The Maid - The Return Of The Classic Thai Horror Thriller

Now this is more like it!

I remember a time back in the early 2000’s when Thai horror movies were some of the best out there, and an inspiration for cinema the world over. And while this isn’t a pure horror film, there are definitely thriller elements to this, it certainly ends like one.

What’s this movie about?

A new house maid begins working in a luxurious mansion owned by a wealthy woman and her husband. They have a young daughter who is forbidden from leaving the house, and who has been diagnosed with a mental illness due to the fact she has visions of a woman around the house.

Those visions are the ghost of the dead maid, who seems desperate to make contact with the new maid to help her uncover the truth about her death.

But what does the new maid find out her death, and how does she react to the truth?

My Thoughts on this Movie

If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know that it’s split into three chapters.

The first two chapters are used to introduce all the characters and set the story up. At first, it’s not really clear where the movie is heading. Is it just a simple haunted house movie? Or is it just an evil spirit protecting her territory over a perceived threat?

Well, all those questions get answered in the final third, and wow does the movies take an incredible and exciting shift. I can understand if you weren’t really enjoying the film up until this point, but if you stuck with the film to end, I wonder if you enjoyed it as much as I did?

I loved that final third. It’s one of the most insane endings I have seen in an Asian horror films since the Forbidden Door.

What I loved most about this movie is the performance of Ploy Sornarin, who plays Joy the new house maid. This is the third movie of hers I have seen, the others being Siam Square and Viral, both of which I have discussed in the past. Siam Square was fantastic, but Viral was awful, partly due to her performance. But 4 years after Viral was made, Ploy has matured as an actress, and her performance in this is terrific, especially in that final third where her character is able to unleash her full emotions.

There’s not much more I can tell you about the film without giving away any spoilers, but it was great to see Thai cinema explore a few themes that are usually taboo, including adultery and same sex relationships. It’s refreshing and tastefully done, and adds to the overall tension building of the film.

Overall

Otherwise, this is a movie I would strongly encourage you to watch.

It’s a thumbs up from me. I absolutely loved it and I hope you do too. This could be one of my favourites of 2021.

If you’ve seen it, what did you think?