My Dearest Assassin Review: Blending action, melodrama and romance together in one delicious film, this Netflix crime-thriller arrives with an intriguing premise wherein a woman with a rare blood type must fight against ruthless enemies to stay alive. The surprisingly emotional story has a lot to offer, but does it get all of its ducks in a row?
My Dearest Assassin Netflix Cast
Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul, Thanapob Leeratanakachorn, Sivakorn Adulsuttikul
My Dearest Assassin Movie Director
Kui Taweewat Wantha
Original Title
เลือดรักนักฆ่า / Lueat Rak Nakkha
The film has a runtime of around 127 minutes.
My Dearest Assassin Review
Plot & overview
This Netflix film follows Lhan, a young woman whose rare blood type has been on the radar of several bad guys since she was young. After losing her parents, she has been under constant threat and was then taken in by House 89, a secretive family of assassins who vow to protect her at all costs. While growing up there, she forms a bond with Pran, and the two explore their relationship as they fight to stay alive. The film begins as a straightforward revenge thriller, eventually blending with romance and grief as Lhan comes to terms with her life and the trauma she has endured throughout.
Lhan’s heartbreak and complicated emotions feel real, and her situation thrilling; however, the film isn’t able to balance these genres well enough to create cohesive storytelling. There’s so much going on, especially with Lhan, that it makes it difficult to understand her. While at first glance the premise is compelling, the deeper you go into it, the more the film feels bloated and overloaded with information. The subplots aren’t always necessary, and they weaken the pacing. It makes the experience confusing.
Direction
On that note, director Kui Taweewat Wantha, known for the Death Whisperer films, brings dramatic flair to the action sequences, which make them engaging to watch. He balances close-up cinematography with the more emotional moments and creates a dark and atmospheric world where you might find danger at every turn. The fight sequences are the best part of the film, and it’s fun to watch as well. They are choreographed well and look grounded and realistic. As a result, viewers will find themselves on edge during every combat sequence.
Thankfully, it also doesn’t employ the chaotic editing style that has become prevalent in modern action sequences and, as a result, you are allowed to take these fights in and actually follow them. However, although the action shines, it’s the emotional moments that falter more often than not. The two hours of runtime are crowded and sluggish thanks to everything else that is stuffed in it, including romance, revenge arcs and an ensemble drama. As a result of this overstuffing, the emotional revelations don’t land as they lack the buildup, and some scenes linger longer than necessary.
Themes & tone
Exploring themes of belonging, identity and emotional vulnerability when your life is constantly at stake, My Dearest Assassin explores Lhan’s extreme emotions as she juggles complicated emotions in a world built on violence. Her rare blood type makes her stand out in good and bad ways, as it isolates her, making her both valuable and dangerous. This isolation is evident in every scene as she is left to ponder difficult things on her own, leaving viewers rooting for her.
There are also themes of tragic romance in the story, and Lhan and Pran’s romance has a bittersweet tone that works in its favour for the most part. Their romance adds levity to a story where everyone is trying to take everyone’s life and acts as the light at the end of the tunnel. It also carries the film during its weaker narrative moments and when it chooses to focus on exploring love and trust within a chosen family rather than on unnecessary assassin mythology.
The film’s tone shifts smoothly from action to romance frequently, and while it might seem jarring and confusing at times, it separates the film from other Netflix crime thrillers well.
Performances
Baifern Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul is a believable and relatable protagonist who delivers a committed performance as Lhan. Oscillating between fear and resilience, Luevisadpaibul brings emotional depth to her character, and thus, her gradual transformation from vulnerable to someone capable of fighting back makes for an interesting watch. However, there’s simply a lot happening with Lhan, and by the end, it’s difficult to understand who she is as a person.
Meanwhile, Tor Thanapob Leeratanakachorn shares strong chemistry with Luevisadpaibul and their relationship anchors the story well. Considering the violent narrative, their relationship acts as a breath of fresh air. As with every other show and movie these days, while the side characters had potential, they are left underdeveloped and are added to push Lhan and Pran’s narrative forward.
Final Thoughts
In the end, My Dearest Assassin on Netflix isn’t able to make a clear landing as it ambitiously tries to blend romance, action and drama, but it’s still entertaining regardless. The action choreography and romance subplot are its biggest strengths, and despite the narrative becoming too muddled and tangled for its own good, the film leaves viewers rooting for Lhan till the end. The story isn’t anything new, but it has enough intensity to keep you invested, even though it’s not as memorable as it would like to be.
What are your thoughts on Netflix’s My Dearest Assassin? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: