International Festival Premiere | In Competition
Thailand, 2024, 112’, Thai
Directed by: Taweewat Wantha
Screenplay: Sorarat Jirabovornwisut, Palapon Pongpat
Cinematography (color): Sarun Srisingchai
Editing: Saravut Nakajud
Production Design: Sudkate Luancharoen
Music: Terdsak Janpan
Producers: Naritt Yuvaboon, Kanchanapan Meesuwan
Executive Producers: Tracy Ann Maleenont, Vichaya Poolvaraluk, Visarut Poolvaraluk, Surachet Asvarangkulna Ayuthaya, Chatchai Thiamtong
Cast: Nadech Kugimiya, Jelilcha Kapaun, Rattanawadee Wongthong, Kajbhundit Jaidee, Peerakrit Phacharaboonyakiat, Nutthacha Padovan, Arisara Wongchalee, Poramet Noiam
Date of First Release in Territory: October 10th, 2024
Death Whisperer, which was selected for the Far East Film Festival in 2024, ended with the protagonist Yak (Nadech Kugimiya)’s destruction of all the living places haunted by a female ghost in black, and his challenge for redemption, after the death of his sister at the ghost’s hands. The sequel,
Death Whisperer 2, picks up three years later with Yak travelling throughout the country, still hunting for the ghost. From the home and village spaces of the first film, he – now joined by a team of grudgeful comrades – expands the search to the jungle, where they encounter hundreds of ghosts, and a hotel where they suffer a new dreadful ambush by the original spirit. With all of these attributes,
Death Whisperer 2 earned more than €22.8 million at the Thai box office, becoming the top grosser of the year.
Death Whisperer 2’s achievement is driven by a more complex plot involving the ghost in black. She no longer lurks around the protagonist’s home and haunts his family members and the villagers. Now her longevity has a history, and she has someone as her medium, whom Yak has to identify and dispose of. The strong solidarity and familial love shared between the protagonist and his family members has fascinated audiences. They protect one another and fight the ghost to find peace – a rare subplot that is not much seen in horror films.
In the same way as the first film,
Death Whisperer 2 adopts an action-horror style – even more evidently this time. The hunts and confrontations are now undertaken by each character individually, rather than collectively, and even the family’s 10-year-old daughter Yee (Nutthacha Padovan) becomes a ghosthunter. Most of the lead characters – the oldest sister Yard (Jelicha Kapaus) and even Yee – are performed with great complexity and energy.
Returning director Taweewat Wantha’s craftsmanship is superior this time in terms of the editing and production design. The film is paced with fast and abrupt cuts, exciting the audience at every minute, especially in the tense chase sequences. The production design stands out through the mystical environments in the jungle scenes and the gory atmosphere of the hotel sequences. It is one of a few recent Thai horror films to offer a new kind of spooky experience.
Taweewat Wantha
Taweewat Wantha developed his first short
SARS Wars into a feature in 2004. After works such as
The Sperm (2007) and
The Kindergarten (2009), he started making horror movies in 2013 with
Long Weekend.
Death Whisperer was his comeback after a decade-long absence from filmmaking. Due to the success of both
Death Whisperer films, Wantha has become a busy and in-demand filmmaker. He has now set up his own company.
FILMOGRAPHY
2004 – SARS Wars
2007 – The Sperm
2009 – The Kindergarten
2013 – Long Weekend
2023 – Death Whisperer
2024 – Death Whisperer 2