Starring: Marsha Wathanapanich, Withaya Wasukraipaisan, Rachanu Boonchuduang
Directors: Parkpoom Wongpoom, Banjong Pisanthanakun
Scheduled release: 23 August

Thai writer-directors Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom shot to prominence in the horror genre with their debut Shutter, which I regrettably missed in its theatrical run here. I am though, now the happy owner of an autographed DVD and able to enjoy the film at my leisure.

Having finally mustered up enough courage to sit through Thai horror movies (and finding them really enjoyable, although at times comedic), I’ve shuddered at some of the genre’s recent efforts which harp everlastingly on the same theme and are dumbed down by weak execution. But not Shutter, and definitely not Alone.

If you thought Pisanthanakun and Wongpoom were one-hit wonders with their debut movie, then Alone will prove you wrong. Despite counting on the usual lighting and shadow techniques, quick-cut surprises and scares, and the pristine, well-crafted sound effects, this movie demonstrates that as long as you deliver the product with great technical skill and respect for the medium, it’ll still be as enjoyable as watching it all for the very first time. Having a storyline which engages helps as well, and here the duo still seem to have a thing or two for old photographs, this time of Siamese twins, although not as grotesque as those shown in the Alone trailers.

While the storyline isn’t really that original, with a surviving Siamese twin encountering the supernatural return of her deceased sister, and if you look closely enough there are enough hints of the revelatory twist to come, what matters is how the subject is introduced and crafted, how tension and suspense are built, and how easy it is to spook audiences when all the ingredients turn out right.

Pisanthanakun and Wongpoom featured male heartthrob Ananda Everingham in their previous movie, but now the opportunity is given to the beautiful and very photogenic Marsha Wathanapanich, who plays the Siamese twins Pim and Ploy. Starring opposite her in a Natthaweeranuch Thongmee kind of role, is Withaya Wasukraipaisan as Wee, Pim’s boyfriend. When Pim’s mother (Rachanu Boonchuduang) is suddenly taken ill back in Thailand, the couple have to leave their careers in Korea and journey back to the land of smiles, where the unexpected starts to happen. Pim’s encounters with whom she presumes is Ploy leads Wee to thinking she needs psychiatric help, but slowly he too gets drawn into the web of supernatural intrigue.

Marsha Wathanapanich nails the role, fitting it to a T. Given that Pim and Ploy’s characters are key to the movie, she manages to bring out the vast differences in character of the two sisters (though, of course, the teenage actresses who play the younger versions also help). In shedding light onto the ongoing mystery, recollections and flashbacks help provide a certain richness to the entire backstory for all the characters and play on a common theme which left me pondering – though I cannot elaborate further other than wondering whether ignorance is sometimes bliss and it is sometimes better to live a lie.

Alone is excellent stuff, even though the horrific moments might come few and far between, and there was a sub-genre shift in the last 10 minutes or so. Its numerous strengths easily outweigh the minute weaknesses and, as a superbly crafted tried-and-tested story, this could easily be a hit at the box office. Recommended for all itching for a good scare!

Stefan S