Rifky Nobu Mitsuki
Ciamis
Without a doubt, The Medium is absolutely one of the most creepiest film I watched last year.
As a person who was born in Southeast Asia, it's no stranger to shamanism, regardless of whether you have used his services or not, but at least you must have heard stories or seen people who are victims of shamanic practices. I myself belong to the group who have only seen people affected by this shaman's witchcraft, the victims are from my own family but thankfully my brother has recovered.
With that experience, the film feels relatable and it's easier for me to follow the plot, moreover, I often hear this type of story when hanging out with friends and will never get bored.
The film itself tells about a group of Thai documentary team traveling to the northeast part of Thailand, Isan to document the daily life of a local medium, Nim, who is possessed by the spirit of Bayan. Bayan is an ancestral God and has been possessing women in Nim's family for generations.
Then later the film will focus on Nim's niece, Ming. After a lot of strange things happen to Ming, Nim is initially convinced Bayan wishes Ming to succeed Nim, but it turns out not to be what the characters and even me expected.
This film is well-construct, in the first 1 hour, we are stuffed with information about the characters from Nim's shamanism to the misfortunes that always happen to the Noi family, while setting the atmosphere and tension which will really serve as provisions for the last 1 hour.
In the last 1 hour Banjong gradually started trying to scare, especially with Ming who was possessed by an evil spirit who was described as so wicked because it was said that all kinds of spirits entered Ming's body, so yeah she really pushed as a nightmare source here. They also include a Paranormal Activity-style segment before exorcising Ming which honestly gives me goosebumps. But the peak moment is when the exorcism begins, all I can say is that confidence is turned to despair.
Kudos to all the cast, they are really did a good job as a medium for transmitting fear, especially Narilya Gulmongkolpech as Ming, started as cute good looking girl (I thought I fall for her in funeral scene) to creepy-sick looking girl (WTF, I shocked), her appearance change which is also accompanied by a change in her acting from a cheerful girl to a scary girl, I honestly think she is really cool, deserve to be praise.
Banjong Pisanthanakun, undeniably that he is indeed a director who is good at making films; from horror, romance to comedy genres. It's a shame that in the past 5 years he has only directed 2 titles. We need more from you Mr. Banjong.
The only thing I don't like from this film was the cameraman of this documentary team seems weird, they did take pretty good shot but did the documentary cameraman have to keep shooting even though someone in front of him needed help? or what's a little annoying here is when the cameraman is asked by a monk or someone to just check on Ming's aunt's son but he hesitates and doesn't even help that someone prevent the aunt from doing **Confidential**.
Overall, a pretty good found footage horror films, also from asia. Nice.
With that experience, the film feels relatable and it's easier for me to follow the plot, moreover, I often hear this type of story when hanging out with friends and will never get bored.
The film itself tells about a group of Thai documentary team traveling to the northeast part of Thailand, Isan to document the daily life of a local medium, Nim, who is possessed by the spirit of Bayan. Bayan is an ancestral God and has been possessing women in Nim's family for generations.
Then later the film will focus on Nim's niece, Ming. After a lot of strange things happen to Ming, Nim is initially convinced Bayan wishes Ming to succeed Nim, but it turns out not to be what the characters and even me expected.
This film is well-construct, in the first 1 hour, we are stuffed with information about the characters from Nim's shamanism to the misfortunes that always happen to the Noi family, while setting the atmosphere and tension which will really serve as provisions for the last 1 hour.
In the last 1 hour Banjong gradually started trying to scare, especially with Ming who was possessed by an evil spirit who was described as so wicked because it was said that all kinds of spirits entered Ming's body, so yeah she really pushed as a nightmare source here. They also include a Paranormal Activity-style segment before exorcising Ming which honestly gives me goosebumps. But the peak moment is when the exorcism begins, all I can say is that confidence is turned to despair.
Kudos to all the cast, they are really did a good job as a medium for transmitting fear, especially Narilya Gulmongkolpech as Ming, started as cute good looking girl (I thought I fall for her in funeral scene) to creepy-sick looking girl (WTF, I shocked), her appearance change which is also accompanied by a change in her acting from a cheerful girl to a scary girl, I honestly think she is really cool, deserve to be praise.
Banjong Pisanthanakun, undeniably that he is indeed a director who is good at making films; from horror, romance to comedy genres. It's a shame that in the past 5 years he has only directed 2 titles. We need more from you Mr. Banjong.
The only thing I don't like from this film was the cameraman of this documentary team seems weird, they did take pretty good shot but did the documentary cameraman have to keep shooting even though someone in front of him needed help? or what's a little annoying here is when the cameraman is asked by a monk or someone to just check on Ming's aunt's son but he hesitates and doesn't even help that someone prevent the aunt from doing **Confidential**.
Overall, a pretty good found footage horror films, also from asia. Nice.
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