Dir. Banjong Pisanthanakun | Now Streaming On: Shudder | Rating: 5/5

The Medium was one of my top films of 2021 and one of the only films in recent memory that has actually scared me. Asian found footage films pull no punches when it comes to gore, jump scares, and taboo themes. The Medium is no exception, resulting in an absolute whirlwind of a film. The scares are so intense, that critics, while also praising her performance, had concerns that Narilya Gulmongkolpech was at risk of long term trauma as a result of playing Mink. ⁠
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The events of the film go from bad to worse progressively as we watch Mink fall into hysteria at the hands of a malevolent and unseen force, with her family unable to intervene. The traditions and lore of shamanism is so rich that you are pulled into the details of the story, even if you are unfamiliar with Thai culture. ⁠
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The major critique of The Medium is its length and pacing. For western audiences, the slow and steady unwinding of storylines eastern films can come across as long winded and rambling on. However, in my viewing experience, this film picks up pace just before the halfway mark and does not stop to breathe until the camera cuts black in our finale. ⁠
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The Medium is a frightening and relentless take on the power of human evil and how we use faith to cope with our own flaws. Be prepared to cringe, gag, gasp, and then write a five star review. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features rapid camera movement, gore, blood, death, animal cruelty, nudity, sex, self harm.