Is horror anthology Phobia scarier than the sum of its parts?
Simon Petersen finds out…
Horror anthologies are a decidedly risky proposition for moviegoers.
Because they feature the works of different directors, the style and quality often varies wildly.
And yet, the success or failure of a film depends on the sum of all its parts.
Thats a problem forPhobia(aka4Bia), a collection of four short horror films from Thailand.
It begins, not with a bang, but a whimper.
The payoff, when it does finally come, is silly and predictable.
The twist ending isnt much better.
A group of youths get revenge on a young kid who inadvertently got them expelled from school.
Seriously injured by an act of intimidation gone awry, the young kid exacts bloody retribution.
Paween Purikitpanyas hyperactive direction is more than just disorientating, its nauseating.
Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun,In The Middleis much more self-aware than the other short films in this collection.
Keeping with the gradual increase in quality,Last Frightis easily the best of the four.
Although its a tad slow to begin with,Last Frightis an efficient,Twilight Zone-esque morality tale.
Feature:
Phobiais out now andavailable from the Den Of Geek Store.
Rating:
2 out of 5
