Death Whisperer 2

I really liked the first Death Whisperer. It was a classic supernatural horror movie with a Thai context, instead of same old catholic imagery I've seen a million times. But this one didn't know what it was. Most of the time it felt like there were 2 movies going on at once. One about a family battling with a dark invasive spirit, and --as many others have mentioned- a slapstick Army of Darkness clone. If you love horror and just want to see something new, I guess it's not a total waste of time. Yak is pretty good-looking. But don't expect it to be anything like the first Death Whisperer movie.

It's a thoroughly entertaining mix of horror and action, with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek (pun intended) comedy in the mix. On the eve of his sister's wedding ghost adventurer Yak Baggins and some allies enter a cursed forest to track down a powerful entity that has nefarious plans for his family. The movie is nicely directed and generally well-paced (although the third act drags a bit.) The (subtitled) dialogue is crisp and efficient - I didn't see the first installment but I had no trouble figuring out what was going on in this sequel. The graphic violence, horror imagery and action toe the perfect line between "brutal" and "hyperbolic to the point of parody." Apparently the first Evil Dead and The Shining were influences and it shows, although thankfully this movie isn't just a ripoff or a parody. Overall it's fun and extremely well done.

While I was not a particular fan of the 2023 movie "Tee Yod", I still opted to give the 2024 sequel "Tee Yod 2" (aka "Death Whisperer 2") a chance, on account of it being a movie that I had not already seen, and since it was an Asian horror movie. But I have to be honest, that I sat down to watch the movie with zero expectations, as the first movie was pretty bad.

The storyline in the movie was okay. Sure, it wasn't a particularly scary movie, but it was watchable. Though it is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing.

The only familiar face on the cast list for me was actor Nadech Kugimiya, because he was also in the first movie. The acting performances in "Tee Yod 2" were good, though.

The effects in the movie were fair, which certainly counted for something and added to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

While "Tee Yod 2" was by no means a stellar movie, it was at least better than its predecessor. But this is hardly a memorable moment in Thai horror cinema.

My rating of director Taweewat Wantha's 2024 movie "Tee Yod 2" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Death Whisperer 2 picks up a few years after the ending of its predecessor, with Yak obssessed with finding the spirit, called a pop (ghoul), that killed his sister. That is the story pretty much.

IMDB's plot summary is quite over the top, which is funny. Disregard it completely: Death Whisperer 2 is not a high-concept film.

This time, writers Sorarat Jirabovornwisut (the only recurring writer in this series), Taweewat Wantha, and Krittanon opted for a simpler plotline: a main one and one subplot. The main one follows Yak and his quest; the subplot is about the haunting of Yak's family while he is away. While the main plot is pleasing, the subplot is a bit exploitative, it doesn't really add up to any character nor story development, its deletion unaffecting the main plot. The feeling is that this film is adapting a short story.

Another change in comparison with the first installment is that there is a lot more comedic relief. Character Sarge throws more jokes than a comedian, sometimes being funny, others just being inappropriate. Other characters are also unfittingly funny in weird situations, which causes a bit of cringeness.

The horror elements, though, are off. Where the first installment was creepier and had a lot more scares, Death Whisperer 2 feels more like a horror adventure for high-schoolers. Never was I in the edge of my seat, nor the jumpscares were effective.

The storyline is simple and enjoyable, mainly because it feels like a tale, the quest of Yak for revenge. His motivation is so strong in his character that we root for his success, we want to see that ghoul pay. The ghoul, though, is just this evil entity without clear intentions other than just feeding off of humans, a bit uninspired.

To wrap up this review, cinematography is beautiful with regards to photography, but bad when we look at the CGI. Blood and wounds are computerized, and they look digital. Maybe that was cheaper than going practical, but I wonder. The effects on the ghoul, however, are pretty nice.

Overall, Death Whisperer 2 is a must to conclude the full narrative arc of Yak. If you enjoyed the first film, I figure these types of Eastern horror pleases you, so you won't be disappointed with this sequel, it plays by the rules and avoids risks, working out in the end.

Right from the first minute, this film grabs your attention with its excitement. The storyline is intense and keeps you engaged without a dull moment. The tone is well-balanced, and this sequel cleverly adds in humorous scenes that fit just right-not too much, not too little.

Nadech continues to shine, delivering a fantastic performance that matches the quality of the first film. He's still the Best, proving his talent throughout. The cinematography is truly impressive, with stunning visuals in every scene. This is one Thai film with top-notch production quality.

While the level of spookiness might be a bit lower than the first movie, the thrill factor has definitely ramped up. If you're a fan of supernatural action, you won't want to miss this one!