Chaya
Director: ?
Starring: Wannasa Thongwised, "Boom" Panatda
Wongpoodee, Nattanun Khunawat
Running Time: 91 minutes
Year: 2003
One of the few things that I have learned in
life is that if you pass someone anywhere and suddenly have a flashback
to a previous incarnation with this person, it is time to get out of town.
Nothing good ever comes out of it. Another thing I should be learning but
clearly have not done so is to avoid these low budget Thai horror films
like a weekend in Atlantic City. Nothing good ever comes out of them either.
This film is generally a very dull outing that moves along like a sleepy
snail that would rather be napping. The only redeeming factors are the
two attractive actresses, some cute outtakes at the end and a final fifteen
minutes that finally has a smidgeon of gore and contains some mild emotional
depth.
In current day Bangkok, Sa (Wannasa Thongwised)
works in an antiquity store and she has a fondness in particular for the
ancient art of Cambodia. One afternoon Sarot (Nattanun Khunawat), an archeologist
who specializes in Khmer history, visits the shop. As soon as they come
into contact – zap – both get struck by images of historical scenes whirling
around in their heads. Sa gets a nosebleed while Sarot sees someone who
looks like himself cutting his own throat. At the same time an ancient
burial site has been discovered and the coffin uncovered. Little do they
know that by doing so they have released the vengeful spirit of Princess
Mayawantra (Panatda Wongpoodee) – a pissed off spirit for very good reason
as she was buried alive hundreds of years ago with a final oath on her
lips to forever hunt down her killer in their many future lives. Now she
is back and looking for a little payback. The story itself isn’t a bad
one as it comes at this formulaic plot from a slightly different angle,
but it is done in a painfully plodding manner with little cinematic style.
My rating for this film: 4.5