The Whole Truth (2021) - Movie Review
I thought this was a Silent Hill 4 adaptation.
What do you get when a Thai filmmaker makes a horror film that mixes elements from some of the best American and Asian haunted house films with elements of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit?
A fun and inventive thriller, that’s what.
Let’s Discuss.
The Whole Truth is a 2021 Haunted House / Murder Mystery thriller brought to us by director Wisit Sasanatieng and writer Abishek J. Bajaj.
Holy shit, one writer on a film? What is this, 1991?
In all seriousness, you may not recognize these names, but they are important to Thai filmmaking. Wisit is one of the most highly regarded directors and screenwriters to ever come out of Thailand. His directorial debut, 2000’s Tears of the Black Tiger, went on to become the first-ever Thai film to be officially selected at the Cannes Film Festival.
Abishek Bajaj is another story entirely. While his catalog of films has some of the worst reviews I’ve ever seen on IMDB, he is still a driving force behind the scenes. Not only is he a producer, actor, and screenwriter, but he’s also the Manager of Local Originals of Thailand for Netflix. He is a major contributor to helping Thai filmmakers break into foreign markets on Netflix. His script for this film isn’t perfect, but it’s damn good.
The film focuses on siblings Pim and Putt as they navigate the treacherous waters of their final high school year while essentially raising themselves. Their mother's punishing work schedule has left them dejected, and her recent promotion has only widened the gap between them. Then comes the knock, an elderly stranger claiming to be their grandfather delivers news of their mother's accident and whisks them away to a house that feels wrong from the first night. The siblings have never heard of these grandparents, and soon discover why their mother kept them hidden. Behind a small hole in the living room wall lurks something that cannot be unseen. As Putt succumbs to a mysterious illness and their grandparents' behavior grows increasingly disturbing, Pim races against time to decipher family secrets before they both become casualties of a darkness that has waited generations to claim them.
This movie is Stir of Echoes meets Misery.
In recent years, Thailand has become meme-worthy for its Kathoey culture, but there is more to the country than its tourist towns, beaches, and red-light districts. It’s refreshing to see a different side of the country in this film. Its suburban Thai setting is unique for Western-released films.
When was the last time you saw a Thai high school featured in a film? Think about it. We see Japanese and Chinese films set around schools, but Thai and Malay films are either in the jungle or tourist areas. I loved the urban setting and how it was used to reflect the generational differences key to the conflict at the center of the film. The home Pim and Putt live in with their mother is large, modern, and the lighting is white and clean. This is in stark contrast to their grandparents’ home, which is dimly lit by old yellow bulbs and is cluttered with mementos of times gone by. It’s environmental storytelling at its best.
None of it would work without the cast going all out. Sutatta Udomslip, who plays Pim, is that type of pretty that makes you worry she might break at any moment. She plays the role with such subtle care, showing the temerity expected in Asian culture alongside the fierce independence and pushback against these outdated conventions. She’s a tough kid, and she operates with intelligence rarely showcased by a final girl. This is a rare horror film where the female lead actually uses common sense, and it leads to more realistic outcomes.
Mac Nattapat Nimjirawat as Putt does well, but he doesn’t have much to work with. He’s definitely used more as a story device, but his awakening and character growth are well performed and kind of refreshing in their realism.
Sompob Benjathikul steals the show.
Sompob Benjathikul, for those of you not familiar (which included me before this film), is a prolific actor in Asian television and cinema. He’s been honing his craft since his first on-screen appearance in 1975. He brings a quiet fury to the role reminiscent of Charles Bronson’s energy in 1975’s Death Wish, but with more menace.
The film does include brutal violence, but it’s not as graphic as I expected. The more gruesome events are experienced offscreen through amazing sound design and music. Which is surprising, as most Thai films I’ve watched in my life were unflinching gorefests.
The special effects used were also admirable as most appeared to in in-camera and practical, with limited digital assets. It’s a gorgeously shot film and is complemented by the Silent Hill-esque ghost design.
I can’t recommend this one enough, as it’s just so different than what you’d expect for a teen horror film.
If you’re looking for something different and unexpected, that features an intriguing mystery and a few wild twists. This one is for you.
Check it out streaming exclusively on Netflix.
