Puen Tee Raluek

I watched "The Promise" (aka "Puen Tee Raluek"), and while it had a very generic storyline, then I must admit that I was actually genuinely entertained by what I saw on the screen from director Sophon Sakdaphisit.

The storyline doesn't really contain anything that is revolutionary or particularly innovative. And that sort of served as an anchor to the movie, keeping it from really becoming something unique.

It was the atmosphere in the movie that really worked, because director Sophon Sakdaphisit did an amazing job of building up suspense and slowly letting it pile up. Just a shame that they opted to follow such a predictable blueprint of how-to-make-a-thriller.

The acting in the movie was also quite good. This was my introduction to Numthip Jongrachatawiboon (or Bee Namthip for short), whom played Boum. She really performed quite well and carried the movie so far.

This movie is listed as a horror, drama and thriller. I would say that the horror elements to "The Promise" are quite light, if you compare this movie to other Thai horror movies. So when you sit down to watch "The Promise", keep in mind that this is more of a thriller than it is a horror movie. There aren't really any scary moments throughout the movie, there were plenty of build-ups to something that could have proven scary, but just never culminated in a spooky moment.

"The Promise" had me entertained from beginning to end, but it is hardly a movie that I will watch a second time, because the storyline and script just doesn't have enough contents to support multiple viewings. Once you've seen this movie the first time, there simply is no purpose to watching it again. Unless, of course, you want to watch it solely for counting the times that the name Bell is mispronounced as Beow throughout the movie. It was a lot, and that actually was starting to get on my nerves towards the end.

If you enjoy Thai movies, then you should at least watch "The Promise" once.

I haven't watched Thailand's horror in a long time, because this year there have been many American horror films. I used to watch a Thai horror movie and really liked it, because it was very scary. And now I watch this film, omg it's perfect. Both from story, effect, property. The story is very dramatized combined with a touch of Thai-style horror, the house, jumpscare, everything is perfect.

After watching this film, i must praise for everything it has done.

-The most thing i love of The Promise (TP) is ACTING. I cant stop giving compliments for the cast and crew. Especially the main character Boum and her daughter Bell, the two young friends Boum and Ib is also excellent at acting. Thanks to cast for showing such excellent acting skill. I want to mention the older Boum, she is the real actress. Her actions, her expressions, her voices... everything is breathtaking. And i seemed to fall in love with her from the first sight. I m telling the truth that she and young Boum is very Thailand traditionally beautiful. in addition, i love Thailand student's uniform, too. And Boum's style is also attractive. I FEEL THAILAND MUST HAVE MANY MORE TALENTED QUALIFIED ACTORS, AND GOOD NEW GENERATION ACTORS.

-About the CONTENT, as a normal watcher, i find TP not too horror or scaring. It just made people thrilled, a bit scared in some scenes. In general, for one who is mad for horror films, TP is not suitable in many ways. But, for one who doesn't want to be too scared but cares about many loving relationships in society, wants to be grossed in dramatic scenes, TP is suitable. The plot of TP is extremely OK for every1 in general.

-A bit about my feelings about TP: It is worth-watching and OK in everything, a qualified piece of art. You know, in the cinema room, not only me but also other people couldn't keeping our feelings and we really enjoyed every minutes with the movie.

--> TP sometimes gives you many feelings: from scariness to sadness, deepness. It spreads many meaningful messages. You may sometimes startle, shout out loud and even burst to tears.

And one thing i don't like about TP, which makes me mark it 9/10 is the making use of actors' good acting skills which seems makes TP to become a social psychology movie in some way. But it isn't a huge problem.

I think you also should experience this new horror style movie like THE PROMISE.

Not overly impressed with this film. It was just ok in everything. Story, acting, setting, scares, effects, everything was just ok. I'm not sure what all the raving was about. It is a good movie for a day when you don't care but would like to watch a little something. I could easily see this as a Lifetime movie.

... which unfortunately doesn't stick the landing.

The sound of a VCR tape takes you back to 1997 where Boum and Ib are two best friends, daughters of affluent Thai business families.

The Asian financial crisis hits and their lives spiral to the point where they plan to execute a suicide pact atop their fathers' stalled high-rise project.

One survives and becomes a successful businesswoman with a bubbly young daughter.

Fifteen years later, the other returns.

Amazing performances and cinematography aside, this is a straightforward haunting story. There is no outwitting the ghost or questioning its motives. It is no creative monster like Elm Street's Freddy or The Ring's Samara, perhaps reflecting the relative conceptualization of spirits in South East Asia as more forces of nature than ex-humans with desires.

Unfortunately, the themes of bonds, despair, privilege, and sacrifice aren't really tied up at the end.

The filmmakers utterly nail the Asian crisis and its scarring which still haunts modern day Thailand. It's a story that is still being written, which may be why they couldn't satisfactorily resolve this tale.