In the past decade, the key reason for Thai horror’s rapid elevation to the international forefront has been the construction of innovative shocks in its scripts. Filmmakers consistently astound us with all manner of strange – sometimes exotic – causes of death, superstitions and beliefs that play on their audiences’ deepest phobias. The Swimmers combines this with all the twists and turns that glue Thai horror fans to their seats in shock and excitement.
Perth and Tan are best friends and longtime rivals. No matter how hard Perth tries, he can never out-do Tan. Life gets even more complicated for these two swimmers when Perth starts to fall for Ice, Tan’s girlfriend, who has developed feelings for Perth as well. When Ice unexpectedly commits suicide at the swimming pool where their swim team practices, Tan can’t keep his depression in check and stops going to swim practice. Now Perth becomes the shoo-in for the only position left on the university sports roster. The opportunity to finally eclipse Tan pushes Perth to train every chance he gets, even if that means swimming alone at night in the same pool where Ice was found dead. One day, Tan reveals to Perth that Ice committed suicide because she was pregnant. Tan then goes on a relentless pursuit to find and take revenge on the culprit.
The film’s studio, GTH, has become identified with quality horror film-making that is widely recognized throughout Asia. This time they smartly employ all the elements we have come to expect from them in the construction of terror.
The swimming pool seems like an everyday place where everyone feels connected, but seeing the ghost in the picture leads audiences into a familiar setting of terror. Thus, despite its use of first-time lead performers, the film can be considered a good one and has been widely welcomed across Asia. Director Sakdapisit does a good job of controlling all of the filmic elements: the performances of these new and young stars, underwater cinematography, and best of all, the pacing of the movie. With so many twists and turns, it can be difficult to keep the film in place and maintain a certain mode of atmosphere. But The Swimmers remains in balance, even if there are perhaps too many twists for this critic’s taste. Unlike his earlier features – Coming Soon, which lost control of mood and tone, and Laddaland, which was much more drama-oriented – The Swimmers is a film of horrific imagination. Good for all fans who love terrifying twists.