A Horror Film That Kills
Shane (Chantavit Dhanasevi) works as a projectionist at a local cinema, which is preparing for the upcoming release of an intense horror film titled “Vengeful Spirit.” This film is known to be extremely frightening and deeply disturbing, as it follows the story of a woman who brutally captures and murders young children in a village. By the end of the film, she is hanged for her horrific acts of violence. “Vengeful Spirit” is expected to perform well globally by audiences and film enthusiasts, so to earn some extra cash, Shane accepts an illegal task. He and another staff member plan to record and create a private copy of the film “Vengeful Spirit”, so they can sell pirated copies. To accomplish this, Shane replays the film after hours in the projection room while the other staff member sits in the cinema and records the entire movie using a handheld camera.
Fiction Bleeds Into Reality
But while they are recording the film on the big screen, something strange and unexplainable happens, leaving Shane baffled. In a moment of panic, he grabs the camera and leaves. Later, when Shane investigates the camera, he discovers a ghostly figure in the footage. As Shane continues to question what happened, he keeps the pirated film a secret, even as he starts experiencing haunting visions. A ghostly presence begins to lurk in the cinema, which Shane keeps experiencing firsthand. Now, Shane is determined to conduct a personal investigation to understand how this is possible and what connection the film has to the creepy and nightmare-fuelled sightings he is experiencing.
Familiar Yet Effective Horror
Coming Soon is a horror movie that features a compelling mystery, complete with multiple twists and turns as the story unfolds. Directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit, known for his previous films including Home for Rent (2023), Laddaland (2011), and The Promise (2017), this film showcases his expertise in crafting thrilling horror narratives. With such a strong track record, Sophon Sakdaphisit is undoubtedly adept at creating engaging and suspenseful films.
Tackling the positives, while Coming Soon may be familiar, I love the film’s concept and its primary setting in a movie theatre (perhaps I’m biased, as I’m a fan of cinema). I believe this location plays a central role in the horror plot. The storyline is also filled with mystery. During my first viewing, I was confident that I could predict the big reveal; however, I was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected twist that unfolded beautifully. Additionally, I was impressed with the lighting throughout the film, which contributed to the eerie appearance of the ghostly threat.
I found the performances generally satisfactory. The pacing was a bit slow, but the central mystery kept me engaged. Unfortunately, while the film’s opening and impressive climax stood out as highlights, the journey during the second act was more forgettable. The same can be said for some of the film’s side characters, who were considerably less engaging and interesting to follow, including Shane’s co-workers at the cinema.
Final Thoughts
Coming Soon (2008) is Now Avaialble on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella.
Published: 29th June 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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