Movies
If you want something light-hearted, fun, and visually exuberant, Citizen Dog is your film. It's a lovely little comedy with a lot of heart, warmth, and plenty of interesting and original ideas.
It's not easy describing Sasanatieng's first, as it's an impossible combination of elements that shouldn't be allowed to go well together. Even so, he makes it work somehow. Expect a pink and blue coloured Thai Western with classic soapy romance elements and pretty gritty violence. It's equally bonkers as it is amazing and it hasn't aged a bit.
Wisit Sasanatieng's latest harks back to his earlier work. No more straight-forward horror and/or sullen colors, back are the bright teals and pinks. His signature vision of Thailand is no doubt an acquired taste, but I love the way he plays around with color, the more otherworldly it looks, the more I like it. The Murderer is a mystery with blatant (dark) comedy elements layered on top. It's not a film to be taken seriously, instead, think of it as Rashomon in Thailand with ever crazier details making the story funnier with every iteration. Add Sasanatieng's nutty visual style and you have a lovely film. Not quite as creative or outlandish as his best work, but a treat nonetheless.Read all
Third entry in the Ten Years anthology franchise, also the best one. The problem with the Ten Years anthologies is that most of the entries don't care too much about the overarching concept. While artistic freedom is definitely welcomed, especially in anthology projects, some base level sci-fi (even when it's just near-future) would be dearly appreciated. Assarat and Weerasethakul's shorts could just as well be about present-day Thailand. There are some conceptual ideas about the future here (though hardly related to any kind of realistic future), but there is no world building, no genre elements. It feels a bit lazy and cheap, but not totally unexpected considering the past work of both directors. The films of Siriphol and Sasanatieng are polar opposites and cook up a completely fantastical future. While still a long way off from the core premise, at least these films are creative and fun, with Sasanatieng's creepy/weird cat-dystopia as the clear highlight of the anthology. By far the two best short across the entire Ten Years franchise, but still not quite what I'd like to see from this project. Maybe just hire some directors with an affinity for the genre next tim?Read all
Wisit Sasanatieng used to be one of the most talented Thai directors, this Netflix project feels more like the work of a director earning his paycheck. It's a decent enough horror flick, but not too different from what we've come to expect from the genre. And in the 20s, you need more to stand out. Asian horror means trauma from the past, and The Whole Truth sticks to the conventions rather neatly. The build-up is slow, the haunts aren't that scary anymore, but the direction is decent and the second half does have a few solid horror scenes. Decent filler, only not a very memorable film.Read all
A pretty decent, sometimes stylish horror by Sasanatieng, but I'm far from convinced this is the genre for him. The man is known for being crazy colorful and goofy, and the horror doesn't account for that. There are some solid, memorable moments here, but it's far from Sasanatieng's best work. The folklore has a few interesting twists, though Reside will feel familiar for anyone who's seen a few Asian horror films. Not all performances are equally great and the film isn't all that tense. The cinematography is proper though and the finale is impressive enough. It's not a bad film, but within Sasanatieng's oeuvre, it's far from a standout.Read all
I loved Sasanatieng's horror film when I first watched it, nearly two decades later it has a much tougher task distinguishing itself from so many other Asian horror films of that era. Sure enough, it has distinct Thai elements, but I missed Sasanatieng's extravagant visual finish this time around. Gone are Sasanatieng's bright and expressive colors, this movie is all about dull browns and greens. The cinematography is still stylish, but simply not as impressive. The horror elements are predictable and the combo with romance is typical for Thai cinema. It's not a bad film, it is well-made and all that, but it's just not as impressive or effective as I remembered.Read all
