[FrightFest 2025]: Tomb Watcher

A basic issue that most ghost stories must overcome is a reason why someone would stay where they are when the spooky going-ons begin. When the going gets tough how do you stop the tough (or sensible) from going? And Tomb Watcher solves this problem neatly within its narrative. We follow Cheev and Rossukhon (or Ros) to a cabin in the woods to celebrate the inheritance that Cheev has gained that can alter their lives for the better. But there is a catch – they must share their cabin with the body of Cheev’s first wife, Lunthom. If they leave, they rescind the money and must return to a life of financial difficulty. It sure feels like good motivation to stick out the supernatural return of Lunthom. 

The Thai horror benefits from committed turns from its central trio - Woranuch Bhirombhakdi (Lunthom), Thanavate Siriwattanagul (Cheev), Arachaporn Pokin Pakorn (Ros). And much is put upon them as the film focuses itself on its cabin-turned-mausoleum. But there’s only so much a cast can do when they are surrounded by cliches. Director ​Vathanyu Ingkawiwat often relies upon cheap jump scares and an unwillingness to fully commit to the strangeness of the film’s central concept. In fact, the moments that most sing are the ones that feel a bit strange or surreal. There’s a film here that could be a doozy of a supernatural horror, but it regrettably gets lost in a sea of soap opera dialogue and cumbersome plotting.

A real problem is that the central love triangle feels unbalanced. Not because one part is deceased but because Cheev comes across as such a lesser figure to the two women in his life. We have to believe there is love and rage that can transcend the bonds of life itself towards him and I’m not sure Tomb Watcher manages to reach this.

There is good craft here. Tomb Watcher looks the part and can be an engaging watch. It just lacks a certain something to bring life to it and ends up being perfect to reside in a tomb.

2 Screams out of 5