Fridae

Pretty Khmer girl Aaw leaves her tiny village to work in the bright lights, big city of Bangkok. She ends up pole-dancing at a sleazy bar frequented by beer-guzzling Western tourists. But while Aaw looks sweet and innocent, she is not defenseless. She has been trained in the art of evil sorcery by her witch-like grandmother. And when her colleagues or clients abuse her, Aaw uses her powers to punish them.

Directed by Paul Spurrier, a Briton, P has the distinction of being the first Thai film to be helmed by a Westerner. The film certainly boasts a higher set of production values than your average Thai film, and most of its locations have been photographed quite handsomely.

However, the overall results are only average. Though the story starts off intriguingly, it devolves into an unconvincing mess in its second half. Fans of Asian horror may enjoy P ('phi' is the Thai word for ghost) for its exotic appeal, but everyone else should find their kicks elsewhere.