THAI HORROR MOVIE REVIEW: HONG HOON (2014)

 HERE’s the GHASTLY POSTER that sends SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE!

RELISH THE DARKNESS

 Darker-than-DARK Secrets bring on THE CREEPS

 HE is SCREAMING in TERROR

  SHE is pictured HERE, against a gloomy ENVIRONMENT of DOOM

ARTY FARTY Shot depicting the CALM before the STORM

THE WAX EFFIGY comes CRASHING down, SIGNIFYING a death WARNING.

This pretty SINGER is crooning SENSUALLY … not realizing SHE has been EARMARKED for DEATH.

“Dear FATHER, what on earth is HAPPENING here?”

WHEN DEATH COMES A-CALLING …..

INSIDE THE WAX EFFIGY, it is all HOLLOW ….

 YOU see LINES OF CRACKS running all over the WAX MANNEQUINS’ bodies.

“HONG HOON” (2014) THAI HORROR FILM

WAX MANNEQUINS, PAPER EFFIGIES, whatever. In movies, they relate to the same thing.

In Thailand, they are given the glam treatment, as you can observe in HONG HOON.

But in Hong Kong where ghost films are churned out a dime a dozen, paper effigies are strictly burnt as peace offerings, where superstitious believers rely on these “paper dolls” to appease the spirits.

Be informed that this Reviewer has a disdain for anything “effigy-ish”. They create goose bumps, he asserts.

Two years ago, he collaborated with a Chinese film director who wanted the script finale  to end with fleeing effigies scrambling from a haunted bus.  So thrilling, isn’t it?

This Reviewer stupidly fought against the idea, citing that the whole idea was preposterous.

But isn’t this what a ghost movie should be all about? I lost the argument.

Yeah … folk, do bring on the chills!

The still photography of HONG HOON artistically renders the Poster with a macabre touch. There is a cracked line running through the mannequin’s body indicating that this is a wax object, but will the content be just as intriguing?

Revealing too much of the plot is liken to debating a family trade secret in the open.

The film director is the KANTANA GROUP’s scion known as KULP KALJARUEK who is reviving his aunt’s popular radio drama of the yester years onto the big screen. Famous in Thailand, KULP in his 20s is not a known name out of Thailand except for foreign film units who patronize his film company’s excellent post-production services.

This new HONG HOON is an adaptation of a popular radio classic horror that centers on two living humans.

The male lead is Nop (ANANDA EVERINGHAM) and the female actress is Ploy (RATTANARAT AURTHAVEEKUL). You’d label them as pretty couple.

In the film, their loved ones die under unusual circumstances, as soon as each of them receive an effigy replica of themselves moulded in wax.

Is there a devious killer looming in the mist? Or is it a haunting curse?

Together these young investigators try to fathom out the reality behind the mystery, but with disastrous results.

 Thai superstition warns that wax figurines of oneself should never be made until after one’s death. Of course there are rare exceptions, otherwise this film would never have been made.

Out of Thailand, Asian people observe traditions differently. Mannequin-like wax or paper effigies are not something to reckon with. They bring about doom, if not bad luck.

In the movie version of HONG HOON, Nop is investigating the death of his sister. He soon discovers that the cause of death is linked to a wax figurine that looks exactly like her.

About the same time, he encounters Ploy, a woman who initially believes she loses her father in an accident.

She soon discovers that her father’s death was no accident. It’s also connected to the wax mannequin he ordered for himself, before his death.

Unity is strength, so Nop and Ploy join forces to fight the lurking evil, but to their horror, they soon discover that there are also, mannequin-like wax effigies being crafted after them.

It is obvious, therefore that someone is plotting their demise. Who wants them dead?

Creepy effigies and mysterious deaths occur now and then in this creepy feature-film. You can take into account a nightclub singer and her snoopy friends whose days are numbered. Relax, you are assured of loads of thrills, spins, whatever.

First time director KULP KALJAREUK, believes he has done his best.  For all purpose and intent he has created an avant garde movie that delves into a world of despair and gloom.

No production expense is spared to create a foreboding mood throughout, what with all the darkness engulfing you, waiting to pounce.

ANANDA EVERINGHAM runs around wearing a pained look most of the time, hollering in the storm. He is a good ASIAN star, one of the best in Thailand.

He has my utmost respect as he is an unassuming actor who adores art and he is more than willing to explore overseas challenges.

His counterpart is Ploy (RATTANARAT) who is trying to keep up with this celebrity man.

In this dark tale, everyone will eventually congregate, along with Ploy’s cousin Pond (ORLEE SODTHIVANVONG) and friend Korn (BARIWATR YUTOH), at the mannequin maker’s shadowy villa. What will happen here?

Don’t ask too many questions, you are made to understand. Or you might perish prematurely and gets converted into a waxed mannequin.

Oh la la!

FOOTNOTES:

HONG HOON by all accounts, is an avant garde horror film that will shatter your senses and leave you speechless.

It is a decent piece of work crafted with brutal fascination.

ANANDA EVERINGHAM ‘s performance as an angry man is mesmerizing.

Righto.

Here’s the darker-than-dark movie trailer

RATING: 3 out of 5

LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR:  GSC MOVIES