OTHER ASIAN CINEMAS
All the films below are English Subtitled or in English unless otherwise noted. [BA] Denotes that BOX ART is available for that particular title.
HORROR & EURO CULT MONDO & DOCUMENTARY GIALLO CINEMA
HONG KONG CINEMA JAPANESE CINEMA KOREAN CINEMA
SPANISH & MEXICAN MISCELLANEOUS
THAI CINEMA:
303 Fear, Faith and Revenge: 303 glua-glaa-aakaat. Dir. Somching Srisuparp. Fantastic horror/ghost film from Thailand. A group of young schoolboys become intrigued by an image of a former student who died years earlier. In their quest to find out more about him they discover that many other students are missing from the same year. They hold a séance in an attempt to talk to the dead student and accidentally stir evil forces. What follows is typical stalk and slash action with fantastic gory FX and stunning cinematography. Must see! Thai language with English subtitles, Widescreen.
6ixtynin9: Ruang talok 69. Dir. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. Thai Thriller. Subtitled. (1999)
999-9999: To Tid Tai. Dir. Peter Manus. Rainbow has just moved to an international school in Phuket. She soon becomes the center of attention as many new friends are curious to know about the recent death of a student at her old school up North. She relates it to a mysterious phone number, 999-9999, a number reputed to grant the caller’s wish. The victim apparently had his wish granted soon before he was found dead on a flagpole. Despite Rainbow’s warnings, many of her new peers decide to try this out. Although the various wishes are fulfilled, a series of accident-like deaths occurs, until Sun becomes the only teen in the group left alive. Death is awaiting him, however, as he’s also made a wish which has yet to be fulfilled. Together, Rainbow and Sun must solve the mystery of the evil phone number, and stop whatever it’s going to bring to them. (Movieseer Synopsis) Widescreen Subtitled. (2002)
Ban
Pii Pob: Thai HORROR Starring Treerak
and Ekaphan
Bangkok Dangerous: Dir. Oxide & Danny Pang. Superb recent gritty Thai Action/Drama (produced by Nonzee Minibutr no less) about a young deaf mute hitman. Absolutely superbly shot! Includes Trailer. Subtitled. (2000)
Bangkok Haunted: Dir's. Oxide Pang and Pisuth Praesaeng-Iam. Created and assembled by two eminent directors, this is a ghost story, in the true, creepy, lush and haunting sense of the term. Set in present day Bangkok in one of the darker lit pubs, three young adults gather together and share their experiences with the supernatural. One of them, Jieb, owns an antique business. Once, an old drum came her way, about 70 years old, and soon after, Jieb began having strange dreams, and hearing a woman’s voice speaking to her. Searching the drum’s history, she discovers some shocking things about her own. Another of the women, Pan, is single, lonely and looking for love. A friend introduces her to an herbal essence called Black Magic Woman, in a pagan ceremony. The scent induces men to fall in love with her, and she is, for a time, not aware how dangerous the potion is. Finally, Nop is a policeman who gets in trouble with authorities when he finds a deceased young woman and investigates it as a homicide, not suicide as his peers claimed. He may find that a guiding spirit in the form of a ghost is the only thing that can help him in his quest. (Movieseer synopsis) Widescreen Thai Language without Subtitles. (2001)
Body Jumper: Dir. Haeman chatemee. This is a hugely successful Thai Horror! It’s the year 2000 A.D., the first of the new millennium, and a vicious, hungry ghost is ravaging the small village Sam Kotr, in the Roi Et Province. The victims are all men, and they start dropping like flies. Pretty soon, the whole village is engulfed in an eerie, gloomy silence as people become afraid to leave their homes at night. Finally, an exorcist is brought in to do away with the demon. But then, a new school year begins and a group of students arrive from Bangkok on a rural development project. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)
Buppah Rahtree: Scent of the Night Flower. Dir. Yuthlert Sippapak. Buppah Rahtree (Chermarn Poonyasak) is a shy university student who has suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Seduced by rich playboy Ake Dunrongsgup (Kris Srepoomseth) solely to win a cynical bet, Buppah finds herself quickly abandoned and even worse, pregnant. Feeling pangs of guilty remorse Ake begs Buppah for forgiveness - until he finds out about her pregnancy and quickly takes up his parents' offer to attend graduate school in England. Penniless, alone and living in a slum apartment owned by greedy landlady Mrs See who runs a spiritualist scam, Buppah commits a sad suicide when she's unable to pay the rent. It's after she returns from the dead as a horribly disfigured ghost to exact a terrible dismemberment revenge on all of those who have mistreated her that Scent of the Night Flower goes from deadly serious to seriously funny. Complete with a final sting in the tale, comic out-takes under the end credits, high-decibel dialogue and a tone that literally shrieks 'I'm here, I veer, get used to it', you won't have seen anything quite like Buppah Rahtree before. Thai Language without subtitles (very easy to understand) (2004)
