Director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's first feature film gives fresh meaning to the idea of "the ghost in the machine," and it does so with an impressive, unusual blend of comedy, drama, and fantasy. The story centers on March (Wisarut Himmarat), a young widower and son of Suman (Apasiri Nitibhon). Suman is the owner of a vacuum cleaner factory; she’s cold, stern, and unyielding, and also a widow herself. You might assume their situations would give them common ground, but that isn't the case. Suman never particularly liked Nat (Davika Hoorne), her late daughter-in-law, and doesn’t seem to miss her now that she’s gone. However, things become more complicated when Nat’s ghost returns, inhabiting a vacuum cleaner in the factory—something Suman finds entirely unacceptable, while March is happy to be reunited with his lost love. Nat's return is motivated by a desire to care for her husband, who seems to be experiencing respiratory problems similar to those that led to her own death, likely due to dust exposure – an issue increasingly affecting the public and the factory workers. This environmental and health concern has already claimed one worker’s life and eventually leads to the factory's closure by government officials, a situation Suman blames on Nat’s ghostly presence. March is frustrated as Suman and her family try everything they can to banish the ghost so that the plant can reopen and their income restored. But can she be gotten rid of so easily? Furthermore, this event turns out to be only the start of a widespread effort to eliminate ghosts by a public annoyed by their return—both within machines and in human form—and the unwelcome consequences that often accompany these unexpected reappearances. The central question then becomes: who will prevail in this conflict between dimensions, especially when it appears that ghosts might actually be helpful rather than purely threatening? If the plot sounds peculiar, you’d be correct; however, the filmmaker manages to execute this strange concept with considerable skill, incorporating deadpan humor, genuinely touching moments, creative special effects, and symbolic references exploring themes like public health, acceptance of different lifestyles, karma, and forgiveness. The film certainly packs a lot into its 2:10:00 runtime, and it occasionally feels as though the narrative is trying to handle too many ideas, with some recurring elements losing their impact. Nevertheless, most of what the director intends to convey comes through, leaving viewers with plenty to consider afterward. Because of this complexity, multiple viewings are likely needed to fully appreciate its depth, which is fitting given how much there is to enjoy. “A Useful Ghost” is certainly a memorable cinematic experience, consistent with one of the film’s main ideas—the importance of remembrance in keeping loved ones alive in our hearts, minds and reality. As has often been said, those who are gone truly do live on as long as we remember them – whether within a vacuum cleaner or elsewhere.

Source on TMDB