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