BAD GENIUS (2017)

Genre: Thriller / Comedy
Running Length: 2:10
Cast: Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Eisaya Hosuwan, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Chanon Santinatornkul, Thaneth Warakulnukroh
Director: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Screenplay: Tanida Hantaweewatana, Vasudhorn Piyaromna, Nattawut Poonpiriya

What I've learned from this movie is that the Love of a father is more than just provision and protection. Whether we're a genius or a fool, a nurturing father will always encourage us to choose the right way. On the contrary, the absence of a father figure may cause us to be lured by a faster but darker way to be recognized and live up to people's expectations. Unfortunately, this path would usually lead to destruction.

BAD GENIUS is such a brilliant watch! Who would have thought that cinema-goers would be kept on the edge of their seats by watching a group of high school students cheating in their exams. This movie feels like a cross between a teen movie and Ocean's Eleven with a stylish visual flair of Edgar Wright's movies.

The story starts off with brilliant student Lynn (Chuengcharoensukying) securing a scholarship at a prestigious high school. She then befriends Grace (Hosuwan) and her rich kid boyfriend Pat (Supapunpinyo). Soon, Grace would emotionally blackmail Lynn to help her and her spoiled brat bf to cheat in their exams - in exchange for a healthy amount of money.

Lynn gives in as she justifies her decision as a way of helping her working-class father (Warakulnukroh). In no time, this arrangement grew rapidly involving more wealthy classmates but with more at stake. The plot thickens with the arrival of Bank (Santinatornkul), another equally brilliant student. While Lynn is more street smart, Bank is more naive, uptight and goes by the book kinda boy.

What I love about this movie is the unpredictable plot. As soon as you think it would go a certain way for our protagonists, a spanner gets thrown in the works. It is truly a relentless display of Murphy's Law with a big emotional payout at the end.

That said, the performances from the peripheral characters do come across as a little over-the-top and cartoon-y. But thankfully, the casting of our main characters is strong with a special shout out to Warakulnukroh's performance as the sympathetic and supportive father.

Bad Genius is sharply directed and well edited especially the nail-biting sequences. It's also grounded in Asian values thus, feels more at home for me. As a result, it feels fresh and more importantly, entertaining.

RATING: 9/10