The world of contemporary Southeast Asian cinema witnessed a remarkable new milestone with the arrival of A Useful Ghost, the extraordinary debut feature from Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke. Garnering applause, critical acclaim, and a growing global fanbase, the film introduces a surreal, emotionally rich, and darkly humorous story that has left critics praising Boonbunchachoke as one of the most exciting new voices in international cinema.
From its premiere at Cannes 2025 Semaine de la Critique, where it earned the Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize, to its continued journey through global festivals, A Useful Ghost has been celebrated as a cinematic experience that is as inventive as it is affecting.
A Story Rooted in Grief, Love, and the Absurd
At the heart of A Useful Ghost is the character March, played with striking emotional depth by Witsarut Himmarat. March is mourning the recent death of his wife, Nat, portrayed by the magnetic Davika Hoorne. Nat’s passing, caused by severe dust pollution—an issue all too familiar in today’s world—sets off a series of surreal and touching events.
As March struggles with the weight of his loss, he begins to sense Nat’s presence in the most unexpected place: a vacuum cleaner. Her spirit, unable to fully cross over, has found a strange and oddly fitting vessel. The absurdity of the situation is handled with a tender balance—funny, bizarre, and deeply emotional.
Nat’s reappearance brings both comfort and chaos. While March embraces the return of his beloved, the rest of his family reacts with fear, disbelief, and rejection. Their factory, already devastated by the death of one of its workers, is haunted by unrest—both supernatural and human. The arrival of Nat’s spirit only adds to the tension as the family grapples with their own grief, guilt, and superstition.
Determined to prove her worth and win the family’s acceptance, Nat offers to cleanse the factory of lingering spirits. But in her quest to become “a useful ghost,” she must first confront the “useless” ones that wander the factory’s dark corners. What unfolds is a mix of emotional catharsis, unsettling encounters, and moments of humor that linger long after the credits roll.
Critical Praise Across the Globe
The critical response to A Useful Ghost has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Screen International praised the film with a striking comparison:
“If Yorgos Lanthimos relocated to Thailand, his next film might look something like Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s A Useful Ghost.”
This reference to Lanthimos—renowned for his surrealist tone, dark humor, and emotional absurdity—captures the spirit of Boonbunchachoke’s debut perfectly.
IndieWire wrote,
“A phenomenal new filmmaker has arrived from Thailand, and international festivalgoers should expect to enjoy his works for years to come.”
Meanwhile, Variety highlighted the film’s impact on regional cinema:
“Contemporary Southeast Asian cinema is made even richer and stranger by the addition of Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s directorial debut.”
The Wrap described the movie as:
“A humorous and haunting gem that’s impossible to shake.”
And Rolling Stone kept it simple yet powerful:
“No notes.”
These reviews collectively paint a picture of a director poised to become a defining voice in the global arthouse landscape.
The Visionary Behind the Film
Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, a Bangkok-based filmmaker, has been recognized for his bold, imaginative storytelling well before this debut feature. His breakout short film, Red Aninsri; Or, Tiptoeing on the Still Trembling Berlin Wall, won the Junior Jury Award at Locarno 2020 and screened at prestigious festivals including Torino, FNC, and Glasgow.
With A Useful Ghost, Boonbunchachoke expands his cinematic world even further. Known for blending political commentary, poetic imagery, and surreal humor, he constructs stories that challenge convention while remaining emotionally resonant. His filmmaking style often straddles the line between dreamlike and unsettling, and his debut feature amplifies that signature approach.
The Cannes Critics’ Week jury praised his ability to craft a narrative that feels both grounded and mythical, playful yet profound—qualities that are quickly becoming hallmarks of his work.
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A Stellar Cast Bringing the Story to Life
The film is anchored by a talented ensemble cast:
Davika Hoorne as Nat delivers a haunting yet heartfelt performance, conveying emotion even when confined to the voice and movement of an everyday object.
Witsarut Himmarat portrays March with quiet vulnerability, capturing the complex emotions of grief, love, and hope.
Apasiri Nitibhon, Wanlop Rungkumjud, and Wisarut Homhuan round out the cast with nuanced performances that deepen the film’s family dynamics and its exploration of fear, superstition, and acceptance.
Together, they breathe life into Boonbunchachoke’s unusual world with an authenticity that makes even the strangest moments feel believable.
A New Classic in Southeast Asian Cinema
A Useful Ghost is not simply a ghost story—it is a meditation on loss, responsibility, environmental decay, and the human need to cling to love in whatever form it returns. It is humorous without losing its emotional weight, eerie without becoming bleak, and tender without shying away from the absurd.
With this remarkable debut, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke establishes himself as a filmmaker to watch, and A Useful Ghost stands poised to become a lasting piece of contemporary world cinema.
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