If you’re a fan of Thai B-tier horror movies with a heavy dose of bromance, this is for you.
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ThaRae: The Exorcist is just so unashamed of its schlockiness and tonal whiplash that it defies conventional movie review standards. It’s the screen equivalent of being in a haunted house, where it keeps throwing scares at you without rhyme or reason, not caring if something sticks.
That’s not to say that ThaRae: The Exorcist doesn’t have its charm. It has plenty. Nothing pleasantly surprised me more than hearing the Northern dialect. Singaporean audiences might be familiar with Thai horror, but seldom with the Northern region. You might be startled to know that it sounds similar to Teochew, with Tha Rae itself being a province with strong Catholic influence and its own distinct set of animist customs, separate from Buddhism.
There’s also the undeniable chemistry between the Catholic priest, Paolo (Jirayu Tangsrisuk) and the femme witch doctor, Sopha (Phiravich Attachitsataporn). Their interactions helped elevate the movie from a tossaway script to a really enjoyable, simmering bromance, with the added bonus of jumpscares and deep-rooted religious trauma.
It’s the kind of laugh-out-loud, in-your-face scare house experience that those familiar with the Thai horror genre can understand where I’m coming from. Think less The Medium (2021), and more Pee Mak (2013) or Buppha Ratree (2003).
If the thought of watching a B-movie thai horror with some humour, bromance and catholic guilt in a Northern setting sounds fun, this is for you.
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