A horror film that doesn't re-invent the wheel but has a lot of fun rolling with it, Pernicious is a rare foray into South East Asian folklore by an American director and cast. The dialogue is nothing to shout about but the performances are game and the characters inviting. I especially liked the character of Julia, who is condescending to the Thai locals but still remains likeable - no mean feat - and she gets the best lines, especially when shunning a drunk and horny British tourist. This is a film that obviously had time and budget limitations, but it achieves a lot despite it. Extra kudos for flipping the expectations of gender roles in horror. Lots of good gooey gore, too.