This review may contain spoilers
What Really Happened Next Door
The story centers around a story featured on a radio programme called The Ghost Radio. It reminded me that my country also had a similar programme back in the '80s and '90s, but it ended because of a phone call. Basically, the call was about a guy who had seen a ghost. The call ended with his scream. Until now, no one knows what happened to the guy. It still gives me the creeps whenever I think about it.
Anyway, back to the spoiler... I mean, review.
Win and his heavily pregnant wife, Pat, buy a beautiful second-hand house in a quiet housing estate. The house seems almost too cheap, and the seller gives them an unusual warning: don't interfere with the neighbours and don't get involved with what happens next door. Basically, keep to yourself.
Win was sure the warning was meant for their neighbour across the road because the old lady was eccentric.
One day, Win notices a security guard always stopping in front of his house. Whenever he goes out to give the guard some food, the security guard disappears. What is left at the spot is an offering—the kind of food normally left for spirits.
Win is told by the realtor to inquire about it at the management office. He is told that a security guard had passed away, but his spirit still lingers. The offering was left there by the old lady.
Win is angry. Of all the houses, why did she choose his as the offering spot?
That same night, after leaving the management office, he removes every food offering left at the spot, including a boulder.
Yes, big mistake.
That's when the true horror begins.
Apparently, the boulder was an anchor placed by the old lady to keep the spirit living next door to Win's house from wandering. The spirit belonged to a beautiful woman whom his wife had once met.
That's when they find out that the woman had died in her house and wasn't discovered until her body had already decomposed.
Win and Pat couldn't handle the haunting anymore. Multiple shamans came to cleanse their house, and for once, everything seemed to settle down.
Pat gave birth, and their daughter grew up happily. They even threw a welcoming party at their house.
Then everything went berserk again.
Win discovers that the ghost had possessed his friend, and that his friend had removed a talisman from their house.
Win gets into an accident, and while he's at the hospital, Nuad, the previous owner, comes to visit. He tells them that the house once belonged to his sister and brother-in-law. He had been asked to babysit their daughter while they went on a spiritual journey.
Everything seemed fine until the last day of his stay—the day his sister and brother-in-law were supposed to return.
The ghost spared Nuad and his niece on one condition: he had to sell the house.
And that's exactly what Nuad did. He sold it to Win.
Nuad tells them that the only person they can turn to is the old lady.
And off they go.
The old lady tells Win to return to his house. She will open his third eye. They need to find out why the ghost is so obsessed with that particular house.
Once they discover the reason—which I won't spoil—the old lady suggests that they enter the house where the spirit died and cleanse it.
Pat asks another shaman to help them.
The four of them—the old lady, Win, Nuad and Ploy, the shaman—enter the house while Pat and her daughter remain inside their own home, protected by a sacred symbol and chanting scriptures.
When they think they are about to succeed, the old lady suddenly screams:
"Why didn't you tell me the two of you were entangled?"
Cue another flashback.
I won't spoil that one either.
Win becomes possessed by the ghost and runs back to his house, trying to murder Pat and their daughter.
Then, at a moment of clarity, Win pushes Pat and their daughter into a pool below and embraces the ghost.
Yes, if you've watched Dark Water, you might find the ending strangely familiar.
Nuad survives the ordeal and later shares the story on a radio programme, while Ploy promises to help Pat get Win back.
A sequel... maybe?
Anyway, back to the spoiler... I mean, review.
Win and his heavily pregnant wife, Pat, buy a beautiful second-hand house in a quiet housing estate. The house seems almost too cheap, and the seller gives them an unusual warning: don't interfere with the neighbours and don't get involved with what happens next door. Basically, keep to yourself.
Win was sure the warning was meant for their neighbour across the road because the old lady was eccentric.
One day, Win notices a security guard always stopping in front of his house. Whenever he goes out to give the guard some food, the security guard disappears. What is left at the spot is an offering—the kind of food normally left for spirits.
Win is told by the realtor to inquire about it at the management office. He is told that a security guard had passed away, but his spirit still lingers. The offering was left there by the old lady.
Win is angry. Of all the houses, why did she choose his as the offering spot?
That same night, after leaving the management office, he removes every food offering left at the spot, including a boulder.
Yes, big mistake.
That's when the true horror begins.
Apparently, the boulder was an anchor placed by the old lady to keep the spirit living next door to Win's house from wandering. The spirit belonged to a beautiful woman whom his wife had once met.
That's when they find out that the woman had died in her house and wasn't discovered until her body had already decomposed.
Win and Pat couldn't handle the haunting anymore. Multiple shamans came to cleanse their house, and for once, everything seemed to settle down.
Pat gave birth, and their daughter grew up happily. They even threw a welcoming party at their house.
Then everything went berserk again.
Win discovers that the ghost had possessed his friend, and that his friend had removed a talisman from their house.
Win gets into an accident, and while he's at the hospital, Nuad, the previous owner, comes to visit. He tells them that the house once belonged to his sister and brother-in-law. He had been asked to babysit their daughter while they went on a spiritual journey.
Everything seemed fine until the last day of his stay—the day his sister and brother-in-law were supposed to return.
The ghost spared Nuad and his niece on one condition: he had to sell the house.
And that's exactly what Nuad did. He sold it to Win.
Nuad tells them that the only person they can turn to is the old lady.
And off they go.
The old lady tells Win to return to his house. She will open his third eye. They need to find out why the ghost is so obsessed with that particular house.
Once they discover the reason—which I won't spoil—the old lady suggests that they enter the house where the spirit died and cleanse it.
Pat asks another shaman to help them.
The four of them—the old lady, Win, Nuad and Ploy, the shaman—enter the house while Pat and her daughter remain inside their own home, protected by a sacred symbol and chanting scriptures.
When they think they are about to succeed, the old lady suddenly screams:
"Why didn't you tell me the two of you were entangled?"
Cue another flashback.
I won't spoil that one either.
Win becomes possessed by the ghost and runs back to his house, trying to murder Pat and their daughter.
Then, at a moment of clarity, Win pushes Pat and their daughter into a pool below and embraces the ghost.
Yes, if you've watched Dark Water, you might find the ending strangely familiar.
Nuad survives the ordeal and later shares the story on a radio programme, while Ploy promises to help Pat get Win back.
A sequel... maybe?
Was this review helpful to you?
