A Bold Debut from Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

With his first feature-length film A Useful Ghost, young Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke delivers a strikingly original work he describes as “elegant perversity.” This delightfully perplexing blend of fantasy and queer comedy made waves at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was featured in the Critics’ Week section.

The story kicks off when a young ladyboy receives a new vacuum cleaner, which quickly proves to have a mind of its own. The oddities escalate when March, the head of the family-run appliance company, is haunted by the spirit of his deceased wife—who died due to toxic air pollution. Her ghost returns in the form of a disturbingly sensual vacuum cleaner. Soon, March begins to suspect all the household devices manufactured by his company may be inhabited by spirits.

Everyday Life Touched by Emotion and the Supernatural

What makes the film especially compelling is how effortlessly the surreal slips into the banality of everyday life. A Useful Ghost touches on multiple layers of meaning, effortlessly weaving together social critique and personal introspection. Themes explored include the consequences of aggressive capitalism, the tensions of globalization, societal conformity in conservative cultures, and the visibility of queer desire. It also dares to explore enduring love beyond death—and yes, even the erotic allure of a vacuum cleaner.

Ratchapoom offers a fresh, irreverent take on contemporary life, which he portrays as “both absurd and deeply serious.” The direction is minimalist and fluid, supporting a narrative that dances along the edges of the surreal. His characters move through a world where haunted domestic appliances reflect buried emotions and flesh out clever social commentary.

A Cinematic UFO with Irreverent Humor

Boonbunchachoke blends absurdity, irony, and tenderness into a unique film that defies categorization. A Useful Ghost is very much a cinematic anomaly—a campy and queer-spirited creation that subverts social norms and flirts with taboo with subtle elegance.

Equal parts supernatural fable and biting satire, this unexpected gem invites viewers to embrace the unconventional. A refreshingly offbeat narrative that challenges the ordinary—perfect for those seeking originality and depth before the back-to-work blues kick in.