Just David

8/10

Spoilers

I'm gonna assumed people rate with a low score this movie because they expected this to be a horror movie or a romantic one... This isn't romantic neither horror, this is a psychologic film! [spoiler] For those who don't know "The Blue Hour" makes a reference to the time between day and night, dream and reality, good and evil so in order to fully understand the story you need to know that. This is my opinion and I've read some viewers tought the same; Phum's actually an alter ego created by Tam's mind, if you think straight, there isn't too much background from Phum's life, all we know is that he escape from home and in one scene when they get their first encounter you will notice Phum says Tam looks more good looking in person and when they were kissing Phum says he don't knew Tam likes that kind of stuff, knowing this I could understand he wasn't real, first because when the bullies stole Tam's phone they didn't found any message from Phum, after this everything makes sense, Phum say that beceause he was on Tam's mind but that was the first time he was actually seeing him on the outside and didn't know Tam likes some things because of his personality, always shy and unconfident but founds himself finally in peace to be who he really is. The second half of the movie becomes darker and this is when most viewers don't understand anything, so the whole scenes in the pool represents Tam's mind, messy, abandoned and with dirty water and that's the place where Phum comes so thats why he always get Tam to that place; the dumpster represent Tam's life from his perspective, methaphorically he could be a beautiful land full of life but instead is full of garbage, darkness and death. In order to get the life he wants he takes de decisiton to kill his family (The scene with the gangters is actually him taking that decision) and at the end he finds peace, the river represents his mind after all of this. [/spoiler] Oabnithi was nominated to the Thailand National Film Association Awards for Best Supporting Actor and no doubt he did a great job on this, hopefully now he's getting the recognition he deserves, Gun Atthaphan did wonderful too. So don't get affected by the score, this is one of those movies that deserves a rewatch.

NealZ

7/10

The Blue Hour is the kind of film that stays with you, even when you're not entirely sure what you just watched. It’s a bit of a genre mishmash – gay coming-of-age drama, psychological horror, crime – but it never feels exaggerated or chaotic. Instead, it creates this dreamy, atmospheric tone that is both beautiful and unsettling, drawing you into its world and refusing to let you go. The story follows Tam, a quiet, bullied high school student struggling with his sexuality and a pretty messed-up home life. He crosses paths with Phum, a confident and mysterious figure, sparking a relationship that is as eager as it is tense, seeming to populate both Tam’s mind and the real world at the same time. This opening meeting in a grim, abandoned swimming pool effectively sets the tone for the entire film; it feels calm yet slightly terrifying, a strange embodiment of Tam’s inner torment. The film delves into darker, more surreal territory as Tam and Phum venture into a garbage dump owned by Phum’s family. The dump itself is a nightmarish, almost mythical place, overrun with garbage and shadows, pulling at Tam’s fears and traumas in a way that feels almost magnetic. At one point, even someone else gets killed, and Tam and Phum just... do nothing about it. It’s unsettling, and it makes you question what’s really going on. Tam is played with enough vulnerability that you sympathize with him, and Phum is a cryptic character who keeps you on edge. Whether it’s a downcast, quiet moment together or the darker, stranger connotations of the story, they have significant chemistry. [spoiler]You can never quite figure out if Phum is real or just a hallucination conjured by Tam, but this ambiguity only makes the film more captivating. [/spoiler] The cinematography is amazing, also forming a dreamy atmosphere for the film. Everything is soaked in soft blue and green hues, which contribute to this calm and otherworldly feeling. The lighting, mainly in the "blue hour" scenes, is simply stunning – a state between day and night where everything feels just a little unreal – and the film takes advantage of this layering, blurring the line between reality and dream. The way the camera lingers on the faces or the murky water in the pool radiates a sense of dread. Not in the way of a typical horror film with jump scares, but more like a masquerade that pulls you through a web of tension, as though something is off, a slowly growing sensation that is even beautifully executed in the end. Ghosts and monsters aren’t what’s terrifying here; it’s the psychological sense of fear. The fairly metaphorical themes of bullying in Tam’s life, marital issues at home, and his internal struggle with his identity. There are no clear answers in the story or a tidy conclusion. There’s a sense of unease. It feels like waking up from a dream you can barely remember. Still, The Blue Hour has its faults. It bogs down at times, especially if one is expecting a linear narrative. Some audience members may find it frustrating, as it deliberately leaves a lot of questions hanging. These unanswered questions – and many may not enjoy the open-endedness. At other times, the mix of genres feels a bit jarring – almost to the absurd – in moments that come off more confusing than thought-provoking. If you’re someone who likes clear resolutions or fast-paced plots, this might not be the movie for you. But if you like moody, atmospheric, slightly strange films, The Blue Hour is a worthwhile experience. It’s not a typical horror film or love story, and that’s what makes it thrilling. Just prepare to dive into a dulled, dreamlike reality and occasionally question everything that feels real.