Post by Mark (Webmaster) on Sept 2, 2005 11:39:22 GMT
The Commitment
(Dark Asia ¡Vsubsidiary of Anchor Bay UK)[/color]
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Picture: 1.85:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS 6.1, Stereo 2
Discs: 1 (DVD 9)
Region: 2
Features: Cast and Crew interviewsTrailer
Story: Set in the suburbs of present day Bangkok, THE COMMITMENT concerns a group of teenage girls, recent high school graduates, about to embark on a terrifying journey into the unknown. Rather than face failure in their entrance exams to university, the girls visit a shrine at a local abandoned haunted house where, it is believed, one can pledge a gift to the resident spirit in exchange for wishes being granted. Unknown to the girls, several of whom are sceptical of the endeavor, the house is inhabited by a vengeful spirit determined to collect on all payments promised. By far the most sceptical is Moss (Prangthong Changthom), who makes a mockingly half-hearted but fateful pledge on behalf of her two best friends, Muay (Pinsuda Tanphairoh) and Pin (Viritipa Pakdeeprasong). It is an offering they cannot possibly pay without facing dire, and in some cases fatal, consequences.
Review: This is an interesting film if unoriginal film. First time feature director Montri Kong-im handles his story well even if at times it seems like a Thai rip-off of ¡¥Ju-on: The Grudge¡¦ and ¡¥Ringu¡¦ (if you see the film then you¡¦ll see that comparisons are inevitable).
The violence is unsettling yet, for me, there were very little scares for a horror story of this type. There are some fantastic moments (a bathroom sequence is a stand-out) but overall it flatters to deceive.
This said the performances from the young actresses are competent only slipping into a soap opera type standard on occasion. Prangthong (The Unborn) Changthom in the role of Moss is particularly good and certainly one to watch. Despite some genuinely atmospheric moments the sum of the movie never quite equals it¡¦s parts (or matches the tone set by it¡¦s excellent trailer). I did enjoy it but it¡¦s definitely nothing special.
Despite this there¡¦s enough promise on show here to make me actively look for further work by director Kong.
The DVD
Picture: Not bad. The contrast seems fine and despite some grain in the night scenes the majority of the movie is pretty fault free. Not the best but very watchable.
Sound: As per AB releases the rear channels and sub-woofer get a nice workout during the ¡¥scare¡¦ and minor action sequences but are only sparingly used elsewhere. The dialogue, in original Thai, is audible and there was no detectable hissing or popping. The original stereo 2.0 mix is included for completist purposes. I was unable to test the DTS track although I can¡¦t see there being much difference from the DD 5.1.
Menu: Simple and effective. The use of the movie¡¦s score over some eerie scenes from the movie works well. Good job.
[b/]Packaging:[/b] Nothing special. Just a standard DVD case with the cover censored to conceal an unsettling image of self-harm. Still a nice return back to the old days of schlock cover/poster art. Lovely touch.
Special Features: These consist of interviews with the main cast members and the writer/director, plus an original Thai trailer. The trailer is very good and sets a precedent that is never quite attained by the film. The interviews are brief and at times incoherent. They¡¦re a nice addition but you don¡¦t really learn much because they¡¦re so short.
Summary:
Film: 3/5
Picture: 2.5/5
Sound: 3/5
Extras: 2/5
Overall package:
3/5 Possessed Cheryls ¡V Overall this is a competent premier release from ABUK¡¦s sister label ¡¥Dark Asia¡¦. Certainly a distributor to watch for bringing exciting foreign horror into the mainstream market.
(Dark Asia ¡Vsubsidiary of Anchor Bay UK)[/color]
Buy from AMAZON!
Picture: 1.85:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS 6.1, Stereo 2
Discs: 1 (DVD 9)
Region: 2
Features: Cast and Crew interviewsTrailer
Story: Set in the suburbs of present day Bangkok, THE COMMITMENT concerns a group of teenage girls, recent high school graduates, about to embark on a terrifying journey into the unknown. Rather than face failure in their entrance exams to university, the girls visit a shrine at a local abandoned haunted house where, it is believed, one can pledge a gift to the resident spirit in exchange for wishes being granted. Unknown to the girls, several of whom are sceptical of the endeavor, the house is inhabited by a vengeful spirit determined to collect on all payments promised. By far the most sceptical is Moss (Prangthong Changthom), who makes a mockingly half-hearted but fateful pledge on behalf of her two best friends, Muay (Pinsuda Tanphairoh) and Pin (Viritipa Pakdeeprasong). It is an offering they cannot possibly pay without facing dire, and in some cases fatal, consequences.
Review: This is an interesting film if unoriginal film. First time feature director Montri Kong-im handles his story well even if at times it seems like a Thai rip-off of ¡¥Ju-on: The Grudge¡¦ and ¡¥Ringu¡¦ (if you see the film then you¡¦ll see that comparisons are inevitable).
The violence is unsettling yet, for me, there were very little scares for a horror story of this type. There are some fantastic moments (a bathroom sequence is a stand-out) but overall it flatters to deceive.
This said the performances from the young actresses are competent only slipping into a soap opera type standard on occasion. Prangthong (The Unborn) Changthom in the role of Moss is particularly good and certainly one to watch. Despite some genuinely atmospheric moments the sum of the movie never quite equals it¡¦s parts (or matches the tone set by it¡¦s excellent trailer). I did enjoy it but it¡¦s definitely nothing special.
Despite this there¡¦s enough promise on show here to make me actively look for further work by director Kong.
The DVD
Picture: Not bad. The contrast seems fine and despite some grain in the night scenes the majority of the movie is pretty fault free. Not the best but very watchable.
Sound: As per AB releases the rear channels and sub-woofer get a nice workout during the ¡¥scare¡¦ and minor action sequences but are only sparingly used elsewhere. The dialogue, in original Thai, is audible and there was no detectable hissing or popping. The original stereo 2.0 mix is included for completist purposes. I was unable to test the DTS track although I can¡¦t see there being much difference from the DD 5.1.
Menu: Simple and effective. The use of the movie¡¦s score over some eerie scenes from the movie works well. Good job.
[b/]Packaging:[/b] Nothing special. Just a standard DVD case with the cover censored to conceal an unsettling image of self-harm. Still a nice return back to the old days of schlock cover/poster art. Lovely touch.
Special Features: These consist of interviews with the main cast members and the writer/director, plus an original Thai trailer. The trailer is very good and sets a precedent that is never quite attained by the film. The interviews are brief and at times incoherent. They¡¦re a nice addition but you don¡¦t really learn much because they¡¦re so short.
Summary:
Film: 3/5
Picture: 2.5/5
Sound: 3/5
Extras: 2/5
Overall package:
3/5 Possessed Cheryls ¡V Overall this is a competent premier release from ABUK¡¦s sister label ¡¥Dark Asia¡¦. Certainly a distributor to watch for bringing exciting foreign horror into the mainstream market.