42/24
A widower and his daughter travel to the deep south of Thailand to seek help from a Muslim doctor after freeing a djinn in a dilapidated house. The multicultural and multi-religious approach in The Cursed Land is commendable and adds depth to its premise. Malaysian director and actor Bront Palarae delivers a stellar performance as expected, showcasing his talent in both Malay and Thai. But despite his efforts, even his great acting couldn’t completely redeem the film from its shortcomings. The narrative spends too much time focusing on Mit’s personal deterioration, neglecting the more compelling aspects of the story, such as community dynamics and historical context. These elements, rich in cultural and religious interactions, are much more engaging than watching a grown man’s slow descent into madness. The showrunners missed the opportunity to really explore and expand on the multicultural elements already present. With tighter storytelling and more attention to these fascinating cultural issues, the film could have had a much greater impact. As it is, it’s a decent watch, but it doesn’t reach its potential.