The Promise

Starring Namthip Jongrachatawiboon, Apichaya Thongkham 

Directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit

Bangkok, 1997. Teenage pals Boum and Ib, devastated by how the financial crisis has bankrupted their property-developer fathers, vow to kill themselves (tsk, tsk, tsk, rich kids.) But only Ib carries out the pact.

Flash forward to the present. Boum (Namthip Jongrachatawiboon) is a real-estate mogul and a single mother of a teenager, Bell (Apichaya Thongkham). But look out: Ib’s spiteful spirit wants Bell dead because she wants to punish Boum for reneging on her promise (some best friend she turns out to be…pfft.) 

The Promise is a straightforward, serviceable scare-fest made slightly more atmospheric — and interesting — by the fact this was partly filmed on location at Sathorn Unique Tower, an actual decrepit, unfinished 47-floored skyscraper abandoned during the ’97 economic downturn. The Thai authorities should seriously consider turning the creepy place into a theme park — they’ll make a killing. In Thai with English and Chinese subtitles. (**1/2)