Cloning: Thai Sci-Fi. This is a fantastically filmed Sci-Fi with huge production values about a covert cloning experiment in which a rich young playboys' clone hunts him down in an attempt to eliminate him and take over his life. Kind of a cross between Terminator and Frankenstein set against the backdrop of a futuristic looking Bangkok. Excellent! Widescreen Subtitled. (2000)
Dang Bireley's and Young Gangsters: 2499 antapan krong muang. Dir. Nonzee Nimibutr. This is the original Thai DVD. Excellent Gangster/Action film from the director of Nang Nak and Jan Dara. This was his debut feature. Based on the true story of a 1950's gangster named Dang Bireley. Widescreen Subtitled. (1997)
Ghost Dormitory: Extreme 3D: Haunted Dorm. Thai Horror in 3D. You'll need regular green/red 3D glasses to watch this one! English subtitles (2004)
Headhunter: Extreme 3D: Thai Horror in 3D. You'll need regular green/red 3D glasses to watch this one! English subtitles (2004)
The Hotel: Dir. Anukul Jarotok. New Horror film from very much up and coming Thailand. A husband and wife inherit a beach side mansion by leaving the sole benefactor to die. They move in and decide to turn it into a hotel. 25 years later their grown up children return from overseas to renovate and look after the hotel. Shortly after their return guests start dying horrible and violent deaths at the hands of a sadistic killer. Widescreen Subtitled (2002)
Hunch: A group of people gather at a friend`s house for the weekend, but when they consult the ouija board, they find a malicious spirit who they accidentally free. Widescreen Subtitled (2003)
Iron Ladies: Dir. Youngyooth Thongkonthun. This is the longer original Thai version. All other versions of this film, the Hong Kong DVD included, were cut for the purposes of international sales, by Fortissimo Films. A volleyball team from Lampung defies the odds and the prejudice of others to make it to the national championships of Thailand. The team is composed of a rather eccentric group of friends of which all but one are gay. They just want to play in the championships and prove that they belong. (MovieSeer Synopsis) Subtitled Widescreen. (2001)
Jan Dara: Dir Nonzee Nimibutr. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)
Krai Thong: Dir. Suthat Intaranupakorn. This film tells the legendary tale of hero Krai Thong, who used his extreme force, strength of will and superhuman skills when entering a battle to confront the largest crocodile in the world. This fierce monster, Chalawan, has the power of turning into a human being when he enters his golden cave. Chalawan, in human guise, went into town one day and was utterly captivated by the daughter of a millionaire, Tapaokaew, and kidnapped her, returning with her to his cave. Her father, distressed by his daughter’s disappearance, made an announcement that anyone strong enough to kill the legendary Chalawan would get as a prize his daughter, and a lot of money. Krai Thong knew this was a job for him … (MovieSeer Synopsis) Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)
Lhorn: Haunted. Dir. Arphichard Phopairoj. A story about the enigmatic beliefs, legends and mysteries from four different regions of Thailand, relayed in the local dialect. Phee-Phong is a tale from Northern Thailand. It’s said a magical tree called “Wan-ya” could transform into a tranquil ghost when its owners magic powers increase. The spirit would remain calm until someone identifies its host body…Nang-Ta-Kien is a tale from the central region. A murder victim killed under a tree called “Ta-Kien” plots revenge against her killer. Prai-Ta-Ni is the tale of a woman who lived in the banana trees. She will cast magic spells for the man she loves. But if her love is rejected, she becomes cruel… Finally, a ghost in northeastern Thailand violated the rules of magic, and the soul of her teacher punishes her by cursing him as Pob – a female sprit who loves to feast on the guts of the living. Widescreen Subtitled (2003)
Mae Bia: Dir. Somching Srisuparp. From the Director of 303 Fear, Faith, Revenge. When Chanachol returns from years away overseas, he decides to refamiliarize himself with his home country by taking a tour. This tour introduces him to the mysterious, temptress Mekhala whose suitors always seem to fall upon bad fortunes. The two begin to fall in love, but Mekhala is keeping a deep and dangerous secret from Chanachol. Will their love last or will he fall on the same fate as the men who have come before him? (MovieSeer Synopsis) Subtitled Widescreen. (2001)
Mora: Traditional Thai Fantasy Drama with erotic elements.
