I knew that Thailand was churning out some of the best horror films of the last few years, and now Khun krabii hiiroh, better known as SARS Wars (aka SARS Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis) gives me all the proof I need to declare that Thai cinema is easily the hottest thing around. I wouldn't call Bangkok the new Hollywood, but certainly there is a great deal to be excited about when you're talking about Thai cinema. Japan, South Korea and even Bollywood had better keep an eye on their rearview mirrors.

Maybe you're thinking that any movie from Thailand must be some kind of highly conservative, mind-numbingly boring drama about rural life with computerized credits being the closest thing you get to special effects -- if so, you couldn't be more wrong. SARS Wars delivers ample amounts of blood, a couple of bodacious babes, some pretty racy scenes and one comic moment after another, going places that even Shaun of the Dead failed to tread in all its zombie comedy goodness. (And don't go calling SARS Wars a Shaun rip-off, either, as both films were released in 2004.)

The film starts off with a Thai minister proudly declaring Thailand the only Asian country absolutely free of the SARS virus -- bad mistake. Thanks to one little insect, a luxury hotel in the heart of town soon finds itself the center of an outbreak of SARS 4 virus. Unlike its cousins in the SARS family, SARS 4 isn't satisfied with merely killing people -- it turns them into zombies after they're dead.

Zombies are the last thing on pretty schoolgirl Liu's (Phintusuda Tunphairao) mind, as she finds herself held captive in one of those hotel rooms after having been kidnapped (in a wholly unique way, I must add). Her father has compelled Master Thep (Suthep Po-ngam) to help rescue her, and he has sent his top student Khun (Supakorn Kitsuwon) to do the job. By the time Khun arrives on the scene, the SARS 4 infection has already begun to run amuck throughout the building. To save his lady, he'll have to battle her evil kidnappers as well as hordes of super-zombies (these things are a lot faster than your average Romero shamblers) and get out of the guarded, quarantined structure before government forces blow it (and its SARS 4 victims) to kingdom come. His only allies are Master Thep and a really hot government scientist more than eager to test out her anti-virus on the infected. I would definitely want Dr. Diana (Lene Christensen) on my side in a zombie crisis. Heck, I'd gladly take a "Stop Virus Bullet" in the head, having seen the sexy way she has of helping a guy recover.

SARS Wars dares to answer questions that most zombie movies are afraid to ask. For instance, what if a giant snake became zombified? Better yet, what would happen if a very pregnant woman was turned into a zombie? Let's just say that you'd better be sure you have fresh new batteries for your Green Freeze Sword -- and your remote control. And be prepared to hold on to your knickers (and your lunch) for one of the most shocking twists you've ever seen.

The only thing that flows more freely than blood in this film is the comedy. And, lest you think Thailand is just now emerging from some sort of cultural vacuum, I think you'll be amazed at all of the movie and pop culture references this film brings to bear. Yes, it has its stupid moments (including several references to the fact that it is a movie), and some of the CGI effects do not meet the highest of standards, but that's OK. Actually, something like a good and campy decapitation fits the bill quite nicely here, as anything too realistic wouldn't have been as funny -- and make no mistake, funny is what SARS Wars is all about.