(2003/THAILAND)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-THAMMARAK KAMUTTMANOCH CAST-APICHEJ KITTIKORNJAROEN, WORAVEJ DANUWONG, KAVEE TANJARARAK and SUPATCHAYA REUNREUNG. SOURCE-PANIK HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT DVD (NTSC REGION/ 2005)
Real life Thai pop superstars, D2B play three ad agents who’s lives are drastically changed when they all experience different unexplained events. Though different, there are several factors that lead them to link it all together. As an old woman foretells their future and one of them will die. They race to find out which one of them it will be, when and how it will all happen. Though as they race to find the answer, it becomes increasingly close to when fate will drop it’s ugly hammer.
Yet another project in which the Pang Brothers wrote, edited and I wouldn’t doubt had a major hand in it’s directions. All the traits in it’s look and feel lead back to their exact style. OMEN displays their ability to technically carry a storyline with a dark and distinct presence. The story itself is pretty basic, but does carry a superbly layout twist ending that is quite fresh. The main cast of OMEN consists of the popular Thai boy pop stars D2B (Big, Dan and Beem) . The strange thing about them being in OMEN too is shortly after the film, one of the members (Big) was in a life threatening car accident much like that in the film. He is still recovering to this day. As for their performances in the film itself, well they are all very good. Certainly not Oscar material, but they carry their characters very realistic. This is especially evident when the script calls for some light humor which the Pangs did in fact incorporate quite often in this.
What really makes OMEN tick though is it’s claustrophobic feel, given you a slow boxed in atmosphere. This is mixed with several areas of very dark unnerving and very apprehensive natures. This is especially generated during the scenes involving the mysterious old woman who foretells the future of the three main characters. Still, even though there are several areas of positive aspects to OMEN, it is a far cry from THE EYE in many ways. Yes, I know I’m using THE EYE as a comparison once again, but that is to be normal considering it is the Pang Bros. bread and butter and is to be expected. I have yet to see Oxide’s film AB-normal Beauty which I hear is quite good. So, I can’t use that as a reference quite yet.
The Panik House Entertainment release is yet another great start and follow up to their other new release BANGKOK HAUNTED. Though it’s not quite as loaded in extras, the print is certainly quite exceptional and enough to grab this unique Thai film. Like the BANGKOK HAUNTED DVD, the print is presented in correct aspect ratio of 1.78:1/16:9 wide-screen format. A crystal clear picture that is once again quickly going to back Panik’s stake in the Asian Cinema DVD market here in North America. Along with the great picture comes an equally as good audio selection as well. Showcased in it’s original Thai language 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS or 2.0 with the option of either English or Spanish subtitles. Like the picture the sound or audio is strikingly clear.
On the extras front, there are a few essays , 2 to be exact to read over. The first being a background of the Thai pop sensations, D2B. The other being a tribute to Big, who in real life had a serious car accident that was at one point life threatening. There are also the band profiles, poster and still galleries. Not to forget trailers for the two films released on DVD from Panik House as well as production notes and two trademark qualities to these discs. Those being an added sticker of the front cover as well as the high gloss box cover slipcase. I can’t say enough how much I look forward to their up coming releases of SEX AND FURY as well as FEMALE YAKUZA TALE. Both look quite promising, as I’m sure if they are anything as near as their first two releases, it’s a done deal!
STORY/FILM-3 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-4 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-4.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-3 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-3.5 BITCH SLAPS
