The Coffin follows the lives of Chris (Ananda Everingham) and Zoe (Karen Mok), two strangers who participate in the Thai custom of non loeng sadorcro, being buried alive for an evening to rid themselves of bad luck. Unfortunately for them, the ritual provokes something very different from the intended results. Instead of being rejuvenated with a new lease on life they are haunted by tragedy and death.
During the Thai coffin ritual it's common for people to lie in the coffins and hold pieces of paper with the names of loved ones who are ill or suffering and pray for the return of their good health. Chris held the name of his comatose girlfriend Mariko (Aki Shibuya), while Zoe prayed for her lung cancer to go into remission.
Miraculously, after leaving the coffins Mariko wakes up and Zoe is cured from lung cancer. Yet unbeknownst to them the ritual's miracles do not come free, and it transfers the bad luck and karma to someone else. The rituals also bring Chris and Zoe closer to the paranormal, and in return they are haunted by those they loved most.
In typical South Korean fashion The Coffin masters suspense, symbolism, an intricate plot, and revenge on levels that is rarely seen in domestic horror films today. Director Ekachai Uekrongtham also uses color and lighting in addition to a haunting score in a way many American horror films fall short today.
The Coffin also draws upon tactics that have startled audiences in past movies such as Ringu and Thrist, but to a lesser degree than how they are exploited in the American remakes of those original movies. Instead, The Coffin creates a slow burning tension that creeps under the viewers skin and stays for the duration of the film.
Don't be deterred by the fact The Coffin is a foreign film. Unlike many of its predecessors most of the film is surprisingly in English for those of you who aren't fans of subtitles, and the intricate plot will keep you captivated until the credits roll. While the use of gore is conservative, it is effective and meaningful when present. This is definitely a smart horror flick that will stay with you.
