Ah, the dead. They’re just so vindictive and oh so predictable, aren’t they? Of course it’s probably not the fault of the angry spirits that they seem to always show up in exactly the same manner (long dark, disheveled hair, anyone?) or the fact that they all seem to be young woman...

When people think of the hot spots of the Asian film industry, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea comes to mind. However, recent years have seen an increase in output from smaller nations in the region, such as Vietnam, which made its presence known in the late `90s with films like “Cyclo”...

If you’re a normal person like me, you should be thinking these thoughts while watching the Thai action movie “Born to Fight”: “You know, they really shouldn’t be doing that. I mean, that can’t possibly be safe.” “Who is going to pay for this guy’s...

The anthology has been an enduringly popular film format, especially in the horror genre, with classics such as the original “Dead of Night” and Mario Bava’s “Black Sabbath” to more modern variations like “Creepshow” and “The Offspring”. This has...

“303″ is a film that is hardly original, and is in fact very reminiscent of American slasher films, even though at times it shows promise in the solid direction and excellent camerawork. Then again, despite the flashes of brilliance, this echo will never overcome the voice. The film takes...

“Last Life in the Universe” has been quietly gathering acclaim on the festival circuits for some time now, and given that its cinematography is by Christopher Doyle (best known for his work on “Hero” and “In the Mood for Love”), I was very keen to catch it on the big...

If you were looking for a horror movie to scare you, the Thai film “Lhorn” will disappoint. It’s not very scary, even though it tells multiple tales about ghosts and demons taking revenge on us weakling mortals. As executed for consumption, the stories are somewhat tame, and the only...

Apparently writer/director/star Mum Jokmok thought the only way to follow up on the success of “Ong Bak” was to make a film completely unlike it. The result: an unrestrained action/comedy embolden by a big budget, extreme wireworks, and outlandish action scenes. To pull it off, first-time...

As the Thailand movie Jan Dara opens, a note from director Nonzee Nimibutr cautions the viewer that the movie they are about to see is not to be taken seriously, that it’s not meant as an insult to any religious groups, but is only meant for entertainment value only. That, dear friends, is the...

“Goodman Town” rarely makes sense, and director Sakchai Sribonnam seems to know this. The film is basically a parody of the post-apocalyptic movies of the ’80s, where a Lone Laconic Warrior wanders the wasteland in search of purpose and ends up defending a town/city/group of people....

I’ve been meaning to watch more Thai films, mostly because the industry has obviously improved in recent years. The quality of films has increased and so has the level of competence in regards to storylines that don’t make you groan with embarrassment for the filmmakers. We can see the improvements...

The Thai movie “Ong-bak” is the type of film sane movie stuntmen avoid. Why? Because “Ong-bak” is a vicious and violent (although not very bloody) martial arts film that is less concern with the men doing the stunts than it is with showcasing the power, brutality, grace, and effectiveness...

Taking its cue from the still-fresh Teen Horror Parody genre ala “Scary Movie”, the Thai film “Body Jumper” has a lot of good moments in it, but it also has a bad habit of drawing out scenes that, once the laughs are gone, still refuses to end. It’s here that I apologize...

I’ve been asked why I haven’t reviewed that many movies from Thailand. It’s simple, really. The vast majority of movies from Thailand are just terrible. I mean, really, really bad. The acting, the writing, the direction… It’s only in recent years that filmmakers like Nonzee...

The new Asian anthology movie “Three”, in which 3 directors from 3 different countries craft individual tales unrelated to the other 2, should have been called “One”, and the only writer/director who should have been invited to the party is Teddy Chan. Chan’s “Going...

The story of Nang Nak (which translates from Thai as “Miss Nak” (the formal/respectful designation for a woman)) has been told ad infinity and remains a popular (if not the most popular) part of Thai horror lore. The story is supposed to have originated over many generations ago, and is purported...

It probably won’t come as any surprise to anyone that “Bangkok Dangerous,” the Thai contribution to the old (but clearly not going anywhere) Hitman Genre, is a faithful rendition of the best of the lot — that is, John Woo’s “The Killer.” All the conventions are...