In this fast-paced, disposable world where the easy come, easy go mentality has spilled into almost every walk of life, it's hardly surprising that most of us believe that unwanted chapters can be deleted with just one click of the mouse.

Or can they?

Hong Kong directors Danny and Oxide Pang show how words and actions can come back to haunt you in their new horror flick "Re-Cycle", which will be screened on Sunday as the closing film in the Cannes' film festival's "Un Certain Regard" category.

The film opens with novelist Ting-yin (Angelica Lee) at her computer deleting her notes and drafts of her recently published bestseller. Shortly afterwards she starts seeing weird things as the supernatural events depicted in her fictional work begin to unfold in the real world. And she begins to understand that she should follow mysterious clues that will lead her into the other world.

So are the twins trying to say that what we abandon will come back and ask us why they are no longer wanted?

"It is not wrong to throw away your broken toys or unused items. But you should re-consider when what you are disposing off is not just a thing, but a life with a right to love," explains Danny in Cantonese-accented Thai. "In a way it's like karma; you get back what you have done."

A co-production between Hong Kong's Universe Company and Thailand's Matching Motion Pictures, the movie, which has a Hong Kong cast, was filmed entirely in Thailand to create the chilling atmosphere of a parallel world.

Oxide is enthusiastic about Lee's portrayal of the protagonist, admitting that he likes casting women as leads in horror films.

"You want to see men get scared?" he asks with a grin. "I think watching women's fear in a horror movie is really attractive,"

Since they debuted a decade ago, the twins have been among the most productive directors in the Asian film industry.

Oxide made his debut in 1997 with the karmic thriller "Tha Fah Likhit" ("Who's Running") while working with Thailand's Kantana Post Production Company. And though a naive marketing strategy resulted in disappointing box office takings, the critics were impressed.

Then in 1999, the brothers teamed up to write and co-direct the acclaimed action movie "Bangkok Dangerous" - the story of a mute hitman in a big city.

However, they are best known for their hit horror flick "The Eye", which is now being remade in Hollywood and has spawned two sequels.

The twins seem to have a natural gift for picking local Asian horror tales - they get their inspiration from the front pages of the newspapers - and developing the stories along karmic lines.

"The Eye" was based on a woman who saw strange images after an eye transplant and a major gas explosion that killed dozens of people more than a decade ago.

"I always have new ideas for horror movies and I'm never bored. Besides we always get investors for horror projects," says Oxide.

They've just finished shooting "Forest of Death", starring Hong Kong actor Ekin Cheng. Again it was filmed entirely in Thailand. "There's no forest in Hong Kong," explains Oxide.

The twins are also involved with a Hollywood project called "The Messengers". The film, formerly known as "Scarecrow", stars John Corbett, Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller and Kristin Stewart and is about a family trying to take over and run a remote sunflower farm. But an ominous darkness invades the seemingly serene farm in North Dakota and the family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder,

"Working with a Hollywood crew is different. They plan everything at their desks before going out to the location. We can't even change the script on the set. Asian productions are more flexible," says Danny.

Another Tinseltown project is also in the pipeline.

"If the deal goes through, it will be good news for Thailand," says Oxide.

"It's a Hollywood remake of 'Bangkok Dangerous', and if all goes well, we'll be directing it."

In the meantime, fans of the Pang brothers' films can look forward to catching "Re-Cycle, which is scheduled for release on July 6.

 Parinyaporn Pajee

 The Nation