P aka The Possessed (2005)

Whilst growing up in rural Thailand, a young orphan girl is taught the ways of magic by her grandmother. But when grandmother falls sick, Dau is lured to Bangkok to find work so that she can buy medicine. She finds herself working in a go-go bar, and her journey from naiveté to maturity is swift. She uses the magical skills her grandmother taught her to her advantage, but in doing so makes enemies within the bar. As her magic gets darker, and the consequences increasingly horrific, she gradually loses control, and something evil takes over.



With Japanese horror joining the mainstream and Korean cinema making its mark, the latest nation to hit the horror festival circuit is Thailand. P (literally translated as ghost in Thai) paved the way with appearances at numerous horror film festivals including London’s Frightfest. Interesting, as the film, despite being set in Bangkok, was written, directed and edited by British filmmaker, Paul Spurrier. The story is about a young girl forced to earn money in the go-go bars of Bangkok to pay for medicine for her grandmother who has taught her witchcraft. As she descends further into the dark and sinister world of the Bangkok sex industry the dark powers of witchcraft begin to take over her body and turn her into a flesh-eating beast.

The director, who also plays Dau’s first trick, sets up a frighteningly real ambience. Shooting the film in the Thai capital certainly helps and the film really sets out to dig down into the dark underbelly of the sex industry. He is helped by a wonderful performance by Suangporn Jaturaphut as the teenage Dau. She exudes a nervous, innocent sexuality and her scenes with Spurrier are genuinely creepy as he tries to seduce the virgin witch. The moment the film turns into a full on horror film the mood is lost to a certain extent but the scenes of cannibalistic terror bring on a different sense of unease. Not totally convinced with the glow-in-the-dark demon make-up but Jatraphut’s performance is excellent.








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