
The Maid takes place in a sumptuous mansion, where Joy is the most recent maid in a high-turnover position. Upon her first introduction, she learns the rules of the house, most importantly: don’t pry into other’s personal business and don’t enter the mistress’s bedroom. The master (Nirach) and madam (Uma) have a daughter, Nid, with a mysterious mental condition similar to Alzheimer’s that manifests at a young age. The other staff members disregard Nid as “seeing things” and speak about her as if she weren’t even present. Such oddities factor into setting Joy on edge before she even begins to experience the supernatural, ala The Turn of the Screw.
The acting is on point, with many characters communicating with looks and body language between their words. The scenes between Savika Chaiyadej in the role of the madam and Ploy Sornarin, who plays as the maid Joy, are especially engaging. Savika nailed the disinterested, condescension required of Uma, while Ploy has mastered Joy’s try-too-hard, please everyone nature. Watching them combat each other is fascinating; characters are also dynamically emotional in performance, evolving as secrets are revealed.
As a fun element to costume design, nothing worn lacks style. Even the maid uniforms used are a deep royal blue with a slightly puffed sleeve and sateen sheen. The madam’s wardrobe is luxurious, featuring many structured cuts and bright reds as grandiose fashion. Even little Nid’s outfits are to be envied, highlighting soft hunter greens and whites in simple cottagecore- a fairytale style portraying her innocence perfectly. Each character is conveyed precisely by their wardrobe choices as an intriguing sartorial layer.
The mansion and other settings are also characters in their own right, incorporating set designs which feel immersive and accentuated from cinematography honoring them. It’s easy to get sucked into the details awash in the production, feeling as if you are there and letting your eyes linger on the attentively tailored background.
The lighting is typically brighter than your average horror flick, allowing one to observe all of the sensuous details as a clever choice. Many chandeliers and other incidental lighting are used to immersive effect, but nearly always on top of overhead lighting for an illuminated setting. This greatly benefits the majority of scenes, but did lessen the scares deploying special effects.
Regrettably, the special effects will strike viewers differently. Most are practical, but the style is something that will be favorable to some and not as much for others. Far less successful than something along the lines of Shutter, the effects could be considered one of the film’s few weak points. However, with so many strong points, don’t let that deter you from choosing to sit down with this one.
The pacing holds steady, with a big reveal taking place halfway through completely shifts the lens and tone of the film. It quite works within the framework for The Maid, taking a fairly straightforward ghost flick and elevating it to something unique.
If you’re in the market for a new Thai horror and want something with flair, twists, and acting chops, take a look at The Maid. Frightfest featured it as part of their 2021 lineup for good reason. Step into the role of a maid and see how you fare in this satisfying, stylish thriller.
More Film Festival Coverage:
Featured in JFFH (Japanese Film Fest Hamburg), One Cut in the Life is a poignant drama written, produced, and directed by Shintaro Hachi- a relatively unknown, up-and-coming filmmaker. He stated,… Showing as part of the 2021 FrightFest lineup, King Knight marks the fifth feature length film of Richard Bates Jr. Reuniting with fan favorite actor Matthew Gray Gubler, who appeared… The Coffee Table, from the mind of emerging international director Caye Casas, stands out as a genuinely unnerving and intellectually stimulating horror film in recent memory. Serving as a cautionary… When I watch a horror movie from the 80’s, I inevitably have the thought of “how the hell did this movie get made?” Don’t get me wrong, there are some… A police raid uncovers a mysterious figure who refers to himself as ‘The Traveler’ (played by Efren Ramirez), and as the sole survivor of a massacre, he is brought in… Bringing you more found footage and POV horror than you can shake a stick at, Unnamed Footage Festival is back at it once again with an incredible lineup for 2023….One Cut in the Life (2020) Film Review – A Poignant Portrayal of Emotional Stress
King Knight (2021) Film Review – A Coven Comes Undone
The Coffee Table (2022) Film Review- A Careless Family Affair [Fantastic Fest]
Phantom Of The Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989) Film Review – Remastered Slasher For FrightFest
Satanic Hispanics (2022) Film Review – A Kick-A** Horror Anthology
Unnamed Footage Festival 666 (2023) Short Films Collection- A Short, Sharp Shock to the System

Hello, I’m Quinn. Saying I’m deeply into fashion and Japanese culture is an understatement. We’ve renovated entire rooms of our house to dedicate to my collections of lolita and other Japanese fashions. I enjoy balancing the cute with the macabre, and the more disturbing it is, the more I’ll enjoy it. Thus, my love for Asian horror and manga was born. Thank you for taking the time to read my writings. I look forward to discussing films and aesthethics with you!