A Haunting Return to Thailand
The story follows a married couple, Pim (Marsha Wattanapanich) and Vee (Withaya Wasukraipaisan), who live in South Korea. When Pim receives a phone call informing her that her mother has had a stroke, she and Vee quickly pack their bags and travel back to Thailand. Fortunately, although Pim’s mother (Ruchanu Boonchooduang) has suffered a stroke, there are treatments and procedures available that hope will help her. While in Thailand, Pim and Vee decide to stay in Pim’s childhood home. During their time there, we learn that Pim has a tragic past, which Vee is also aware of. Pim bears a large scar on her stomach, a result of being previously conjoined at the abdomen with her twin sister, Ploy. While in her childhood home, Pim begins to witness strange and unexplainable sights. She becomes convinced that she is being haunted. As more sightings occur, Pim eventually suspects that her twin sister, Ploy, is the source of the haunting. But why would Ploy be haunting her?
Dark Secrets and a Mysterious Past
Pim is very curious and, while trying to keep it all together and focus on how to keep her mother alive in the hospital, she is terrified. Scared, she shares her recent experiences with the ghostly presences with Vee, but he begins to doubt her sanity, attributing the sightings to the stress and worry caused by Pim’s mother’s recent stroke. Vee, fully convinced that Pim is experiencing hallucinations, decides to call in an old friend who works as a psychiatrist to evaluate her. However, the haunted visions and ongoing occurrences only worsen. Soon, Vee himself begins to experience the haunting firsthand also. Can Pim and Vee figure out together why they are being haunted, and if it’s Pim’s twin sister, Ploy, haunting them?
Directors Behind the Lens
Alone is a horror-thriller movie. The film was directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, both of whom are well-known in the horror genre and who have previously worked on titles such as Shutter (2004).
Strengths in Atmosphere and Mystery
Alone has a gripping opening as Pim’s mother suffers a stroke, an event that profoundly impacts both Pim and Vee. Alongside this dramatic moment, the film introduces several mysteries that intrigued me from the start, particularly regarding Pim’s past and the fate of her conjoined sister. Fortunately, as the story unfolds, viewers are treated to various flashbacks that shed light on these unknown aspects and provide valuable backstory. In addition to the mystery, the horror element is also significant and enjoyable. The eerie sounds and unexplainable visions that begin to haunt Pim add depth to the plot, intensifying her trauma as a character. Those around her struggle to accept what she is experiencing, and even Pim herself can’t fully understand why these occurrences are happening suddenly.
Where the Horror Falls Short
However, while the film carries great ghostly visuals and sound designs along with its intriguing opening premise, I must admit that the TV movie quality of this film is evident in both its look and leading performances. The entire runtime is also often slow and sluggish in its pacing. The film’s mysteries, while set up wonderfully, sadly, lead to a predictable reveal ending. I felt the film didn’t try to make it any less so, which seemed like a missed opportunity to genuinely shock audiences. The third act, again, drags slightly, and the final moments are also forgettable and won’t leave you with a lasting impact.
A Disappointing Third Act
Overall, while I was excited to see another film from Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, the directors of one of my all-time favourites, Shutter (2004), I found that the film had its shortcomings. The primary opening was engaging and introduced some compelling mysteries, but the film’s pacing was often slow and sluggish. Unfortunately, the premise felt predictable and obvious, as if the filmmakers weren’t even trying to surprise the audience. Additionally, the climax was drawn out and, sadly, less memorable than I had hoped. While it’s a decent horror film, it doesn’t offer anything particularly revolutionary.
Final Thoughts: A Missed Opportunity
Alone (2008) is Now Avaialble on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella.
Published: 29th June 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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