Coventry Here we have something totally unique: an Asian ghost story! That's not unique at all, I hear you say? Well, it is if you bear in mind that "Nang Nak" comes from Thailand and hasn't got anything to do with the overrated and rather weak stream of Japanese horror movies, such as "Ringu", "Ju-On The Grudge" and "The Eye". The film is based on a perennial Thai legend that apparently everybody knows over there and finally received a reasonably well-budgeted and international-orientated film version now! The legend revolves on the happily married couple Mak (the man) and Nak (the wife) and is set in the second half of the 19th century. Mak is very reluctant to leave his pregnant wife to go and fight in the war, more particularly because she's expecting their first child. When he returns home, still recovering from the loss of his best friend in battle as well as a near-fatal chest wound, Mak finally hopes to find peace and quiet with his beloved family. But something changed here, too… Friends and neighbors keep telling that Nak died whilst giving birth and that Mak only lives together with the spirits of his wife and child. "Nang Nak" is one of those extremely rare films that successfully blend romance and genuine drama with horror! This film is as moving as it is frightening and, trust me, it's REALLY frightening at times! The story is pretty intense and heartbreaking, mostly thanks to powerful performances, yet the horror elements are definitely not ignored and multiple images are almost too grisly to process. For example: One minute, you observe the romance between two people and the next; you're watching eerie rats eating the corpse of a murdered woman! Near the end, the film becomes even more horrific, with exorcisms and burials all around, and STILL the story remains incredibly poignant. Not only the substance is amazing, mind you. "Nang Nak" might easily be the most stylish and beautifully photographed Asian film ever made! A giant amount of sequences, albeit unrelated to the basic story, are truly mesmerizing to behold and illustrate sunsets, animals, wildlife and agriculture. It's almost like watching an educational National Geographic documentary AND a great movie at the same time! Highly recommended!

lost-in-limbo Mac returns home form the war to live with his wife Nak and newborn baby after being nursed back to health by some monks. When he gets home he's unaware that both his wife and child are ghosts. So, when his neighbours and friends try to warn him, he doesn't believe them and also contributing to it is that his wife tells him that their friends treated her poorly when he was gone.A damn right weird, but beautifully told and directed horror feature from Thailand. It's quietly intriguing and also it flows with some originality. Something about this film is just plain hypnotic with its change of moods, moving score and luminous locations. The cinematography was rather provocative and relentless in its treatment. This added to the film's whole uneasy feel, which somehow really gets under your skin rather effectively. The actual plot is a tale of everlasting love and loyalty to the one we care for and share our life with, no matter the circumstances. This is portrayed in such a haunting and subtle way and the direction follows the same suit. So when suddenly some frantic scenes of violence and bizarre makeup effects pop up, it just felt out of place compared to the overall tone that was created to begin with. The pace of the film because of it was a bit bumpy, but nonetheless it's hard to find a massive fault about it. No matter if nothing was really happening on screen, you just can't keep your eyes off it. One reason for that is the good performances, and that's especially from Winai Kraibutr as Mak and Intira Jaroenpura as Nak. You do care for these characters. Although, sometimes maybe the dialogue was a bit of a stretch and tad melodramatic, but a dreamy experience with some nightmarish occurrences creates some unsettling moments and develops a decent and meaningful drama within. Even if it's a tad slow. But, hey it did deliver a unique story and also the tension that was built was well sustained.This unusually tragic love story was a wonder to view.

Cliff Sloane There is a lot more to this film than immediately meets the eye. Most Thai historicals or ghost stories are loaded with anachronistic pop culture cliches. This one wasn't; people spoke with their mouths filled with betel (maak), the lead actress didn't have lipstick, the houses were quite realistic, etc. In addition, the rural monks switched between high-level speech and country slang. The point is that this film is a serious attempt to do justice to both the original tale and the time period it is set in. The empathy for Nak far surpassed the scariness. What stood out for me is that Nak's justification for her actions seemed quite defensible, adding to the anguished poignancy of the situation.Asian ghost stories, when done well, have a strongly moral character. This is one of the finest examples I have seen.

captainpat Nang Nak is the first Thai film that has got Thai people back watching Thai films. It is Director Nonzee Nimibutr's second film.Unfortunately foreigners will not understand the legend behind this film. It is a true story and the legend is very much alive in every Thai person's mind. The Temple (Wat MahaWoot) is still an active temple and even today people flock to the temple to get good luck (lucky numbers) for their lottery tickets.The story has been told many times in film and also for television - but it still has a great impact on the Thai.The film is well worth watching. The sound is excellent. There are a few problems with English sub titles but overall the Director did an excellent job. Small budget, good casting, excellent sound.