The Pool
The Pool, directed by Ping Lumpraploeng, is an intimately produced and claustrophobic horror that uses setting and genre convention to a spectacular degree.
Utilising one setting of a swimming pool – or one individual setting, in general – is no easy feat to craft an engaging and entertaining thriller, but for the most part, Lumpraploeng creates an exciting atmosphere and tone to behold. Not only is the tension ramped up due to the isolated and cut-off setting, but it's the inclusion, and highlight, of an escapee Crocodile on the loose.
The setting is made use of in a very effective manner. Not only the is it the large emptiness of the pool itself an integral aspect, but the film also uses a tunnel system below the pool that adds a considerable intensity to proceedings. Granted, the setting can only take the feature so far, and the plot is undeniably stretched to accommodate the environment – to a degree that feels like the feature is putting off the inevitable – since a running time of 91 minutes seems somewhat excessive.
That being said, Lumpraploeng's film has enough tension, character and dark moments that will undoubtedly keep audiences checked in, even if said elements are conventional and extremely dark to witness. The central survival story of Theeradej Wongpuapan's Day is, at first, what the film presents as its sole engagement regarding character. However, that soon develops into a duo with Ratnamon Ratchiratham's Koi being a somewhat silent but integral aspect to the film.
Both performances add a decent amount of layers and character depth to make the viewer care, and Lumpraploeng adds other moments that will undoubtedly get the audience engaged, even if they are incredibly dark moments that often upsetting in a sadistic manner. However, by the end, The Pool is a film that succumbs to overly conscious Hollywood cliches and combats that with overly extreme sadism with a combination that becomes jarring and combative.
