Delete Review: Delete is a Thai thriller-drama TV series produced and directed by Parkpoom Wongpoom, written by Wongpoom, Tossaphon Riantong and Jirassaya Wongsutin, and stars Sarika Sartsilpsupa, Nat Kitcharit, Natara Nopparatayapon, Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Jinjett Wattanasin, Charlette Wasita Hermenau and others. The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.
– Delete Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Delete Plot
When Lilly comes in possession of a mysterious phone with supernatural abilities, the reality of life hits her hard. Harbouring an extramarital affair that can destroy everything, she and Aim get into a dangerous game of wondering whom to remove from their lives and whom to keep. But, the choice comes with its own set of dangerous consequences.
Delete Review
Parkpoom Wongpoom, famous for cult-classic horror films like Shutter and Alone (which have been remade numerous times in different languages), brings another thriller/horror show about, well, deadly photographs; this time, we just don’t get a physical copy of them. Delete 2023 brings about the underlying tension of an extramarital affair mixed with the horrors of a murderous camera phone.
The series starts off quite gripping as we see what is at stake for our love-lorn cheaters who can’t get enough of each other. Their home lives play out in the first few minutes, giving us a look into what is at stake and why these people make the decisions that they do. Of course, nothing makes these rather selfish decisions remotely ok, but these scenes definitely contextualise them. Sometimes, the ghost camera even takes second place in the relationship drama that slowly creeps forward.
I say creeps because it is gradual and very uncomfortable to watch. You know that things can get bad at any moment, and you wait with bated breath wondering when crap is going to hit the fan. It does so with an unexpected twist, and then there is the investigation part that follows. After a brief while, the Delete series starts to feel like a family drama with an investigation angle and loses the steam with which it started. A long chunk of the runtime is spent trying to find Lilly and discussing interpersonal feelings and family drama that further slows the pace and momentum down.
Moreover, after the first few uncomfortable episodes, Delete follows the tried and tested formula of thrillers with the way some of the clues come out in the open and who does which bad thing. At the same time, you start to wonder where the show is going with the storyline. The problem here is the expectation that it has created with the summary – you expect Delete to be a horror/thriller mix wherein the camera spells doom in people’s lives, but the series churns out people who do that for themselves quite well. The phone is just an extra touch that you sort of forget about after a while.
You know, the series would have been really great as a drama where we try to understand and dissect the characters and their relationships and arcs. However, when you put a supernatural twist to the whole process, things change. The series, sitting on the back of its incorrect expectations, thus, feels like it is duping us and not giving us what it promised. I also think the story loses itself trying to be smart and out-of-the-box and becomes a mess of different genres that just meander around trying to find the most shocking thing that can come out of it.
Of course, there are some moments that are unique and shocking, especially the very small snippets of information we get about the magic camera. There are also some interesting twists in the tale that does come out of left field and have the capability to leave you quite shocked. Again, no, the camera might not be involved all too much, but it still proves to be a somewhat interesting touch and something other than the family drama that we are shown for a majority of the runtime.
In the midst of the back and forth and questions and answers, the smaller revelations and shocks seem to get lost. The series, in spite of being creepy and having the opportunity to expand on the general creepiness and hopelessness of the mess, really dredges on during these moments and makes us forget the better moments that it delivered.
That being said, thanks to the rather great performances from all around the board, Delete is very watchable and creates an air of mystery and interest that will keep you going. In spite of the dull moments in between, it manages to keep you still hooked. Although it’s not really a supernatural series, it’s still a rather good thriller that will make you question the morality of human beings and what drives people to make horrible choices. Plus, it also shows how some people might just shock you in the end – human beings are just odd creatures.
Delete Review: Final Thoughts
Delete has some moments that really shine through, and looks into human beings and their morality. There are not a lot of supernatural moments, and the thriller aspects are also few. It is mostly a tense drama about choices and how people go to any lengths for their own selfish needs. It’s not the worst show out there, but the long runtime takes somewhat of a toll after a while.
Delete is streaming on Netflix.
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Weeelll…. besides the phone been used once per every second episode, ITS BOOOORING THE CRAP OUT OF ME, its blablablabla the whole show, are we not gonna know about why then who made it, some secret underground military making phone as new weapons?!?
Im at eps 4 and fall asleep trough the pointles talking so far,
My score so far: 2.0 of 5, they need too step up things a bit and dont sit 15-20 minutes a time and talk, and i hate thai speaking, should be korean or japanese.