Nai Kha Nom Tom: Paithoon Ratanonn. Orphan Nai Khanomtom was bullied by Aeydam while growing up, prompting him to take up muayThai. Later, the pair became friends and promised to fight against the advancing Burmese army together. Before the Burmese arrived in Krungsriayudhaya, they had to pass Khanomtom and Aeydam’s hometown of Pamok. They split into two groups: Aeydam and his team would fight the Burmese while Khanomtom’s team went to Krungsriayudhaya to monitor the opposition troops’ movements there. But Khanomtom was caught and imprisoned. Later, on the new chedi celebration day, Prajaomangra, the head of Burma, ordered Khanomtom to display his muayThai skills, promising to help the Thai if he could beat nine of his soldiers. Widescreen Subtitled. (2003)
Nang Nak: Directed by Nonzee Nimibutr. Adapted from a Thai Ghost legend, this story tells of Mak, a man sent away from his expectant wife to fight in a civil war. While Mak is away his wife goes into labour and dies during the child birth, only to deny her and her child's death and continue to live as ghosts. Mak returns home injured from the war and only slowly begins to realise something is amiss with his wife and child. This film has some fantastic moments of sheer horror as well as more tender moments and was a huge hit both in its native Thailand and on the worldwide festival circuit! Must See. Widescreen Subtitled.
Ong Bak: Dir. Pracha Pinkaew. Fantastic and very highly rated martial arts film from Thailand starring the new king of the martial arts movie Phanom Yeerum (who resurrected a long forgotten and particularly brutal style of Muaythai (Muayboran) especially for this film) A religious treasure is stolen from a village temple just weeks before an important festival and it is the task of Boonting (Yeerum) to reclaim the relic. He travels to Bangkok where it is suspected that the relic has been taken and inadvertently gets involved in illegal fighting which is organized by the relic thieves. The fight scenes in this are nothing short of amazing concentrating less on the fetishistic grace of Chinese martial arts and focusing more on the pain an brutality of real fighting... the flying elbows to the head will have you flinching in pain! Fantastic! a must see since it'll be the beginning of the Thai martial arts film! Widescreen no subtitles (but who needs them) (2002)
Ong-Bak: The Making Of: A visually insightful look into the making of Thailand's answer to to the Martial Arts genre. Loads of behind the scenes footage detailing every major stunt and fight in the film and also contains an alternate ending to the film. Thai language without subtitles. (2002)
Phra-Apai-Manee: As yet unreleased in cinemas, this Thai fantasy/legend is based on an a famous epic Thai poem. Fantasy film full to the brim with Princes, Princesses, Mermaids and Giants! Widescreen Subtitled.
