After Valentine’s Day weekend, all I can say is that love bites. After viewing a Thai film titled Inhuman Kiss: The Last Breath, I’m glad to not be currently dating anyone from South Asia. That lady can be 100% mortal by day and completely monstrous at night! According to folklore, the Krasue is this nation’s version of a vampire and the belief in them is real. Even today, people report sightings!
Most of the encounters come from farmers. While some manifestations may simply be swamp lights than will-o’-the-wisps, the fear is justified. They flit about the countryside in search of a midnight snack. Although they are not true vampires, just why they exist does not differ from why the Beholders from Dungeons and Dragons have sprung into being. They don’t guard treasure, but instead need to satisfy a bloodlust. This aspect is one concept this film gets right!
By day, one of these demons can be “The Girl From Next Door,” and no one would know. And no, I’m not referring to the Elisha Cuthbert movie. The studio released the first film two years ago, and it is finally available to North American audiences. What’s presented is a mix of romance and occultism. It continues many decades later, following the life of Noi (Krissada Sukosol Clapp). He is trying to keep the spirit at bay by feeding his daughter, Sao (Chanya McClory), a strange herb.
Although much of her life is sheltered, she still goes out and plays once in a while. When she meets Cloud (Krissanapoom Pibulsonggram from the boy band Nine by Nine), their chemistry is quite charming! And when parts of the film feels like a shojo manga, perhaps the pairing and giving the boy white hair is intentional. Over the years, from being childhood friends to young adults, it’s obvious they’re in love. When nobody else wants to associate with them, they at least have each other.
While she’s cautious not to tell him about why they can never meet for late night dates, he’s sometimes insistent. And that kept me interested in how they can maintain their relationship. However, when the superstitious folk believe they have to hunt down the Krasue, that’s when the action finally gets amped up.
Although this film can’t decide on what kind of genre film it must be, I saw the bouncing around between a Beauty and the Beast scenario to The Exorcist rather uneven. Whether that’s in seeing Sao perform some easy contortions to evoke the sense that her head wants to detach.
I have to assume director Paphangkorn Punchantarak had difficulty in testing the waters. South Asian movies vary; some producers prioritize special effects, while others accept a B-movie aesthetic. Unfortunately, those nighttime occasions are too dark, and I had trouble adjusting my monitor to enhance those moments so I can look at the effort put into showing Sao without her body. I couldn’t help but wonder if the plan is to save the best for last? When most of the early scenes show her as an octopus on top of a human body, I realised I had to be patient.
Although some of the digital effects are not perfect, I’m glad the last few frames pay off. Also, I found the action bits are like an Evil Dead film. If that’s not enough to satisfy, then I don’t know what will.
3 Fangs out of 5
Inhuman Kiss: The Last Breath Trailer
