My Dearest Assassin Review: Unpretentious action that delivers

Blending melodramatic romance, friendship, and John Wick-style action, My Dearest Assassin, a Thai production on Netflix, quickly caught the public's attention.

Synopsis

The story follows Lhan, played by Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul, a young woman hunted since childhood because of her rare blood type, which is used against her will as a sort of "transfusion pack" for millionaires.

After witnessing her parents' murder, she goes to live under the protection of House 89, an underground organization of professional assassins. Within that environment, Lhan forms a strong bond with Pran, played by Thanapob Leeratanakachorn, while trying to understand why she must remain isolated from the world.

The strongest point of the production, alongside the action, is the relationship between Lhan, Pran, and M, played by Sivakorn Adulsuttikul, who grow up together inside House 89. M also harbors romantic feelings for Lhan but prioritizes the trio's bond over his own desires.

The trio works beautifully on screen. Their chemistry is convincing, and even without much screen time for deeper development, their bond remains evident throughout the plot.

Critical Reception

The chemistry of the main cast received praise from critics, who gave the film relatively positive reviews, though opinions were split regarding the narrative structure. On Rotten Tomatoes, some critics and viewers highlighted the pacing of the action scenes and the film's ability to balance romance and violence without losing its emotional core.

On the other hand, some international critics noted that the film tries to tackle too many genres at once. The crime thriller, tragic romance, and family drama elements can feel overwhelming at times, hindering the psychological depth of the characters.

Audience reception was warmer. On platforms like IMDb and Letterboxd, many viewers pointed out the film's melancholic and emotional atmosphere.

Either way, it is always refreshing to see good action movies or series that break away from the American standard, especially when they deliver engaging stories and exciting combat scenes.

Houses

The concept of assassin "Houses" is intriguing and has already proven its commercial potential in John Wick, and My Dearest Assassin sparks curiosity about these groups, even though it barely scratches the surface of this universe. We only get to see House 89 and a rival organization, but the film makes it clear that others exist, leaving room for future productions to introduce new styles and characters.

The supporting cast works well, though few are truly memorable due to limited screen time and hasty conclusions. With more development, it would have been easier to empathize with the pain and guilt that Lhan carries.

Golden Blood

The protagonist's so-called "golden blood" remains largely unexplored, serving merely as a plot device and a justification for her pursuit and protection by House 89. The lack of detail about the organization pursuing Lhan and the rarity of her blood also weakens the antagonists, who end up feeling cartoonish. This is a missed opportunity because action movies do not necessarily have to be superficial.

There is also a rather uninspired narrative convenience when Lhan is found almost by accident in Bangkok. The city is reduced to a small place where characters constantly cross paths by pure coincidence. The script lacked creativity on this point.

Plot Armor

Another element that breaks immersion is the fact that Lhan trains for only a few weeks and manages to defeat her ultimate enemy. Pran and M have trained since childhood, yet they are brutally beaten in the final confrontation. This kind of "plot armor" ends up being frustrating because the script could have easily fixed it. It would have been enough to establish that Lhan had been secretly training alongside the two since childhood. This adjustment would also have allowed for a deeper exploration of the assassin Houses, the villains, and some supporting characters.

The ending works well, and although tragic, it suits a story about assassins. The conclusion handles Lhan's growth and her ability to protect herself and those she loves.

Of course it is.

It is a great action film despite its flaws, and it features that key element that makes audiences root for the protagonists: love, friendship, and loyalty. It has everything we look for in characters to truly immerse ourselves in a story.

There is also a positive note to the ending, which seems to set up a cliffhanger for a sequel but still manages to surprise.

Rating: 3.9 out of 5.

What about you? Do you also enjoy watching movies in this genre produced outside the US?