Krasue: Inhuman Kiss

Alright, now "Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" turned out to be one of the bigger Asian surprises of 2019 so far. I didn't really know much about the movie, except it was a Thai horror movie, when I sat down to watch it. But my fascination with horror and Asian cinema was, of course, more than sufficient to make me have an interest in this movie from writer Chookiat Sakveerakul and writer/director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri.

The storyline in "Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" was really interesting, and it was so enjoyable to watch a movie that incorporated the South-Eastern Asia of the Krasue (as it is known in Thailand), Ahp in Cambodia and Kasu in Laos. I've always found this folklore of the disembodied floating head to be fascinating and interesting. And it was brought to a glorious and entertaining manner on the screen in 2019.

"Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" incorporates both horror, drama and lovestory elements in a very nicely mix, which is portrayed so well on the screen by the actors and actresses.

And the special effects in the movie. Well for a horror movie such as this, then having believable special effects and CGI is a must. Luckily the CGI and special effects team working on "Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" really knew their craft. It was pure joy to watch the special effects in the movie, and they brought the Krasue to life on the screen quite nicely.

This is not your typical Asian horror movie, so don't expect any woman in white dresses with black hair covering their faces. Instead, prepare yourself for an interesting and macabre folklore tale brought to life on the screen.

I am rating "Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" a solid seven out of ten stars, because this was really a nice movie in every aspect. Even if you are not a fan of Thai or Asian movies, but have an interest in horror, then you should take the time and effort to sit down and watch "Krasue: Inhuman Kiss" if you are presented with a chance to do so.

Very long slow love story without the romance, but sometimes actions speak louder than words....and gratuitous sex. This was a movie about a cursed girl and the the two boys that loved her and the lengths they went through to love her. This isn't a great movie but it's watchable and has good special effects, a good story, half a twist, good ensemble of characters, location was realistic for the content and direction and production made this romantic, semi-horror, mystery, drama something worth the watch....but it could also put you to sleep if not into that sort of thing.

Living in a remote Thai village, a woman who fears she may actually be the vicious creature responsible for the deadly attacks on local animals tries to hide her cursed condition from her friends who have taken up the hunt to stop it, eventually putting them both in dangerous situations.

There was quite a lot to like within the film. Part of the positives here comes from the decision to focus on a wholly undervalued aspect of the creatures' legend by incorporating the cursed lineage origin story for the creature rather than the black magic route. That so few are aware that the true nature of the creature can be spread in that manner makes the storyline feel fresh and unique, especially with the build-up here to get the revelation about her real history. This is told in vivid dreams and flashbacks that contain the agony of being such a fearsome creature yet powerless to do anything about it as she slowly comes to be aware of her situation. That all makes the ensuing love triangle between her and the two guys feel impactful as the reassuring nature they provide rekindling the romance helps to ease her mind and forget the situation as they both truly care for her best interests once the secret is finally revealed. The romantic angle that emerges from that storyline setup is heartfelt and emotional, adding plenty of deep resonance to the horror that arises later on. On top of that, the film works incredibly well with the suspenseful stalking out in the local forest. From the opening game of hide-and-seek inside the abandoned building in the middle of the forest to the Krasue hunts the villagers partake in that are illuminated only by torches, the atmosphere is incredibly impressive and chilling and providing the early reasoning for the paranoia behind the villagers' increasingly desperate need to find the creature responsible when added alongside the mounting animal corpses. The actual attack scenes themselves, with the actual separation of the head from the body being shown and following the floating head flying through the village and surrounding jungle with the red eyes glowing brightly against the darkened backdrop are especially eerie and chilling. As well, the encounter with the villagers looking to find the creature in the little girl showcases the fine mix of practical and CGI effects for the creature and adds more to like about this one. The biggest determining factor in the film will undoubtedly be the central romance. The idea of being able to love such a hideous, bloodsucking creature capable of dealing out the violence and terror on the villagers comes through rather strongly here, what with him shown feeding it dead birds and animals to keep her from attacking others or standing by each other's side despite the accusations from the other villagers to put her to death. Taking the finale into account as well, with the decision to stand up to the monstrous creature before him despite still being a simple human and then going away together to save each other from the villagers adds even more to the romantic sideplot throughout the film. Even looking at the race to cure her with the local medicine adds to the emotional impact of their relationship, bringing about an issue that might not be welcome for some who prefer more of a horror-based storyline. The sappiness from these scenes might turn viewers off as well as be seen as the reason why the film's as long as it is, especially with the constant slow-motion that drags these out to supposedly hammer home the weight behind the action. However, that is the only true flaw to be had with the film.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Language.

The Good: Twilight meets Thai folkore, except much better. I am endlessly fascinated by foreign folklore and horror films, so maybe I'm biased, but I was taken from the start. If a film where a village is terrorized by a floating, disembodied head doesn't seem at least interesting to you, I don't know what to say. Just learning about the Krasue and the other ghoulies that emerge in this film was enough to warrant a high score for me.

But, the movie intersects this with a genuinely compelling love story, fantastic set pieces, eerie visuals and a fantastic final scene.

The relationship dynamic between Sai, Noi and Jerd is the emotional heart of the film and is genuinely heart breaking by the incredible climax. This is a depressing movie, a tragic romance that we just don't see anymore in a lot of horror films. From my brief overview of Thai horror, romance/love and horror seem to intersect A LOT, and I dig it.

The Bad: That being said, there are two big issues with this movie. One is that it's a tad too long; 2 hrs is a bit much for any horror movie and this film did not need that length for what is a pretty straightforward story. It drags quite a bit in the middle. The other thing is the melodrama; I appreciate that there are cultural differences (I've seen enough East/Southeast Asian films to notice this), but it veers into soap opera drama a bit. The ending, while fantastic, does a Return of the King style drag out that was wholly unnecessary.

The Ugly: There are variations of the Krasue in basically EVERY Southeast Asian country, except Myanmar and East Timor. That reach is pretty insane if you consider how different these countries are from each other.

Fantasy / romantic / dramatic film from Thailand. An excellent sample of Asian cinema on the theme of the legend of Krasue. So a girl has the curse of Krasue, where at night the head detaches from the body and leaves to hunt. The girl once she realizes that she has this curse, she does everything she can to hide from the hunters of Krasue. But two of her childhood friends are still by her side and both do their best to help her, each in his own way. A really exceptional movie and excellent direction with great melodies, and a special script around this legend. Perfectly crafted film that has it all, imagination, emotion, romance, modesty, family, childhood friendships, suspense, monsters and a very touching and dramatic ending. In total, a masterpiece once again from Asian cinema that is definitely worth seeing!