A gust of fresh air in the watered-out heap of films about demonic possession
There are more than plenty of movies about demonic possession and the topic has been properly watered out over the years. Thankfully there are exceptions. “The Medium” brings something new to the table and is a gust of fresh air as we get to experience the topic from a different cultures and religion’s point of view - and it’s a truly terrifying tale!
The story takes place in Isan, northeastern Thailand, where a documentary crew follows Nim (Sawanee Utoomma) who serves as the region’s local shaman. For generations the women in Nim’s family have served as hosts to the local goddess Ba Lan’s spirit. Initially the task fell upon her sister Noi, however she refused and Nim became the next in line to take up this sacred task.
As Nim attends the funeral of her sister’s husband Wiroj, she finds out that great misfortune has plagued all men in his family. His father committed suicide after being caught in an insurance scam - and his son died young in a traffic accident. Noi is now left with her daughter Mink and they live together with Noi and Nim’s brother Manit and his family.
Soon Mink begins to display a strange and gradually more disturbing behavior – she begins to hear voices, suffer from nightmares and even exhibits multiple personalities. Nim believes Ba Lan to be the cause of it all - wanting to punish Noi for refusing to serve as her host by attacking her only daughter. Nim begins making the arrangements for a ceremony to help Mink, which to put it very mildly does not make things any better…at all.
Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun (“Shutter” 2007) and co-written by Na Hong-jin (“The Wailing” 2016) “The Medium” is a mix between mockumentary and feature film and runs in the same vein as Japanese director Kōji Shiraishi’s ”Noroi” (2005) and ”Occult” (2009). The mix of these styles is very well balanced and very effective - it feels close, raw and realistic. However, I personally can’t help to feel that staying true to the documentary approach all together would make it even more effective.
The stunning photography displaying the sleepy village in rural Thailand, surrounded by vast forests, misty mountains and hidden away ancient shrines devoted to local deities sets the mystic and moody atmosphere of the film.
The whole setup of the story takes it’s time and slowly weaves us in but keeps always us intrigued and captures your interest from the first scenes. From there it goes on to really put you on the edge of your seat as it quickly starts to intensify.
The acting is very good and feels natural and convincing. The introductions to the main characters as well as the films character direction really gets the viewer to get to know and emotionally connect with them. It makes you really feel for them and what happens to them throughout the story.
This is one of the things that so many other horror movies lack (especially the Hollywood blockbuster ones) – to properly establish characters that you as a viewer can attach to emotionally and care about. They are the vessel through that takes us through the story and if you don’t care about what happens to them then all of it kind of falls apart doesn’t it?
Another key element that “The Medium” makes very good use of - that too many horror movies today lack - is the element of surprise, it’s unpredictable and there are dark twists and turns waiting around every corner.
Title: The Medium (Rang Zong)
Release date: July 14, 2021
Run time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Genre: Horror
Country: Thailand/Korea
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
Writers: Chantavit Dhanasevi, Na Hong-jin, Banjong Pisanthanakun
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