| Alone | |
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Thai theatrical poster. |
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| Directed by | Banjong Pisanthanakun Parkpoom Wongpoom |
| Produced by | Yongyoot Thongkongtoon Yodphet Sudsawad Mingmongkol Sonakul |
| Starring | Marsha Wattanapanich |
| Cinematography | Niramon Ross |
| Distributed by | GTH 24 Frames[1] |
| Release date(s) | Thailand (wide release): March 29, 2007 |
| Running time | 95 min. |
| Country | Thailand |
| Language | Thai |
| Box office | $9,365,071[2] |
Alone (Thai: แฝด, or Fad, literally "twin") is a 2007 Thai horror film directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, a duo whose debut film, Shutter, was a box-office smash in Thailand and other Asian countries. Alone stars Thai-German pop singer Marsha Wattanapanich in her first film role in 15 years.[3]
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Pim was born as a twin, conjoined at the stomach with her sister, Ploy. Pim was very sweet and protective to Ploy.However, it was Ploy who threw rocks at a group of children who were taunting them. While they were staying in a hospital, Pim and Ploy met a boy named Wee. Although both loved him, Wee only returned Pim's affections, which made Ploy angry and jealous. Finally Wee recovers from his illness and was able to leave. As he is getting into the car, Wee decided he wanted to see Pim one last time. Since the twins' room was on the second floor, he decides to call to her. As much as Pim wants to see Wee, Ploy would not get out of bed. Wee is upset and leaves. Angry and in tears, Pim demands that she and Ploy be separated. The twins had an operation to separate them, but Ploy did not survive.
Several years later Pim, who is now living in South Korea and is dating Wee, receives a phone call from Thailand that her mother has had a stroke. When Pim and Wee return to Thailand, Ploy comes back to haunt her. Curious, Wee looks into Pim's family affairs. In a stroke of irony, Wee learns that Pim is actually Ploy. Revealed in a flashback, Ploy strangled Pim in a jealous rage after Pim demanded they be separated. In order to save Ploy's life, doctors had to amputate Pim's corpse from Ploy. Ploy assumed Pim's identity in order to be with Wee. Throughout the film, Pim's ghost was actually trying to tell Wee of this. Ploy's mother knew of her actions as well, tried to tell him, but was unable to talk due to her weakened state.
After confronting Pim, Ploy takes Wee hostage, but not before killing her mother. However, Wee escapes, and the ensuing fight with Ploy causes the house to catch on fire. Wee escapes, but a shelf falls on Ploy. Trapped underneath, Pim's ghost confronts and holds her down, taking Ploy with her as burning debris rains down around them. In the end, Wee visits the twins' grave, apologizes, and places a necklace on their tombstone.
Like Pisanthanakun and Wongpoom's previous film Alone opened at #1 at the Thai Box Office grossing $960,000 before falling to #2 grossing $411,043. In total the film grossed $2,040,003 in Thailand becoming the 21st highest grossing film of the year. The film fared even better internationally grossing $9,365,071 worldwide out grossing the directors' previous film Shutter.[2]
The closing credits feature a song by Marsha Wattanapanich, "Suan Neung Khong Chan (A Part of Me)".
Since its general release in Thailand cinemas, Alone has made the rounds at film festivals, playing at the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival. At Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, the film won awards for best director and best actress.[4][5] It swept the awards at the 2007 Screamfest Horror Film Festival in Los Angeles, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.[5] The film also won the top Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2007 Toronto After Dark festival.[6]
Alone has been released on Region 3 DVD in Hong Kong by Asia Video, with the original soundtrack and English and Traditional Chinese subtitles.
An Indian remake, Akela, is planned with the twins' names Akash (Alive One) and Prakash (Dead One) portrayed by an Indian actor, Genelia playing the girlfriend and Juhi Chawla playing the twins' mother.
In the United States, remake rights and all North American distribution rights were acquired by indie distributor 24 Frames.[1]
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