Shutter: A Ghostly Glimpse into the Lens of Horror

Blimey, where do I even begin with “Shutter”? It’s like when you’re rooting around in the attic and find an old Polaroid camera, just jam-packed with dusty secrets. Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, this Thai horror flick twists the supernatural into a suspenseful narrative that’s a bit like a rollercoaster ride in Liseberg—unexpected yet thrilling.

So, there’s this bloke, Ananda Everingham, who plays a photographer named Tun, and his girlfriend Jane, played by Natthaweeranuch Thongmee. They’re this cheeky couple who get involved in a hit-and-run accident, and surprise surprise, spooky stuff starts to happen. Somehow, Ananda’s expressive eyes capture every ounce of tension, like when you’re watching a late-night skräckis (horror movie), scared stiff but can’t look away.

Anyway, the film’s ghostly photos got me reminiscing about a Swedish midsummer night’s dream gone wrong—imagine, it was 1995 and I was tussling with my own rusty camera on Öland. Every snap seemed to capture eerie shadows that weren’t there moments before. Sound familiar? Well, maybe it was the snaps of a different kind… snaps of Akvavit, that is.

The brilliant minds behind “Shutter” deserve a proper shout-out, especially since the movie manages to blend folklore with modern dilemmas, like our relentless obsession with documenting every waking moment. The sound design is eerily effective—I mean, you can’t help but jump as scenes make the hairs on the back of your neck stand upright like a hedgehog in the garden!

But, mate, while I adored the spine-tingling tension, I couldn’t help but feel a tad irked by some clichés. The ‘vengeful spirit’ shtick has been done to death, hasn’t it? Still, “Shutter” adds a fresh twist with its cultural nuances.

So, if you’re up for a bit of a scare and willing to squint through the lens of Thai horror, this film is a must-watch! But maybe best to leave the lights on this time, aye? Better safe than sorry.

Check the trailer below