Ghost Delivery
Director: Moelthaisong
Cast: Ananda Everingham, Carla Porter
Year: 2003
Running Time: 81 minutes
This film seems to have
a problem deciding what it wants to be – a supernatural tale or a parody
of one and its ambivalence doesn’t allow it to succeed in either. Perhaps
somewhere in there is a semblance of an interesting plot but it rushes around
so quickly that none of the threads or emotions are really explored except
in cursory fashion. Bangkok is like everywhere else these days – full of
ghosts – all kinds of them – headless ones, Krasue’s (just the head floating
with tentacles), sweet ones, female ghosts with long hair – all jumbled and
living together in the crowded mess of Bangkok. One thing a lot of them share
though is boredom and a lack of direction in their after lives. This is where
Piroyan comes in.
He can see and communicate
with them, but instead of being scared he sees a business opportunity. There
are a lot of humans who like a good scare – that’s why we watch horror films
– so what could be scarier than a real ghost showing up at your house – o.k.
George Bush as President for another four years – but besides that. So he
sets up a website – pheelok.com – and people can order what kind of ghost
they want to frighten them or their friends. All of his ghost employees are
pretty good-natured and enjoy their work – sometimes they make mistakes and
people die but that’s what insurance is for. These ghosts are basically waiting
for their re-birth and Piroyan can measure their energy level to see if their
time is coming.
The film takes a turn for
a plot when an evil competitor makes a move to take over his business and
his ghosts by using the malicious Tain ghosts to capture them all. He has
some long-standing family grudge against Piroyan and wants to destroy him.
In the meantime Piroyan meets up with a clinging ghost – the kind that always
follow you home – in this case a very beautiful one called Rai who died about
100 years previously. She is extremely lovely and gentle though her energy
level is dropping quickly, but that doesn't stop Piroyan from falling for
her. The film has some so-so special effects but it just never engages the
viewer much more than a Saturday morning TV show for kids.
My rating for this film:
4.5