‘My Boo’ REVIEW: It doesn’t get any scarier, funnier, and cheesier than this
‘My Boo’ REVIEW: It doesn’t get any scarier, funnier, and cheesier than this
The last time I had a laugh with a horror romcom was with 2013’s Warm Bodies. It is not an easy feat, fusing nightmarish elements with a love story as comic relief. My Boo, Thailand’s latest attempt at the subgenre, is exceptional for the most part. The movie stars Sutthirak Subvijitra as Joe, a good-for-nothing gamer who, after his grandfather’s passing, inherited an ancient house in the middle of nowhere.
The house is inhabited by the ghosts of three victims who were murdered in the same area years ago. Usual rules apply — they aren’t tangible, they can pass through humans and walls, they can be frightening, and they can also appear tame. This initially scares Joe, seeing them relive their deaths a la Happy Death Day every time the clock strikes twelve. Anong, played by Maylada Susri, bewitches Joe and the two develop a ghostly relationship throughout the movie.
Directed by Khomkrit Treewimol, this new addition to the list of Thai box-office hits does a great job of giving a bit of everything. It has horror, as Joe capitalizes on the haunted house and its intestine-showing, beheading-filled, and neck-twisting realness. It has comedy, using the same haunted house to make fun of the brave challengers who end up screaming their way out of the attraction. And it has romance, with Anong and Joe’s chemistry winning the hearts of the audience.
The film reached its zenith with back-to-back punchlines, jumpscares, and cheesy romantic scenes. Up to this point, it was shaping up to be an instant classic. Then it gets to the last part, where it shifts back to a serious tone when Joe finally learns of the tragic circumstances that led to Anong and her two servants’ deaths. Suddenly, a “past-lives” philosophical nonsense agenda is pushed, and the movie fails to maintain its momentum.
I liked the story. The title of the movie is just genius. It knows how to make fun of itself and make the audience laugh in the process. However, I don’t see how it should be bookended by its horror aspect. Some might agree with this decision since it can be a proper closure for the ghosts, but it’s just off-putting to see their graphic deaths again when the film just showed what I believe to be its second-best scene: Anong and Joe dancing without being able to touch each other. The best is still the random yet witty BL montage that got audiences in my theater to burst into laughter (This scene may translate as homophobic to others, but this is a Thai film, so I don’t think it was done in an ill manner).
One thing is for sure, Filipinos will enjoy watching My Boo. After the relatable family drama How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, we get something that taps into our twisted fascination with the macabre. Whether it be watching scary movies, sitting through creepy stories, or going to attraction houses like Gabi ng Lagim, we love getting spooked to death just as much as we love cheesy romcoms.
It’s like one of those instances where the creators think of the conclusion first and backtrack from there. This works in some cases, but not when your conclusion is disappointing in the first place. It feels forced, laughable even. I can forgive Joe straight up exploiting the ghosts to earn money — it’s not to be taken seriously. But this ending of trying to be something it’s not… is not it. No spoilers, but you can see for yourself.
Catch a screening of ‘My Boo’ in SM Cinemas nationwide starting June 26, 2024.
