Colic: The Movie

Colic: The Movie, a gripping exploration into supernatural horror, showcases a unique side of Thai cinema. Directed by Patchanon Thammajira and starring Pimpan Chalaikupp, Vittaya Wasukraipaisan, and Kulthida Sattabongkoch, this 2006 release is an engaging portrait of the anxieties and trials accompanying new parenthood, all set within an eerie supernatural framework.

The storyline centers on the lives of a young married couple, Pimpan Chalaikupp as Petch and Vittaya Wasukraipaisan playing the role of his wife, Num. The couple appears to be living an idyllic suburban life, their happiness heightened by the arrival of their baby. However, their contentment is short-lived as their lives take a sinister turn when their newborn begins to cry incessantly. Their baby is diagnosed with Colic, a condition that causes severe, often fluctuating crying spells in newborns, the cause of which remains largely unknown.

This is where the storyline adds a fascinating twist. The movie presents Colic not just as a medical condition but also a metaphorical gateway that leads to the supernatural elements in the story, spiraling the young couple into a world they can hardly comprehend. The movie perfectly captures the helplessness and anxiety that the new parents encounter, combined with their growing fears of the potentially paranormal happenings surrounding their child. But is it really a ghostly predicament, or is it something else?

The film also introduces the intriguing character Dang, portrayed by Kulthida Sattabongkoch. Dang is a peculiar woman who painstakingly claims to know the solution to the couple's problems. She alleges that the baby's abnormal behavior is due to a supernatural presence. However, both Petch and Num find themselves stuck at crossroads, being modern, educated individuals faced with an anomalous proposition.

Patchanon Thammajira utilizes the narrative as a tool to induce fright and suspense effectively. He masterfully uses darkness and silence as crucial components of horror while hinting at deeper, more profound societal anxieties about modern parenthood. Artful cinematography and nuanced performances from the lead actors elevate the movie and captivate the viewer's attention right till the end.

The movie's pace fluctuates between a zen-like calmness and sudden frightening sequences, mirroring the perplexing condition of Colic and its eerie supernatural component. An unsettling mix of calm domesticity peppered with an undercurrent of anxiety permeates the movie, reflecting the protagonists' own personas.

Pimpan Chalaikupp, with her authentic portrayal of a distraught mother, delivers a compelling performance that draws the audience into her plight. Vittaya Wasukraipaisan, portraying the role of a helpless father, compliments Chalaikupp's performance perfectly, thereby adding layers to the familial tension exhibited throughout the film. Kulthida Sattabongkoch's portrayal of Dang is mysterious and intriguing, symbolic of the edgy supernatural elements engrained in the movie.

Colic: The Movie doesn’t adhere to the clichéd tropes of traditional horror cinema. Instead, it deals with horrors of a more personal and relatable kind — the horror of change, the dread of the unknown, and the terror encompassing the monumental responsibility of nurturing a new life. It explores how the enveloping despair and exhaustion can lead people to question their own reality and redefine what they once knew as normal.

Sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, Colic: The Movie indulges viewers in a distinctive narrative, intensified by its plausible characters and a disturbingly relatable premise. One of Thailand's more chilling entries in the horror genre, the film leaves its audience mulling over the terrors of the mundane and the bizarrely ordinary fears that lurk within everyday life.

In conclusion, Colic: The Movie is a sinister tale of the supernatural, intertwined with the equally terrifying aspects of early parenthood. As a story which straddles the boundaries of reality and the supernatural, it manifests parental anxieties in the form of a horrifying spectacle. With its gritty performances and a storyline that is as eerie as it is intriguing, Colic: The Movie is sure to draw even the most seasoned horror fans into its chilling narrative.