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Best Mae Nak for a beginner? (Or other Thai horror and supernatural)

Elisheva

I'm trying to get a friend into Thai movies. Low Season (much comedy, well-placed jump scares) was a success so now I can use Mario Maurer as bait :) Pee Mak (black comedy horror) is an easy sell, but he's seriously into horror and would appreciate a more traditional version of Mae Nak. Seems a better place to start too so he gets to experience the story, plus I can use Mario to sell an additional non-Mario movie :D  I've only seen Nang Nak, which will certainly do, but I'd also like to see more myself and there are SO MANY adaptations.

Any suggestions? What's the scariest Mae Nak (for my friend, I'm a bit of a wimp)? The best, in your opinion? Any to stay away from? Friend won't finish a series so movie recs for him. I'm open to series too.

Other supernatural or horror recs?

(My related recs are Enigma (4 eps supernatural but not *too* scary) and Nang Nak, plus Low Season and Ghost Host Ghost House even though it's more like they have supernatural elements.)

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SKYLINE

Haven't watched much horror stuff so .. 😶‍🌫️🤡

THIRTeen Terrors - A good one but was not too scary, It's an anthology so some were good some were okayish .. 

Movies .. She Devil  .. but it was more sweet than scary and Maid which was more psychological than horror.

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Elisheva

Thank you SKYLINE :) I don't watch much horror either.

Comments for The Maid say things like slasher and gratuitous violence. Would you agree? Asking for myself.

Have suggested all to my friend.  Anthologies are great for now and agains and days when it's hard to find the right something new. I'll definitely try She Devil too, I like the Thai way with mixing genres and/or emotions. Thanks for these.

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SKYLINE
 Elisheva:
Comments for The Maid say things like slasher and gratuitous violence. Would you agree? Asking for myself.

Yes, if you have weak heart for gore .. you might get stimulated.

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Elisheva
 SKYLINE:
Yes, if you have weak heart for gore .. you might get stimulated.

Especially if it's psychological as well. Good to know :)

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Annie

Thai horror is literally the best, here is my list for you (mostly movies):

Meat Grinder (2009)
Art of the Devil - 1,2,3
Death Whisperer 
Dorm 
3 A.M. 3D 1,2
407 Dark Flight 
Shutter (this is the best one)
Sick Nurses 
The Medium 

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Elisheva

Thanks anyyy. Won't argue with your assessment about Thai horror being the best :)

I sent your list to my friend. For myself, I'll try Shutter (because Ananda Everingham), The Medium (because Isan) and Dorm (because two reviewers say it isn't too scary) :D

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Annie
 Elisheva:

Thanks anyyy. Won't argue with your assessment about Thai horror being the best :)

I sent your list to my friend. For myself, I'll try Shutter (because Ananda Everingham), The Medium (because Isan) and Dorm (because two reviewers say it isn't too scary) :D

my pleasure!!

Dorm is not quite scary, but it has a great plot though, you will be surprised by the twist :D

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Elisheva
 Annie:
Shutter (this is the best one)
Sick Nurses
The Medium

I'm going to marginally disagree. As good as Shutter is, the slow burn world-building of The Medium really drew me in.

Thanks for recommending both. (I have subs + raw for Dorm, need to get them lined up though. Will do.)

 SKYLINE:
She Devil .. but it was more sweet than scary

Thanks for this one too. I especially liked the way it developed the love story.

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Elisheva
 Annie:
Dorm is not quite scary, but it has a great plot though, you will be surprised by the twist :D

Thank you so much for the suggestion for Dorm. I love a good coming of age film and this was one of the best I've seen from Thailand <3

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Annie
 Elisheva:

Thank you so much for the suggestion for Dorm. I love a good coming of age film and this was one of the best I've seen from Thailand <3

I'm so glad to hear that!!

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Elisheva

To answer my own question...

THE Nak to start with is definitely Nang Nak (1999). It can be found with English subtitles and has the clearest story of those I've found to stream. Pee Mak, Daeng Phra Khanong and Ghost Wife all quote from it too.

Pee Mak is a must as well. It stands alone well but there's a layer of humour you'll miss if you haven't seen Nang Nak first. Daeng PK is more lazy stereotypes than actual characters and I can't recommend it, though the kids are good with what they're given and the last 8 minutes do something really great. Ghost Wife is low budget with inexperienced actors. More horror and many parallels with Nang Nak, just reset as coming of age. By the time I got to it, I was very much taken with the rhythms of the story and how much Thai film makers love Nang Nak so I was well prepared to forgive every flaw.

Also available to stream: the 1959 Mae Nak Phra Khanong, albeit with a very strange redub. The first half is their life before Mak goes to war. Mae Nak 3D also focuses on their romance and village life for the first half. It was clearly made for an audience who knows the legend well as it skims through several plot points to give more time to some of the most emotionally effective scenes I've seen in a Nak.

Of the films I've found ways to access (had really hoped to find more), I only have Mae Nak Reborn to go. There are at least two available series too, including a recent one from Ch 3, but I haven't found subtitles so I haven't taken those on yet.

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