Dorm

Filed Under: Film, Reviews | Article Tags : DVD review

 

By: Dennis Blot

 

DVD Features Video: 1.85:1 Audio: Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1, Thai: DTS 5.1 Audio Commentary by Director and Cast The Making of Dorm Deleted Scenes with Optional Director Commentary Behind the Scenes Below the Pool (Special Effects) Character Introductions Original Theatrical Trailer Theatrical release: 2/02/2006 DVD released on 5/22/2007 by Tartan Video Running time of 107 minutes Starring: Sirachuch Chienthaworn, Anuchit Panudseranee, Pagasit Punturat Director: Songyos Sugmakanan Plot: Twelve-year-old Chatree has been reluctantly transferred to an all boys boarding school where life for him becomes days of misery and loneliness: he is bullied by his peers with tales of drowned boys and hanged girls; his teacher, Ms. Pranee, does little to make him feel welcome, and he has no friends or family to confide in. Despite being a social outcast and recluse, he befriends another student, Vichien. They become fast friends and soon things look bright, until one day he finds that his new friend has a deep dark secret.

 

 

True fans of horror, those who rejoice at the sight of spilled blood and the gore of shredded body parts, will be sadly disappointed at what the box art of the DVD “Dorm” conveys. The image of a ghostly dead child’s face conjures images in the imagination of child killings, an angry ghost of an adolescent that deals death blows, but certainly not a coming of age film masked in a classic ghost story.

If you crossed Guillermo del Toro’s “The Devil’s Backbone” with Rob Reiner’s “Stand by me” you might approximate what “Dorm” offers. The film maintains much of what you would find in a classic ghost story: abrupt noises, darkened rooms and shadows and other ghostly warnings, leaving the viewer’s imagination to generate fear. The film’s storyline of a boy leaving home to attend boarding school and his misadventures and friendships that occur there are also key to a coming of age story. Director Songyos Sugmakanan skillfully intertwines both elements creating a memorable film in the process.

While most of the tension filled haunted scenes end by the first half of the film, the story remains engaging as a mystery exists to be unraveled and the well-acted adolescent characters provide humor, curiosity, and youthful joie-de-vivre. The film also has a solid resolution, leaving none of the often found plot holes that plague films dealing with the supernatural.

The DVD extras are plentiful and only one is unwarranted. The “Characters introductions” extra is unnecessary as after seeing the film, and viewing the “Making of Dorm” and/or “Behind the Scenes” featurettes you are well aware of the actors and the roles they play. The deleted scenes are extensive and are interesting enough to watch, as is the featurette on special effects. The audio commentary is mislabeled as “Director and Cast”. When it is actually the director and two Thai film critics. It is highly unusual that a director would be receptive enough to have critics comment on his work in his presence, but they lean towards the positive and their critical eyes point out aspects of the film viewers may not have considered or overlooked.

“Dorm” is one of those films that do not sit comfortably in a specific genre. It certainly would disappoint anyone in the mood to see a horror film. It is however a good overall film and worth taking a look at, particularly for male horror fans who have girlfriends who cannot stomach the gore that normally comes with the horror genre (or vice-versa, as there are many female fans of horror as well). It will certainly be appealing to those with an interest in suspense.

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!