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Starring: Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Eisaya Hosuwan, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Chanon Santinatornkul Director: Nattawut Poonpiriya
FOUR years after making his debut with the New York-set horror flick "Countdown" -- in which three Thai teens get more than they bargained for from a goateed drug dealer called Jesus -- 36-year-old helmer Nattawut Poonpiriya manages to ace a far-from-standard test, turning high school exams into an intense thrilling ride.
Based on recent revelations about real-life scandals in the international college-admission Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT), "Bad Genius" scores high marks as a ceaselessly entertaining thriller that cedes little ground to the cheap comedy and sentimentality of recent Thai hits. Nattawut admitted he watched "The Conversation" and "All the Presidents' Men" for inspiration, and it shows as the film flourishes through its simple narrative and taut editing.
With exams now basically an essential part of modern life, "Bad Genius" could easily resonate across various demographics -- and even qualify as a mildly-worded social critique, with its allusions to the inequality and corruption engulfing the young Thai protagonists. And just like his characters, Nattawut has turned his exam scams into big business: The May...