The Screen At Kamchanod

The Screen At Kamchanod has all promising elements that could guarantee its cinematic superiority in horror, a trend recently attempted by many directors as the genre is believed to get saturated in the industry. Based on a true story from a newspaper report in 1991, it presents a doctor and his team trying to investigate over the mystery of a group of exhibitors who were hired to arrange outdoor screenings at Kamchanod, Udonthani Province. According to them, no audiences attended the show until late at night. Suddenly a number of people came to the screening place. Strangely, these audiences were clearly divided into two groups - the women-in-white at one side and men-in-black at the other. They all watched the film without reaction, and then disappeared suddenly at 4.00 am.
The film starts with Dr. Yuth and his team trying to track down the legend. They go to see the old exhibitor, half-alive-half-dead in a hospital, and find the film reels that were once screened at Kamchanod in 1991. But once they set to see the film together, all of them meet several strange incidents afterward. They all see ghosts, and encounter each particular way of tragic ending. Finally, Dr. Yuth decides to probe the truth himself.
First-time helmer Songsak Mongkolthong shows his potential directorial ability in setting up a cold atmosphere that culminates into the silent fear by the characters, and later shared to us the audiences. The best part of it is when the mysterious film reels are screened to Dr. Yuth and his team. While all the eyes are pointed at the screen, little by little the characters feel that they are not watching the movie alone. The next seat is unexplainably pushed down and kept in that position. A mysterious hand is fondling his feet. He is aware of it, but tries to say nothing and then silently gets up. And that is not the only thrilling experience we will meet in The Screen At Kamchanod.             
The story development is a bit too slow and unclear, as the director-cum-writer perhaps wants to conclude it in a shocking final wrap-up. The plot is also a bit too cheesy with the double-crossed plan that leads to the ending. But good characterization - no one is perfect. Good to test your courage - watching the film at night. Beware - someone might join you to watch the film!