Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke filmed mainly in Singapore to tell this distinctly Thai story. A Useful Ghost starts by introducing its narrator through the destruction of a classic plaster mural that’s being demolished to make way for a shopping mall. The construct between old world thoughts and modern convivence being an undercurrent through the story. The narrator, a repair guy Krong (Wanlop Rungkumjud) who’s come to see about a haunted vacuum belonging to a character they call ‘The Academic Ladyboy’ (Wisarut Homhuan). Krong spins the tale of family, led by matriarch Suman (Apasiri Nitibhon), that runs a factory responsible for various small appliances. After a worker dies on the production floor the factory has appliances and machines haunted by his spirit.
Suman’s son March (Wisarut Himmarat) has lost his wife Nat (Davika Hoorne), who also returns after death, haunting a vacuum cleaner. The seduction scene between man and vacuum is a sight to see. In fact, the production uses low-fi, objects on wire effects work and a real vacuum, amongst other appliances, to produce the results of this absurdist humor to huge effect. The first hour of this film is laugh out loud hilarious.
The problem with A Useful Ghost is that it changes tone in the final 30 minutes to make an underlying story about ghosts haunting politicians and forces it to the main. This eliminates most of the dark and sometimes scathing humor to almost nothing as it tries to drive a dramatic message home, with middling effect.
- Rated: Unrated
- Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama, LBGTQ+
- Release Date: 9/10/2025
- Directed by: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
- Starring: Apasiri Nitibhon, Davika Hoorne, Wanlop Rungkumjad, Wisarut Himmarat, Wisarut Homhuan
- Produced by: Cattleya Paosrijaroen, Karim Aitouna, Soros Sukhum, Tan Si En
- Written by: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
- Studio: 185 Films, Haut Les Mains, Mayana Films, Momo Film Co
