Ghost Lab (in Thai: โกสต์แล็บ..ฉีกกฎทดลองผี) is a Thai horror science fiction web movie directed by Paween Phurichitpanya, produced by GDH 559 and Jorkwang Films under the production supervision of Netflix.
It is scheduled to be officially released on Netflix worldwide on May 26, 2021. It is the second Thai film to be released on Netflix as a Netflix Original Movie, following BNK48: One Take, and is also the first Thai film to be shot using HDR technology according to Netflix's standards and Dolby Vision throughout the story.
Synopsis[]
“Do you believe in the afterlife?”
After witnessing a real “ghost” for the first time, Gla and Wee, a young doctor partner, decide to conduct an experiment together to find a way to prove that the “afterlife” really exists. In their search for a theory controlling the appearance of ghosts, they must hunt down spirits to be their “experimenters” with the belief that they will be the first people in the world to scientifically prove that “ghosts really exist”, little do they know that the answer they are looking for comes with an unexpected disaster.Cast Members[]
- Thanapob Leeratanakachorn as Wee
- Paris Intarakomalyasut as Gla
- Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich as Mai
Production[]
The concept for the film originated during the GMM Thai Hub (GTH) era. Jira Maligool organized a workshop, pairing all GTH directors to brainstorm film ideas, with each pair coming up with one film concept. Paween paired with Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, as both shared an interest in science and horror genres. Initially, they struggled to develop a story until they heard a rumor that Pakphum Wongphum's room was haunted, prompting Pakphum to switch rooms with another director. This sparked their curiosity about whether the room was genuinely haunted and led to the idea of conducting experiments to uncover the truth. This experience inspired them to present a semi-scientific horror film concept, featuring two protagonists experimenting to discover the truth about ghosts and the afterlife. The concept was selected for further development into a film.
In 2019, GDH 559 was looking for new film concepts as their prepared stock of films was depleted. Paween and Nawapol proposed their concept to GDH, which saw potential and began developing the film in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 situation, the project was postponed to 2021. As the pandemic situation did not improve, GDH decided to shift from a theatrical release to an online global release. They offered the film to Netflix, which acquired it for distribution. Netflix set additional production standards, requesting the film be shot in Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ and mixed in 5.1 surround sound to match the quality of other Netflix films. During the final editing process, Netflix translated the script into multiple languages for dubbing, preparing for a simultaneous global release in May.
Soundtrack[]
For the film's soundtrack, Paween contacted Piyatat Hemstapat, also known as Bill Hemstapat, a sound director at Sony Interactive Entertainment, to compose the entire score, ensuring that the music aligned with the film's main theme.
Publicity & Release[]
The movie was officially unveiled during the GDH Xtraordinary 2021 Line-up press conference on September 23, 2020, at Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon. The main storyline was described as involving a scientific experiment rather than being a horror film.[1]
Originally, “Ghost Lab” was scheduled to be released in Thai theaters in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, the release was postponed to 2021. The plans were further delayed due to the second and third waves of the pandemic. Eventually, Netflix Southeast Asia acquired the rights to distribute the film globally. The film was officially launched on May 26, 2021, with a press conference and premiere at 7:00 PM, followed by the official screening at 8:00 PM on the same day.[2]
After its release, the film received negative reviews for its acting, predictable plot, unsatisfactory ending, and unrealistic CGI. It received a viewer rating of only 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and below 5.5 on IMDb, making it one of the most poorly reviewed films of the year from GDH.
Trailer[]
Gallery[]
Awards & Nominations[]
| Year | Award Presenter | Nominated Work | Nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Khomchadluek Award No. 18 | Best Thai Films | Ghost Lab | Nominated |
| Best Director | Pawin Phurichitpanya | Nominated | ||
| Best Leading Actor | Thanapop Leeratanakajorn | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Paris Intarakomalyasut | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Pawin Phurichitpanya, Wasuthorn Piyarom, Thotsapon Rongthong | Nominated |
References[]
- ↑ bltbangkok. (2020, Sept 25). GDH เปิดตัว 5 ภาพยนตร์ใหม่ รับก้าวต่อไปในปีที่ 6 ของการขับเคลื่อนอุตสาหกรรมสร้างสรรค์ไทย. BLT Bangkok. Retrieved on Jul 30, 2024.
- ↑ gdh559. (n/a). Netflix จัดงาน “GHOST LAB Virtual Premiere” ครั้งแรกของไทย. Gross Domestic Happiness. Retrieved on Jul 29, 2024.