Raikantopeni - Thai series and more

**** Please give some estimate of gore and horror levels to help others decide****

halfcactus suggested a watch party. Anyone want to set one up?


my recs (3 movies and 3 series, aiming for something for everyone, including those who don't like scary things or don't have much time to spare):

Comedy:
Low Season (High on comedy, low on horror but there are a lot of jump scares and the ghosts are icky-looking; bilibili or dailymotion)

Nang Nak (More dark drama than horror, should be easy to find, try YT or your favorite site. I don't remember gore levels, there must be some?)
The story of Mae Nak Phra Khanong is a very popular Thai legend. MDL lists 15 direct adaptations of the story and those are just the ones with similar titles. This is the only one I've seen so far. It's been a wee while since I've seen it but what I remember is that it's very dark (both content and lighting), sad, unsettling and excellent.
If you only have time for one and want to learn about Thai culture, this is a good choice.
(edit: YT with Eng subs is low video quality, dailymotion is best)

The Medium (slowly increasing horror, bilibili)
Slow burn world-building in a shamanistic world which creeps stealthily from psychological to horror. From the MDL reviews it seems it's not for everyone but oh did it work for me. Glad I didn't watch it in the evening.

Series:
Enigma (Moderate but brief gore in a few parts; GMMTV's YT)
Compact 4 episode supernatural series set in a girls high school featuring intelligent, determined young women and Win Metawin's abs. It is VERY bingeable (best binged IMO if you can), creepy AF but not too scary or gory. Well crafted and great story-telling - they do brilliant things with lighting, acting, sound, well-contextualised props and editing.

Ghosts but not scary (the first episode a little maybe):
Ghost Host, Ghost House (8 episodes, NOT horror, ghosts are lovely not icky; Vibie's YT)
This looks like it's another fluffy BL made by an internet platform to promote themselves - it is so much more. Thai series can have such a gentle way with difficult emotions and this is the gentlest of them. The story is told simply, with emotional intelligence and vulnerability.

He's Coming to Me (8 episodes,NOT horror, humorous ghosts and big emotions; GMMTV's YT)
There is so much kindness and warmth in this. It is beautiful and funny and heartbreaking and full of love. Some mystery and tension but very well balanced. From Moonlight Chicken director P'Aof with Singto, Ohm, Gigie, Chimon, Sing and a great BL mum (played by the same actress as Nang Nak above, which I still can't quite get my head around :D )

Whether it's not yet aired or just something you haven't gotten around to yet, what series, movies or lakorns are you looking forward to?

The Secret of Us. It's lesbian. It's Channel 3. It's LGBTQ+ lakorn. My favourite actress Prigkhing is in it. Orm Kornnaphat too. Loved her takes no shit tomboy character in Matalada. She seems to be playing more femme in this though. But still it's Orm :)

Kroo Baan Nok (To Sir, With Love) Film about a teacher sent to an underprivileged community in Issan province. Finally found it, wasn't expecting subs so not disappointed that way. Now I just need the concentration to try to follow it raw.

The Cursed Land Not keen on horror in general, though I tend to do better with Thai. For Ananda Everingham and Jennis Oprasert, who was so good in The Broken Us, I will brave it.

Present, Perfect short film by Nattawut Poonpiriya whose work I've seen so far is good enough I ration it :)   [It is excellent. Highly recommended. Link here

My Precious series-edit - adaptation of a (semi-?)autobiographical coming of age Taiwanese novel. Unknowingly watched the movie edit first so half of me thinks I should wait to forget more of it and part of me says but it was so much fun. Nanon, Film, Ohm, Neo, Chimon, View, Euro, Drake.

Junk Mail my next on Thai PBS that I keep not getting around to. Need to just start it now that English subs are up.

What are you looking forward to?

Sweet Sensory has a season 2!!!! It's just completed airing. Now to wait for subtitles.

The Broken Us, 2022  12 episodes

A single event brings four strangers into each other's lives. They're all very different and struggling with their own concerns, which leads to friction as well as understanding.

This gentle lakorn takes on serious, heavy issues and wraps them in warmth and kindness. It's about friendship, acceptance and helping each other. It is beautifully done, from the gentle acoustic closing song to the quirky coffee shop with Mackintosh metalwork to the care that's taken with the progression of the characters' growth individually and in their friendships.

The characters feel real and believable, especially the four central ones, along with the issues they face and the changes they make in their lives. All in all, this is one of the most emotionally satisfying series I've seen.

On Thai PBS with English subtitles.

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The Library, written and directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya. Available here, 31 minutes

The story for this is rich enough it could easily have been made into a full length film or series.

It would have been less if it had. The acting and directing are exquisite. They convey everything they need to tell this story through a look, or a few words. Together, this richness and brevity make for an emotionally powerful story. There is nothing extraneous to dilute its impact.

Cinematography and music complement it well, making the perfect atmosphere.

Cannot recommend this one highly enough. It is quietly, gently, heartbreakingly beautiful.

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May Who?

Watched this at a time when I was struggling with words so I didn't get anything down. I loved it though, exactly my type of warm, goofy coming-of-age movie with good characters, genre-borrowing that becomes its own lexicon, and told with the open-hearted, generous humour which infuses many Thai comedies. Will certainly return to it.

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Khun Chai (To Sir, With Love) 2022, 17 episodes  one31 with English subtitles


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Stay, 2015, 4 episodes (ask me for a link to fansubs which have fortunately kept this gem still available)

An inquisitive, full of life young Thai woman ends up in Japan on her own and not knowing the language. The family at the farm where she'll be living and working for three weeks is warm, kind and welcoming. Two more show up and cause a bit of chaos. There's a fair bit of sightseeing and a lot of food, some out at markets and restaurants but the most memorable are at home amongst this found family.

Everything is balanced. Jook's vitality, Mee's calm steadiness; uncle Hattori's mischievous grin, his daughter Naomi's gentleness; difficulties when there isn't a shared language, the ways they find around that. All of the characters are well thought out and portrayed. They're each distinct in personality but fit together well. It's a lovely group of people to spend time with.

It's a quiet series, which might disappoint some. The emotions aren't big or dramatic, they're just very real.