'The Medium': Foreign Horror Shines Again {Movie Review}

Foreign horror films feel like they haven't been getting the love it properly deserves. Banjong Pisanthanakun's film The Medium is a scary movie that everyone should sit through even if subtitles aren't your favorite (promise subtitles are not terrible). A documentary team heads to a region in Thailand where a shaman has inherited their Goddess, but as time passes the spirit possessing the family may not be the one they expected. 

The format of this film is what really brings out new elements. It's very much a found footage movie but, lays off the shaky camera. More steady shots that captures everything on screen like a film is normally shot. The problem with most found footage genre horror films, is when things start to happen the audience sees less because the camera work. Albeit, there is a moment towards the end where it gets hard to see in a specific area, but other than that we are meant to see everything.

Speaking of the end, this movie has a longer runtime for most horror which is a plus and minus. The Medium, has to build this world and explain so much all while making sure the threat is overlooking in the background. It works, because simple things like the character Mink (portrayed by Narilya Gulmongkolpech) pushing over little kids in a fit of rage and not letting them pass and quickly turning to laugh at the camera when they cry is so ominous. It is a small jab to let the audience know that maybe this Goddess isn't looking to protect this tribe.

The Medium has a slow introduction, but when you get about a fourth of the way in things pick up. The movie definitely shines the last half an hour when they plan to expel the spirit. The cinematography was just a breath of fresh air to see in the horror genre. Hopefully we can see more from this team in the future, because horror needs it.

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Author

Hoping to break into the horror genre, Justin Cook McAfee graduated with a creative writing degree from Full Sail University. Since then, he has picked up videography, volunteered at the Sundance Film Festival, and started his own podcast. With his ever growing movie collection, Justin hopes to one day write and direct his own films. Until that moment calls, he spends his nights in the dark watching new horror movies. Justin is excited to be a part of the HorrOrigins team and ready to further his writing talents. Who would have thought seeing Mufasa die so many times as a kid would push him to horror?