Watch The Medium

The Medium is a 2021 Thai horror film directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun. The film follows a mother-daughter duo, Nim and her daughter, Mink, who work as shamans in a small village in Thailand. The movie explores the relationship that the two share and the complexities of their profession in a modern world. The film opens with Nim performing a ritual and the narration explains that she has been a renowned shaman in the village for many years. Her daughter Mink is also learning the tricks of the trade from her, as is customary in their profession. However, Mink struggles with this as she has a different personality than her mother, who is serious and definitive, while Mink is more curious and spontaneous.

As the plot progresses, we find out that Mink is unable to see spiritual entities like her mother can, which makes her feel like an outsider in her own home. Things take a turn when the two are hired to perform a ritual at a construction site. The place is believed to be haunted, and the workers and their families are getting spooked by the numerous supernatural occurrences taking place around them.

Furthermore, one of the workers also claims to have seen a female ghost, which sets the tone for the film's central plot. Nim senses that the ghost is strong, and her usual methods of communicating with the spirits turn out to be ineffective. Things start to escalate when Mink witnesses something horrifying, which she thinks is a bad omen.

The movie does a great job of establishing the bond between the two central characters, and we see Nim's desperation to teach her daughter the ropes. She feels like their profession is coming to an end, and she is determined to pass on her knowledge to Mink. However, things take a dark turn when they discover that the ghost at the construction site may have a personal connection with them.

The Medium incorporates elements from the horror genre like jump scares, creepy music, and some disturbing imagery. However, the real horror comes from the underlying themes that the film addresses. The movie touches upon the idea of tradition vs. modernity, exploring how the rapidly changing world is affecting time-honored traditions and professions.

Moreover, it also takes a critical look at the idea of female empowerment. Nim and Mink are both strong female characters, and the film explores the bond between the two. However, it doesn't romanticize their profession or trivialize the patriarchal attitudes of the people around them.

Overall, The Medium is an engaging horror film that does justice to its central characters and the themes it explores. The performances by Narilya Gulmongkolpech and Sawanee Utoomma are noteworthy, and the cinematography and sound design work together to create an eerie atmosphere. The film's final act packs a punch, and the ending will leave audiences with a lot to chew on.

The Medium is a 2021 horror movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.