My Boo made waves in Thai cinemas, earning over 100 million baht and making it one of the highest-grossing films in the country this year. And now, My Boo is taking the world by storm with screenings in other parts of the world. This horror romcom combines what Thai entertainment has to offer in one film that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.
In this High Five review, we’ll tick all the boxes that will make you ultimately fall in love with this sweet and spooky feel-good flick
An Unexpected Premise
Still from JUNGKA STUDIO
My Boo opens with Joe (“Gee” Sutthirak Subvijitra)—a gamer who inherits a haunted home and makes do with his situation by turning it into a lucrative haunted house attraction. He befriends the ghosts residing within the house and asks them to act for his haunted house in exchange for searching for their remains. But soon after, love plays with our protagonist’s fate as he starts growing affection for a cute ghost, Anong (“Bow” Maylada Susri).
While ghost romances aren’t exactly unique, this film is set up as a person warming up to the idea of ghosts. From being a business-partner-slash-mystery-solver, Joe ends up slowly forming a real connection with his incorporeal counterpart, leading audiences to a fun romantic romp with a huge question mark at the end—just where will this relationship go?
Unalive, Laugh, Love
Still from JUNGKA STUDIO
My Boo balances scares, laughs and romantic moments in an admirable effort by the whole cast and crew. Thailand is known for its expertly crafted horror films—from atmosphere to visual effects, Thai horrors always excel, and My Boo is no exception. In true Thai fashion, the film does not disregard the technical for cheap theatrics just because it is a horror comedy film. It was able to deliver horror without looking tacky and fake.
Meanwhile, the main plot of this film is the romantic story between Anong and Joe. The couple delivered comedy, especially when they interact with the supporting characters, but never missed out on the chemistry to make up for romance. Themes of jealousy and physical affection were also met with the right blend of romance and comedy.
Still from JUNGKA STUDIO
An especially funny moment is the nod to Boys’ Love or BL that Thailand is known for worldwide. We’re talking about the montage where Joe takes Anong out on a date by having Anong possess Joe’s male friend, Kong. As pleasant as their date could have been, we can’t help but laugh whenever the screen transitions to Joe and Kong dating by the Chao Phraya River. It’s a hilarious execution that highlights the absurdity of the situation of dating a ghost in an unwitting person’s body. And the BL nod? Happy Pride Month, indeed.
A Veteran Director
“Girl From Nowhere” and “My Boo”| Stills from Netflix and JUNGKA STUDIO
Anyone familiar with Girl From Nowhere? If you’ve binge-watched this popular Netflix show in 2021, then you’ve watched My Boo’s director at work. Director “S” Khomkrit Treewimol helmed 6 episodes of Girl From Nowhere, so you know you’re in great hands.
Treewimol is perhaps best known for his work on My Girl, a 2003 coming-of-age romance film which won him the 2004 Asian New Talent Award and the 2004 Thailand National Film Association Award, along with the five other directors who worked on the film.
His experience directing both mystery thrillers and romantic dramas makes him the perfect choice for this project, and it shows in his understanding of how to perfectly balance the tone of My Boo. This seasoned director makes the treatment of the film exciting, stitching every scene to make viewers feel a myriad of emotions from beginning to end.
This Charming Cast
Still from JUNGKA STUDIO
If there’s one thing that cannot go unnoticed in this movie, it’s the performers’ dynamics and interactions. Bow Maylada’s charm shines through as the ghost Anong, so it’s no surprise why Joe falls in love with her. From the way she repeatedly smiles at Joe whenever she finishes “dying,” to the time she ugly cries out of jealousy—we’re totally captured by her captivating performance.
Gee Sutthirak’s performance as Joe perfectly complements Bow’s Anong, with a chemistry that makes you think it’s possible for humans and ghosts to be together. You would not expect a match made in a haunted house to turn up that well. The performances of supporting actors “Timethai” Dharmthai Plangsilp as the ghost Thongkon and Na Phuang Chernyim as the old man were also noteworthy, showing their amazing comic timing that never fails to make the audience laugh.
A Feel-Good Movie
Still from JUNGKA STUDIO
At the end of the day, My Boo is a feel-good movie. While there are mild scares and graphic images, the film doesn’t stray too far from the charming core duo of Anong and Joe and their star-crossed love. Comedic moments keep the film entertaining all throughout, while surprise celebrity cameos are sure to be a treat for viewers who are fans of Thai pop culture.
In a world of revenge stories and edgy violence in mainstream media, My Boo is a breath of fresh air offering us a good laugh and delightful love story. While the ending had an unexpected twist that does not completely align with the rest of the narrative, the good simply outweighs the bad with this cute and pleasant film.
My Boo’s playful horror romcom is worth a SEA Wave rating of 3/5. Don’t bother overthinking this movie and just enjoy it as it is.
“My Boo” premieres exclusively in SM Cinemas in the Philippines starting June 26. Catch it in theaters and let us know what you think about it in the comment section below!