It seems the Thai people are really big on crime thrillers this year, because this is the second one I’m seeing on Netflix. It’s also the second one starring Chakrabongse Chulachak, and might I add, it’s quite a similar role for the part British, part Thai actor. Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead tells the desperate tale of a father named Toh, trying to make ends meet for his daughter, Snow, who came to the family almost as a miracle. Toh struggles to give his family the lifestyle he dreams of, and when his daughter needs to be sent to a prestigious school, he becomes desperate for money. This is when his subordinate, Pet, who needs money as well, gives Toh the idea of stealing from the accounts of the deceased. What follows is a twisty tale of greed and shocking plot twists.
The film opens in a very gritty way, getting you eager to see what will follow, but to be honest, the rest of the film doesn’t live up to that moment. It’s a heist film, but there’s also so much else going on. While that sounds like it should make for a highly engaging film, it actually has the opposite effect, making you feel like things are being dragged out and leaving you quite bored by the end of it. I mentioned The Stone earlier, and I feel like there are other similarities here, too, apart from the casting of said actor. Fortunately, though, Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead is not a comedy in any way. They’re both complicated for no reason and introduce random characters halfway through to make things more thrilling. However, this doesn’t have the desired effect.
Okay, technically, it’s not random characters; the bank employees get involved with the criminal underworld of Pattaya, and this completely changes the vibe of the film in the second half. To be honest, I quite enjoyed the first half because it felt more naturally stressful than the sudden burst of gore and bloodshed when the criminals came in. In all fairness, it’s definitely thrilling, because a lot of shocking things occur within the two-hour film, but I just found it trying to be too convoluted unnecessarily. I suppose we don’t often see Pattaya as a main character, but it’s shot beautifully in this film, making you feel like the city is alive. I really enjoyed the lighting in some bits.
I think the actors do a great job in trying to work with what the script has to offer them. Kane Theeradej Wongpuapan is a well-known actor who has been seen in many romantic movies and TV shows, but it looks like this role is unique for him (though I’m not fully aware). On the other hand, Ryu Vachirawich Watthanaphakdeephaisan is a singer who was a member of the boy group 9×9 and has now moved on to acting. The two actors work well together, and they give off brotherly vibes. I did mention Chakrabongse earlier, and his role is quite minor in comparison to others, along with Earnearn Fatima Dechawaleekul, who plays a similar minor role. I call them minor, but they’re quite impactful by the end of the film. The little girl who plays Snow is adorable, and Yuyee Alissa Intusmith as Jit is the most intriguing character in the film to me (she plays the dead woman, so make of that what you will).
It’s the ending of the film that really takes it up a notch, though, with a dull middle section. I don’t know if it’s enough for a film to have a great beginning and ending. Additionally, though the decisions made by the protagonists are rash (and for good reason), I couldn’t help but feel like they were making dumb moves as the film proceeded. I guess such is the life of a simpleton who wants to make it big (we relate, eh?). Here’s the thing: the connections are honestly quite interesting, and it’s definitely a movie you have to pay attention to fully, or you’re going to miss a lot of the context.
There’s a lot of gore and violence, so if you get queasy easily, I’d say skip this one. Some of the violent sequences are quite entertaining, especially if you’re into arsonists (on screen, that is). Here’s the thing: it might sound like I’m being very positive about the film, and I am. There’s a lot that’s good here, but it’s still trying too hard in my opinion, and some of these ideas could’ve become separate films of their own. There’s AI, there’s family planning, working-class lifestyle, schooling and just the struggle of living today, and so much more, all mixed up with the thriller genre, thanks to the criminals our protagonists are fighting against. It is in execution that the film gets lost, a tiny bit, just because you can’t capture all of this within two hours.
Still, I think it’s quite a brave effort, and there’s something very Thai about this approach that I’ve noticed many times before. It’s always busy, so you find yourself glued to the screen and never looking away because you know you’ll end up missing some small detail. I feel like this adds a layer of cultural context. Also, the music is composed by the same guy who won an award for How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, though, despite a similar concept in the titles, it is a completely different film, tonally. At the end of the day, I find it hard to rate this film because I know there’s an audience that will definitely enjoy it, but for me personally, it was a bit too much. So, I’ll give Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead three out of five stars. Oh, and that includes extra points for the intriguing title.
