Tam
is regularly beaten at school and his insensitive mother asks him to fake
straight to make things less awkward around the house. Hope arrives in the form
of Phum, an internet hook-up that quickly turns serious. Phum is slightly
older, considerably stronger, and much more experienced than Tam. Nonetheless,
they seem to fit together. However, Phum’s preferred rendezvous spot is not
exactly romantic. Considering the brackish water and evil looking mold spores,
the abandoned public swimming pool might be a legitimate health hazard, but at
least the furtive lovers will not be disturbed there—at least not by anything
mortal.
According
to rumor, the pool is haunted by ghosts. Supposedly, the spirits dump missing
bodies there once they have finished their sinister business with the victims.
The more time Tam and Phum spend there, the more credence they give to such
urban legends. However, Phum’s other choice for quality alone time is probably
even more dangerous. That would be the mob-run landfill that also has its share
of corpse dumping.
Of
course, how much of Blue Hour is real
and how much has been distorted by Tam’s warped perception of reality is the key
question Boonyawatana leaves open throughout the film. Regardless, the mounting
sense of menace is definitely based on something. While not consistently scary
enough to be considered a horror film proper, it is still pretty darn creepy at
times. That shunned swimming pool is a particularly evocative location. It just
radiates bad vibes.
The
youthful and frequently shirtless Atthaphan Poonsawas and Oabnithi Wiwattanawarang
are also terrific as the repressed Tam and cocky Phum. They develop some realistically
complicated romantic chemistry together and act convincingly freaked out when appropriate.
There are other supporting characters washing in and out, but the film is
essentially a two-hander. Happily, they hold up to the scrutiny quite well.
