Ruja (Chayanit Chansangavej) is a single mother living abroad with her daughter, Rachel (Nutthatcha Padovan). Rachel has a degenerative eye condition, and Ruja worries that she won’t have the money to pay for her treatment. That is until one day when she receives a call from Thailand: Her father has died. With her daughter in tow, Ruja returns to the woodlands of her birth to assess the family estate. She meets with an old family friend, an art dealer named Wichai (Sahajak Boonthanakit) who explains the situation.
Her father had sold off many works and family holdings before his death, but two of his most famous paintings remain. Wichai also has a buyer set up, a man willing to pay millions for the exquisite pieces. There is a caveat: The paintings need repair to be worth full value. Tim (Nichkhun) is an art repairer ready to work for a reasonable price, and Ruja agrees. As he works, however, Ruja’s family secrets seem to escape from inside the painting itself.
Cracked is a unique horror film, like The Grudge meets A Portrait of Dorian Grey with a sadistic twist. The blood-soaked storyline will be too intense for some viewers, but those looking for a visceral paranormal mystery will be thrilled to see this movie. Clever use of reflections, shadows, and filters gives the whole film an eerie air that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The story, too, is quite interesting as it unfolds: Nothing is as it seems.
The past is literally coming back to haunt Ruja as she learns about the cruel habits her father tried to keep from the rest of his family. My only strong complaint about this film is how some sound design is heavy-handed and can ruin what would otherwise be perfect suspense. This aside, those looking for a paranormal thriller with freaky ghosts and life-long plots for vengeance, will want to see Cracked. Highly Recommended.
Where does this film belong on public library shelves?
Cracked would fit best in foreign-language horror collections or Thai language collections.
What type of film series could use this title?
Cracked would be an excellent addition to a film series on Asian horror or foreign-language horror films.