4bia ( Phobia )

4bia (known as Phobia) is a 2008 Thai horror anthology cinematic masterpiece that presents chilling tales of horror. The film consists of 4 different stories each with its own filmmaker and individual storyline about vengeance, fear, and the supernatural. At the same time, the film intertwines all stories into one plot and delivers diverse but cohesive themes of horror. Each segment immerses viewers into a unique and terrifying scenario:

“Happiness” (Directed by Yongyoot Thongkongtoon): The story follows a woman who breaks her leg and is stuck inside her apartment by herself. She begins to receive strange texts from an admirer, and what begins as a seemingly romantic exchange quickly spirals into horror.

“Tit for Tat” (Directed by Paween Purijitpanya): This segment follows a group of high school students who are cursed after bullying a classmate, leading to insults, revenge, and a supernatural notebook. The notebook eerily brings death to each of the bullies in gruesome and imaginative ways.

“In the Middle” (Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun): During a rafting trip, four friends get into a life-threatening situation after one of them drowns. The group experienced unsettling nights afterward, believing the drowned friend reappeared in unanticipated visions.

“The Last Fright” (Directed by Parkpoom Wongpoon): An air hostess serving a royal chartered flight, is expected to manage passenger on her own and serve them to the best of her ability. To her dismay, she finds herself in a horrific situation where she is, all of a sudden, being chased at the height of 30,000 feet after a passengers sudden death.

Cast and Crew:

Director(s):

Yongyoot Thongkongtoon (Happiness)

Paween Purijitpanya (Tit for Tat)

Banjong Pisanthanakun (In the Middle)

Parkpoom Wongpoom (Last Fright)

Cast Highlights:

Maneerat Kham-uan as Pin (Happiness)

Witawat Singlampong as Pun (Tit for Tat)

Nattapong Chartpong as Ter (In the Middle)

Pimpan Chalaikupp as Pim (Last Fright)

IMDb Ratings:

With 4bia’s anthology format, its creativity and storytelling earned it a 6.7/10 on IMDb, appealing to most viewers. Critics agree that every segment does not hold the same weight of tension and suspense, but the film surely delivered on atmosphere.

Discussion of the Release and Reception:

At the time of its release on April 25, 2008, 4bia achieved impressive box office and critique results, especially in South Eastern regions. Many were drawn in by the unique mixture of meanings behind the different horror subgenres and critics agreed that segments “Happiness” and “Last Fright” had superb psychological understanding behind them, which was beautifully presented.

The film stimulated discussions regarding the potential rise of Thai horror cinema’s global footprint, following such films as Shutter. Yet, other critics argued that the CGI in “Tit for Tat” did not surpass the practical effects and suspens in the other segments.

Awards:

Won Best Cinematography with the Thailand National Film Association Award.

Nominated for the Best Asian Film of Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).

Effects on Thai Cinema:

4bia contributed further to Thailand’s reputation as a premier destination for horror. It also triggered a sequel, Phobia 2 (2009), which was also loosely based on the same structure, earning more praise than the original. It also proved the many of its directors’ versatile talents, many going on to produce widely acclaimed pieces.

Final Comment:

Psychological, super natural and slasher combined together, 4bia is guaranteed to keep a wide variety of viewers intrigued. It is an anthology that satisfies horror lovers with different stories and angles on fear. With strong narratives and terrifying scenes, 4bia will remain a breath-taking entry into the montage of horror compilations.


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