This movie becomes landmark of the birth of Thailand as baby boomer in Cinema Industry. Yes, it's so Asian. It has a national and cultural identity. You can feel the atmosphere of Thai's village and its society. You can taste the mystical east here. But the dominant nuance in this movie is Theravadic Buddhism. It becomes an important keyword from this movie, and it becomes the problem solver for the conflict.Nang Nak tells us about a folk legend in Thailand around 19th century. It is a beautiful horror story about a man named Mak, whom his wife (Nak) is dead with her baby when she gives birth. Mak don't know about it, because he was in war when his wife dead. When Mak return to his home, he is life happily with his wife and their baby. Things' getting worse when Mak's friend tells him that Mak is currently living with ghost. Mak discuss this issue with Nak, and Nak is adding that is so sad because people around her tell bad rumors about her. She says people accuse her doing affair with another guy when Mak is serving at war. After that, Mak's friend is suddenly dead.You can guess what happened next, it's not so complicated nor so unusual, but how Nonzee Nimibutr use the plot is so interesting. We are made keep guessing and never know what actually happened till the mid of the movie. And next are quite horrifying scenes, and ended with so emotional ending. Although the visual effects are not so special, the setting, costumes, and make up are quite good. It has a quite good moral value about mortality and impermanence. This movie is not only a high quality horror. It's a drama of Dharma.

Based on a Thai legend this is the story of a man who returns to his wife and child unaware that they are long dead. Its considered a great story of ever lasting love, I call it dull. Call me cultural heathen but this movie bored me. Certainly this is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, the portrait of life on the river and in the jungle is breath taking. If I could simply watch the visuals I would be very happy, unfortunately the story of love undiminished by death gets in the way, or rather the way its told. The way its told is very soapy. Its overwrought and gaspy with wonderful declarations of love that are repeated so frequently you'll want to scream. Its a bad romance novel come to life. I hate to be negative since I wanted to like this but I was too busy snoozing to care.Revised: The films visuals still haunt me several weeks after writing that review. A second viewing, sparked after a discussion with a friend who loves the film, made me more appreciative of the film, and while I am still no fan of the film, I can recommend it for adventurous viewers. I still find it slow but find that its worth a shot for those who want to try something decidedly non American in flavor.

Nang nak had been made for many times in Thailand both for TV series and films. Therefore, most of them express the scary part of Nak but they don't mention anything about her deep true love to Mak. So I think this version is very touching and great. I love it. Though, there were many versions made but none of them gives good facts like this one. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As always, I never bothered to check any movies that would force me to READ - the subtitle that is any foreign language other than English. Nang Nak was introduced to me by my wife... It is because the publicity in the newspaper telling about how this movie has made an impact at one of the European countries movie awards - it's a horror movie but with strong love story message. (How scary, indeed!).Infact for a moment (till the labouring scene)... I was still doing my work while my wife kept on yelling at me every five minutes to join her...So, I was kind of surprised how good the movie was. Especially the scene when Mak took a refuge in the monastery and Nak followed him there. The most scary part is when she hung on the ceiling....Me and my wife had a trouble for a moment to even try to glance at our own house ceiling!Nang nak.... is GOOD! (I'll watch it from the beginning this sunday...) FROM : LELAKILAH