Province 77: Dir. Timsawat Smith. Thai Town is a six-block area near Hollywood, Los Angeles, which is home to over 50,000 expatriated Thais. The town is such a gateway for Thais entering America it was dubbed Thailand’s 77th Province. The movie follows a Thai family as it struggles to survive in Los Angeles’ fast-paced consumerist culture, while still maintaining traditional values. The identity struggle between Thai-ness and the high octane way of life on the west coast of America, defined by hip-hop, drugs, street racing and violence, affects Pat (model Mike Kingpayom), a good boy tempted by a life of crime, and his sister (played by Mike’s real-life sister Methinee Kingpayom). Widescreen Subtitled. (2003)
Sek hunlaiga ma la Pob: Thai HORROR Starring Sonic Sunny and Ann Osiri. No Subtitles. No plot details yet, Because I haven't had time to watch it.
Snaker: Kuon puos keng kang - The Snake King's Child. Dir. Fai Sam Ang. Superb Thai Fantasy/Horror based on a classic Cambodian snake legend. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)
Tayaat grasU sawaat: Thai Erotic Horror. Thai Language No Subtitles.
Tears of the Black Tiger: Fa talai jone. Dir. Wisit Sartsanatieng. This is the shorter and therefore, perhaps a little more polished UK Pathé version that was edited down by Fortissimo Films. Superb Thai Genre-bender. Superbly stylized to create the look of early technicolor, the film is visually absolutely stunning with bright almost fluorescent colours and rapid MTV style editing. The film often reaches moments of complete surrealism, especially considering it's a typical Hollywood style Western from a Thai perspective with musical interludes! Fantastic! Widescreen Subtitled. (2000)
Tears of the Black Tiger: Fah Talai Jone. Dir. Wisit Sartsanatieng. This is the longer original Thai version. All other versions of this film, the UK Pathé DVD included, were cut for the purposes of international film sales, by Fortissimo Films. A heart-wrenching love story between Rampoey, a rich girl, and Sua-dum, a poor and reclusive man on the run. The film begins during World War II, when Rampoey’s family moved to Supanburi province. Once there, she meets and falls for “Dum”, who saves for from a bad situation, but winds up with a scar on his face. Ten years later, now in Bangkok, fate pits Rampoey and Dum together again, and fall in love all over again, despite their different backgrounds. Dum promises to go back to the provinces to make enough money to support them in a future marriage. She agrees. But fate intervenes again. He encounters some other bandits bent on making his life miserable, and meanwhile, Rampoey’s father forces her to marry someone else. They both try to fight their respective obstacles, but their efforts might not be enough. (Movieseer Synopsis) Widescreen Subtitled. (2000)
Tigress of King River: Saap sUa ti Lumnam Kasat. Dir. Bhandit Rittakol. Set in early King Rama V era, former British soldier Peter Bain is busted for trying to sell defective firearms to influential Chinese merchant Yang. Forced to hunt wild game with these firearms along with Yang’s men, Bain links up with ex-monk Wan and Karen-American hunter Julia, who he meets on the way to the jungle. The group sets off to hunt an elephant, said to be protected by a ghostly tigress that can transform itself into a woman. The tigress is supposedly possessed by the revengeful spirit of Nian, a woman who was tortured and killed in the King River Battle almost a century earlier. As Wan learns more about the tigress myth, he tries to release Nian’s spirit, but Yang’s men want to destroy Nian and get the elephant. With greed, resentment, and karma from past lives encircling the group, violence is surely around the corner. (MovieSeer Synopsis) Subtitled Widescreen. (2002)
Yah Nark: Extreme 3D: Thai Horror in 3D. You'll need regular green/red 3D glasses to watch this one! English subtitles (2004)
VIETNAMESE CINEMA:
Cyclo:
Widescreen Subtitled.
CAMBODIAN CINEMA:
Ngu Geng Gong: The Snake Girl. This is a Cambodian film based on a Cambodian legend of a girl cursed to carry snakes as hair over her head, and is the first film to come out of this war torn country. A very interesting piece of cinema. and recommended! Subtitled.
HORROR & EURO CULT MONDO & DOCUMENTARY
GIALLO CINEMA HONG KONG CINEMA JAPANESE CINEMA
KOREAN CINEMA SPANISH & MEXICAN MISCELLANEOUS