Banjong Pisanthanakun's PEE MAK PHRAKANONG Posts Second Largest Thai Opening Ever

Apparently the staff at ScreenAnarchy aren't the only ones who have been awaiting Shutter and Alone co-director Banjong Pisanthanakun's horror comedy Pee Mak Phrakanong. Nope. Tucked away in a review at Wise Kwai is the note that Pee Mak has posted the second largest opening of a Thai film ever at the local box office, it's 21 million baht opening day take second only to the original Ong Bak, with the 100 million line crossed on the fourth day - meaning averages actually went up through the first week as word of mouth spread. So, yes, apparently the film is quite good though it sounds as though some of the comedy might be quite region-specific.

Beyond the simple fact that we've been fans of Banjong here for a very, very long time and are happy to see his latest succeed this is very good news for a local industry that has both struggled to produce true hits in recent days and which - like virtually all film industries around the world - has seen its content overrun by cheap-to-produce romantic comedies and dramas. A big hit in any other genre will be nothing but good for diversity over all and can hopefully usher back in some of the experimentation that was so evident in the Thai films of even five years ago.