Directed by Taweewat Wantha, known for his work on the Death Whisperer franchise, the film bets on an intense atmosphere, brutal fight scenes, and a protagonist who goes far beyond the classic archetype of the "woman in danger."
The production also reinforces the growth of Thai cinema within Netflix, a movement that was already happening after the success of Hunger and other recent Asian films that went viral worldwide.
What is My Dear Assassin about?
The story follows Lhan, a young woman marked by a traumatic past after witnessing the murder of her own parents in childhood. The reason for the tragedy is unusual: she possesses a rare blood type called "Aurum blood," extremely valuable in the illegal market.
From then on, Lhan lives protected by House 89, an organization of professional assassins that functions almost like a clandestine family. However, as years pass, she realizes that perhaps she was never truly free.
While trying to understand her own identity, Lhan develops an intense relationship with Pran, one of the assassins trained by the organization. The connection between the two becomes the emotional heart of the film.
The great differentiator of the film is in the drama
Although it has very violent action sequences, My Dear Assassin works better when it slows down.
The script uses violence as a narrative tool to discuss control, freedom, and human exploitation. The protagonist's rare blood becomes more than just a fantastical element and comes to symbolize the way her body is treated as merchandise by others.
This dramatic layer makes the film distance itself from generic action productions.
In several moments, the feature resembles a dark romantic drama more than an explosive blockbuster full of uninterrupted chases and gunfire.
Baifern Pimchanok is the highlight of the cast
Much of the film's success comes from the performance of Baifern Pimchanok.
The actress delivers a vulnerable, emotionally broken, yet extremely determined protagonist. Her interpretation manages to sustain even the moments when the script loses pace.
The chemistry between her and Tor Thanapob also works very well. The relationship between Lhan and Pran doesn't arise artificially. On the contrary: the construction is slow, uncomfortable, and laden with emotional tension.
This helps the audience connect more easily with the characters.
The action scenes are few, but impressive
Those looking for frenetic action from beginning to end may end up frustrated. The film takes time to develop its narrative and prioritizes drama during much of its runtime.
Still, when the combat scenes appear, they really impress.
The violence is raw and realistic. Taweewat Wantha brings to the thriller the same visual brutality seen in his horror films.
The confrontations have strong physical impact. There's no excess of quick cuts to hide the choreography, something very common in modern action films. Each blow feels heavy.
