Bangkok Haunted

As with most people familiar with Oxide Pang, my introduction to this movie came through the creepy spook film, "The Eye". I was genuinely impressed with The Eye, and, eager to find more films by Oxide and his brother Danny, i came across Bangkok Dangerous and Bangkok Haunted. Dangerous is a flick about a mute assassin, which i found to be very well made with some excellent editing and solid direction. Unfortunately, Bangkok Haunted failed to impress. I only found out after viewing the movie that only the third segment was directed by Oxide Pang, and Danny (the man behind the brilliant editing in Dangerous) had nothing to do with the film. From the start the movie attempts to creep out the audience, but the elaborate ghost stories are neither scary nor visually impressive. Throughout the three segments of the film, the spooks fail to spook, and the film fails as a horror flick. Clocking in at over two hours, this is an over-stretched movie that could have fitted easily into three half hour segments. While there are promising thing to be taken from the film, the stories are generally boring and more laughable than scary. This film could have been alot better, and i am glad that i rented it instead of rushing out to buy it.

I saw this movie some time ago, hoping it was going to be as good as The Eye was, but I was greatly disappointed to see that the stories weren't very good and the scares were lacking. Don't bother checking this expecting another The Eye.

I just received a screener of the Panik House DVD for this film, and the packaging is very impressive! I'm happy to report that the movie and the extras are every bit as impressive as well. This is an omnibus film co-directed by Oxide Pang, who along with brother Danny, directed THE EYE and BANGKOK DANGEROUS. There are three stories (told by three young women in a Bangkok Cafe) of horror and the supernatural shot in three distinctly different styles, while each fitting together quite nicely in the end. All of the stories have shocking moments of violence, but are never presented in an exploitive way, as thought the violence on screen is never superfluous and always serves to push the story forward. The first story, "Legend of the Drum" is a tale of murder a nd possession, and according to the "Making Of" featurette, the filming of this segment involved actual unexplainable circumstances, reminiscent of recently disclosed events on the sets of the original Exorcist and Wes Craven's Serpent And The Rainbow. The costume design is incredibly creepy. The second tale, "Black Magic Woman" involves an aphrodisiac, zombified prostitutes, and crazed axe-wielding killer, and may have involved actual cadavers. The third entry, directed by Oxide Pang, "Revenge" is the real payoff, and has a very original story structure and the best multi-level police procedural drama this side of CSI. Pete Thong-jeur gives a realistic and believable performance as a young detective convinced that a possible suicide is a case of murder, and the victim's spirit visits him throughout the investigation with ghastly consequence. The wrap-up is among the most original I've ever seen, and I'm going to run out and buy anything else with Oxide's name on it after this. The disc has a ton of extras. In addition to the documentary, there are trailers, a Pang Brothers bio written by Psychotronic Video Guide's Art Black (who also wrote the Thai Cinema Essay) and a lengthy still gallery. Oh yeah, it comes with a sticker, too. Great film, great disc.

For an Asian movie about hauntings, then "Bangkok Haunted" was quite dull and anything but scary, actually. And this is an anthology of sorts, as the movie contains three different stories - all of which, mind you, are nowhere near impressive or scary.

The first story is about Jieb who receives an ancient drum from a shipping company, although she didn't order it. The drum is tied to a tragic story where a young dancer named Paga falls in love with Fond. And while a misshapen man named Gnod loves her, and doesn't have his love returned, he sort to a final, drastic measure to keep her with him. This story was actually the best of the three, but it wasn't particularly impressive in itself.

The second story is about Pan, a woman who will do anything to find real love. Finding out about a strange essence that her neighbor uses to lure in men, Pan decides to give this a try. Little does she know that the essence is created with the blood of the recently departed. And those under the influence will come back from the dead if they die while under its charms. This story was adequate, but just didn't really make much sense.

And the third and final story is about a police officer who is investigating a case of a hung woman, which he believes is suicide and not murder. Well, this turned out to be more of a love story than an actual ghost story.

Overall, then "Bangkok Haunted" is fairly weak and doesn't even remotely have the usual level of horror and scares founds in Thai horror movies. And if you enjoy these kind of anthologies, then there are far better choices available on the movie market.

I like how the movie has this branded on the DVD cover: "eerie and disturbing, each one of these stories is sure to curdle your blood and chill your spine..." Right, indeed, I guess the one who wrote that haven't watched particularly many Thai horror movies if he or she found these three stories to be blood curdling and spine chilling.

I saw this movie long time ago about in December,2001 ,that day is the first day which this movie showing. I was very excited to see this movie because before this movie show in the theater it's very popular in Thailand.The trailers of this movie is so scary and creepy ,also it's got a great promotion which support this movie to be famous.When i saw this film,at the first section,"The legend of the arm of a beautiful dancer" I think it seems like a romantic horror.this section is make me feel complicated,I means that if you're not Thai maybe you won't understand what the film want to tell you,and if you don't get in Thai cultural, sometime you maybe feel boring in this section.About the actors in this section,I think the actress in the leading roll is fantastic ,even if this is the first time of her in acting but I think she (Pimmsiree Pimsri) is doing great so I think if i have to give a score to this part I will give it " 7 " points from 10. At the second part," Black magic woman" I think it's pretty bad,I think it's boring ,it's just about sex but I think this section is give us a moral that "You will get what you give".But if you're not Thai ,you won't understand about the legend in this part ;including the process of making the magic oil,and the erries occurences.If i give a point ,I will give it "6.5". At the last section,I love this part the most " revenges" this part is not scary but it's feel weird ,dramatic,sympathy and complicated.Although the actress in leading roll (Kanlayanat Sriboonrueng) is got a little scene but her eyes and emotion is so impressive .if i give a score ,i will give it "9".