Tee Yai Rerk Dao Jone (2025)

This movie should’ve been called Tee Yai: The Power of Friendship or Tee Yai: How a Legend Is Born. It’s not just a crime drama, it’s a story about loyalty and lifelong bonds.

The film follows the rise of Tee Yai, a legendary Thai outlaw played by Apo Nattawin, a bold thief who pulls off daring heists and escapes that feel almost mythical and his childhood friend Rerk, played by Wisarut Himaratana. Tee and Rerk grew up together and built a bond for life, swearing to protect one another and they stick to it till the very end.

The cast is solid, and their performances really stick with you. Apo once again proves his versatility and why I see him as one of Thailand’s finest actors. With his commanding presence, he delivers a gripping performance as Tee Yai, capturing both the character’s charm and brutal edge. Wisarut Himaratana, playing the loyal friend, brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to the duo. One of the film’s standout elements is the chemistry between Apo and Wisarut, their silent glances speak volumes, and they genuinely feel like lifelong friends on screen.

Also worth mentioning is Kao Supassara as Dao, one of the few women with real presence in this gritty, male-dominated world. Her role is subtle but powerful, adding emotional depth to the story.

Despite being nearly two hours long, the film flies by thanks to strong direction that skillfully balances action and drama. With striking cinematography, meticulous attention to detail, and electrifying action scenes, it’s a visually rich and culturally layered film that’s absolutely worth watching.

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You have to guess what the characters are thinking because they're certainly not going to tell you

You know what this movie made me think of? The 2023 Korean Netflix movie, Ballerina. I did not like that movie. See... Ballerina and Tee Yai: Born to Be Bad suffer from the same problem - a lack of dialogue. They give you great actors, incredible cinematography, interesting action scenes, but very little dialogue. You spend most of the time trying to guess what the actors are doing, how they're doing it, and at times, why they are doing it.

Apo - my dear lovely Apo - has very few lines, especially in the 1st half. I think we were at minute 40 something when he said something and I asked out loud -to an empty living room - 'wait, is this the 1st time he's spoken?' Then I remembered that no. It was likely the 3rd time (in 40+ MINUTES!) - the other two times were at the temple and in the train.

He spends his time looking (glaring) at people and shooting them. I mean, that's cool, but also, WHAT IS HE THINKING???
We know why Tee Yai became bad, but why does he STAY bad? He sees that his friendship with Rek is strained and fraying, so why does he keep pushing and dismissing his friend? He keeps robbing, but why and to what end? What does he do with the money? What does he gain from all of this?

Tee Yai's bestie, Rek. He's very different from Tee Yai. Yes, they rob together, but whilst Tee Yai is ready to kill at the drop of a hat, Rek holds back. Rek also doesn't seem to enjoy their robbery lifestyle and has new priorities once Dao comes into his life. Basically, you clearly see that the relationship btwn Rek & Tee Yai is strained and that something's gotta give.

But they, once again, do not take you through that thought process and the conflicting emotions. Decisions are made, and you sit there like 'oh, I guess that's the choice you made'. Things happen, and you simply have to accept that they did. You don't know how or why they happened, but they did, so just roll with it. Just go with it, babes. Don't ask any questions

All in all, the writing, the script, and maybe even the post-production are at fault for what this movie is. A lot was left unsaid - and as per the credits, a lot was cut-, and I think that was to the detriment of the plot. They give you interesting characters, but don't care to flesh them out enough for you to care or root for them. Perhaps it is, as one commenter said, that this movie would have been better were it a series, or even a miniseries, to help us understand and connect with these characters better

What I'd have given to know more about
👱🏼‍♀️Dao - A prostitute in love with an infamous wanted criminal? Life dealt her some very complicated cards. Plus, can you imagine if we got a glimpse into her thoughts about brothel sex work and the violence that surrounds it?
👮🏼‍♂️Jakkrarat - Is he righteous or corrupt? Maybe he's morally grey? Or perhaps he's an overworked cop experiencing unnecessary pressure from his superior, and that's what turns him bad?
👨🏼Kid (Khit?) - He was a rich kid who shot his a-hole of a dad n went to join a wanted criminal's gang for (seemingly?) sh*ts and giggles. I want to know what pushed him to do that

Sigh... So many questions, so few answers.

Random side note: The number of times I said 'This man is so fine, Jesus' every time Apo came on screen.... That man is so goddamn fine. Christ! That long hair with a goatee is definitely a look that I'd like to see replicated in future movies/series👌🏾

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