Tha Rae: The Exorcist transports us to a small village in Thailand’s Northeast, where an ancient demon resurfaces just before Christmas. Grandpa Ming, a former Catholic priest, begins acting violently, and when his daughter Malee returns home, she is almost immediately possessed. What follows is a full-on spiritual crisis. A local shaman is brought in to perform a traditional exorcism, while the Catholic Church sends a young priest to intervene. The two belief systems collide as they attempt to fight the same supernatural threat.

The horror isn’t particularly terrifying and leans more on jump scares than lasting tension, but there are moments that genuinely work. Some transitions and visual effects are creatively done, and a few scenes deliver unexpected gore. The pacing is uneven, with the first act struggling to find its footing. However, the second half picks up the momentum and leads to a climactic, if slightly over-the-top, confrontation. The highlight of the film is easily the dynamic between the shaman and the priest. Surprisingly, the combination works well and is handled with respect to both belief systems.

Personally, I didn’t find it very scary, but it was definitely entertaining. The film has strong Thai horror comedy energy, with plenty of “what did I just watch” moments that kept things fun. The theme of conflicting faiths coming together was a refreshing angle, though the mystery reveal felt a little rushed and underwhelming. Also, the chemistry between the priest and the shaman was kind of suspiciously good. Was it just me, or were there subtle hints of BL (boy-love) tension? Either way, I wasn’t mad about it. While it might not be a must-watch, I would be curious to see a sequel, especially if they sharpen the story and lean further into the spiritual chaos.

Thank you Golden Village for the invite!

Review by: XY@KAvenyou