“What’s more horrifying: ghosts or humans?” Some say it’s ghosts because we can’t see them and we’re afraid of things we can’t see. But others would say it’s people, especially those who appear good but actually harbor malevolent intentions on the inside.
Let us introduce After Dark, the latest original Thai horror series by streaming service WeTV that delves into the deepest and darkest nature of this question while giving a grisly, gripping experience that you never expected to see on Thai TV.
Running 13 episodes, the series comprises four mind-twisting stories narrated by different ill-fated characters: Pink, a sex-addicted doctor who is impregnated by a demon; Lada, a young nurse that’s hired to take care of a dying aristocrat who aspires to live on in a youthful body; Off, a loudmouthed Internet celeb who wishes to redeem online fame through a new channel for paranormal activity; and Chai, a charming psychopath who loves to torture women and records them for his pleasure.
This original series by WeTV deserves immediate recognition for bringing something different to Thailand’s television scene (now seemingly overrun by boys love drama series). From start to finish, the three directors involved in creating the shiow—Anucha Boonyawatana, Chayan Laoyodtrakool and Chatichai Worapiankul—did an excellent job of tying together four unique stories into an intricate web of suspense, extreme gore and riveting entertainment.
While it doesn’t give a new spin to the horror genre, it triumphantly serves up enough unforgettable, gasp-inducing moments, from torture scenes overflowing with blood to unfiltered images of excrement and the insufferable pains of childbirth. Kongkiat Khomsiri, the director of Thai dark magic thriller Art of the Devil 2 (2005), is credited as executive producer, so it’s no surprise that After Dark’s most spine-chilling scenes don’t disappoint.
But as the series serves up the good and the gory, something deeper and more socially relevant is revealed. Beyond the jaw-clenching storytelling and cinematography, the directors manage to subtly insert critical commentary regarding unspeakable social issues and taboos. Lada’s story in “Requiem of the Adolescent” transcends the body-snatching narrative to address deeper insights into the conflict between generations and class, while grimmer issues like sexual fetishes, childhood traumas and domestic violence are scrutinized in “Into the Hole”, the tale narrated by Chai.
Despite negligent duds along the way to the denouement, After Dark comes into its own in the end, effectively revealing an unparalleled devotion to tackling sometimes hard-to-swallow truths regarding human existence.
You can now stream After Dark in full via WeTV (English subtitles available). Believe us when we say that this show deserves more recognition and a big round of applause for its bold move to give Thai audiences something completely different. You only need courage to discover what people actually do after dark.
