Jakarta. Local horror films usually dominate Indonesian movie theaters, although they, more often than not, have a flimsy storyline and a poor execution. Even so, Indonesian horror, which is usually inspired by urban legends and viral internet posts, continues to gain crowds.

Thailand has made countless attempts to capture the hearts of Indonesian audiences; some films and TV series even enjoyed huge popularity among youths. This time, the Thai film industry is trying to woo Indonesian horror fans with “Tha Rae: The Exorcist”.

Directed by Taweetwat Wantha, the title is taken from the Thai district of Tha Rae, home to the country’s largest and oldest Catholic community. Forty years ago, a demon wreaked havoc on the villagers, but was defeated. This demon is now back.

The film has to bring something fresh if it wants to get Indonesians to buy its tickets and spread the word to others. “Tha Rae” tries to blend two belief systems and cultural traditions: the faith of the God-worshipping Church and the spirit-worship rituals of the Northeastern yao tradition. We have Jirayu Tangsrisuk as Father Paolo, a young priest sent by the Catholic archdiocese to take care of the problem. The terrified villagers also summon local witch doctor Sopha (Peerawit Attachitsathaporn) to perform a folk exorcism. 

The script, co-written by Wantha along with Worawit Chaiwongkot and Polsan Busabarti, is quite lackluster. There is not much to say in the acting department, as none of the cast’s performances throughout the entire two-hour movie were memorable.

Sopha is the comic relief from the get-go and quickly becomes the viewers’ favorite character, judging by the audience’s reactions. What differs “Tha Rae: The Exorcist” from today’s Indonesian horror is that the Thai movie doesn’t do much jumpscare. It zeroes in on having two different faiths fighting the same demon. And this unexpected collab becomes the film’s only saving grace. 

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