Rang Zong

The skillful Banjong Pisanthanakun is arguably the best horror director from Thailand. He has the legendary cult-classic Shutter and the awesome anthologies 4bia and Phobia 2 under his belt, and still he deserves more attention. After a long hiatus he comes with a new horror film that is worth your time. This time he takes on Taoism, Buddhism, Animism and religious folklore and delivers it in an authentic semi-documentary found footage form that takes an interesting approach on the shamanism and rituals of local demons and gods. The material is undoubtedly interesting and, thanks to a culture unknown to us, very informative. The downside for me is the running time of 130 minutes and the slower pace; it is interesting but not that entertaining. The night vision scenes where the possessed girl runs around the house are solid, with the director managing to deliver some chills there, and the final 30 minutes of action are also good, though it could’ve been even wilder, but in this year's drought it's enough, especially for Asia, which hasn't shown much this year. In terms of craftsmanship, it's a quality film, the cinematography, production design and the setting are all top notch. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and the suspense works, so even though I won't be watching Medium again, it's a horror film that will stick in the memory for a while. Story 4/5, Action 3/5, Humor 0/5, Violence 3/5, Fun 3/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 3/5, Actors 4/5. 7/10. (22.09.2021)

I don’t think any of my ancestors were Asian, but I must be on the same wavelength as they are in certain ways, as I often enjoy their horror films. The film has a masterfully crafted atmosphere. I didn't get startled once because Thai filmmakers work with horror in a different way, but I’m still savoring the special feeling the film left in me even as I’m writing this review. I've never been a fan of films like The Blair Witch Project (1999), but oddly enough, I didn't mind the style of camerawork here at all. It’s an excellent horror film. I can always rely on Asian filmmakers in this regard. / Lesson learned: Not even an employment agency can protect you from evil spirits. (05.10.2022)