklore and teenage sensibilities. The plot centers on Sun, a student at an international school in Phuket, along with his clique of diverse friends, who encounter Rainbow-a mysterious transfer student-telling them of a cursed phone number that grants wishes if dialed after midnight, and claims the life of the wisher later.

The film's strengths lie in its creative premise and its willingness to explore moral cost. Each wish made by the characters brings fleeting joy but increasingly terrifying consequences. The deaths are gruesomely inventive: a malfunctioning car wash blade, scorpion attacks, a hanging noose-scenes that evoke a sense of shock and dread. These deaths, combined with Rainbow's enigma, provide tension.

However, the film also suffers from predictable beats and uneven characterization. Many characters feel secondary, serving more as fodder for horror than fully realized individuals; the wish-vs-punishment structure means that once the formula is clear, anticipation dulls slightly. The pacing in the later half wavers, as investigation and supernatural logic stretch believability. Sun's arc is engaging but overshadowed by the spectacle of each death rather than internal conflict or growth.

Visually and atmospherically, 999-9999 does well, especially with sound design, sudden frights, and using setting (the school, the isolated places) to intensify dread. Rainbow's character works as both warning and mystery.

Rating: 7/10 - A highly imaginative horror with strong kills and setup, though it trips over formula and fleeting character depth.

Fun to see the Thai version of a slasher movie. It is very much a "teen" movie and a mix between The ring and Scream The acting rates from decent to awful, but it's fun to watch, OK entertainment.

There are better Thai movies, but it's fun to see them doing things in this genre