Ghost Of Guts Eater
Thailand
1973 colour
aka Krasue Sao
Director S. "Nawaraj"/Naowaratch
Cast Sombat Methanee (Muang), Pisamai Vilaisakoi (Bua Klee)
Welcome to the lurid universe of pulpy Thai horrors, and our
rarer-than-rare krasue film Ghost Of Guts Eater.
This is a film that definitely needs some context. The
krasue is a peculiar South East Asian variation of the vampire myth, believed
to be Hindu or Buddhist in origin, and takes the form of a curse or case of
demonic possession. The difference is that head detaches itself from the body
and flies off looking for food, carrying with it the oesophagus, stomach and
intestines. In Indonesia
it's known as the Leak, in Cambodia
the Ap, Phi-Kasu in Laos
and in Malay as the Penanggalan. As with western vampires the krasue hunts for
blood or flesh at night - although in Asia it
favours new born babies and their placenta. The flying head may also be trapped
by thorns, and must return to its resting place - or in the krasue's case the
neck! - before cock crows.
"Witch With Flying Head" films are a staple of
Asian horror, particularly in Thai cinema, and Ghost Of Guts Eater from 1973 is
the earliest surviving example. Ghost... doesn't waste any time opening, maybe not
kicking but certainly screaming, with a flying witch on the loose in the
chicken house of a tiny Thai hamlet. Yes, there it is: the detached head with
guts a'flying, surrounded by what looks like a flashing police light, making it
a somewhat easy target for the villagers trying to whack it like an unstable
pinata. Fatally wounded, the head rejoins the witch's body, but not before she
passes the curse to her only relative, her glamorous granddaughter Bua Klee,
via her precious ring.
Time passes, and Bua Klee marries sweetheart Boon Muang
(that's Thai superstar Sombat Metanee). They settle into domestic bliss, except
for Grandmother Chim's voice from beyond the grave reminding her she's hungry
for blood. Suddenly - the new blushing bride completely loses her head. One
aborted trip to a couple's placenta chest later, the village accuse her of
witchcraft, and the couple plus best friend move to his Uncle Moedy's village
to start a new life. And at this point, my friends, things get really weird.
On one level, Ghost Of Guts Eater is a touching melodrama,
and a neat slice of rural life. There are soap operatics, some gentle humour,
and is for all intents good solid populist pulp, showing a sophisticated level
of filmmaking technique. Then there are the love potions, jealous screaming
harpies, giants guarding treasure, a half-naked wizard with a messiah complex,
and a second flying head from a rival witch. Picture this: one flying head
biting the other on the intestines. "She bit me in the ass!" the second
head complains without a trace of irony or potty humour. If this doesn't make
your head spin off your own neck, then you're already dead. I swear, it's movie
moments like this I feel glad to be alive.
If you're new to this South East Asian madness, I welcome
you to our humble abode. Sit comfortably cross-legged on the bamboo mat and
pour yourself a steaming bowl of Ghost Of Guts Eater.
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