NYAFF REVIEW: ‘Bad Genius’ follows students cheating their way to success

Bad Genius, the new film from director Nattawut Poonpiriya, is a thrilling drama that finds a network of high school students working together to cheat and pass important standardized tests. The film from Thailand is a strong movie of suspense, pitting these students against the system and against the clock. The ensuing scenes are nail-biting in their intensity and help prove the point that cheating is never a good option.

Lynn (Chutimon Cheungcharoensukying) is perhaps the smartest student at her elite private school. The classes and tests don’t seem to challenge her academically, and yet she has some great struggles in her life. Her father, a teacher at a public school, is putting their financial security on the line to send her to the school, but thankfully Lynn has been awarded one of two scholarships, which helps lessen the economical impact. Still, the prospect of making money weighs heavy on her mind, so when a friend offers her a financial reward for cheating, she decides against her better judgment to provide some answers.

This initial decision to break the school’s rules leads Lynn down a dark and foreboding path, one riddled with ethical landmines. She tries to justify the actions in her mind by pointing to her hard-working father, but she’s also embarrassed of the means in which she makes the money.

The other scholarship winner at the school is Bank (Chanon Santinatornkul), a young man who seems to be the opposite of Lynn. He’s smart like her but completely ethical and unwilling to cheat. In fact, he turns in Lynn and her clients to the head schoolmaster, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely clean of any blame either.

There’s a real energy to the film, especially during its fast-paced scenes depicting Lynn’s methods of cheating. She is not only computing the problems in her head but also devising clever methods to keep her actions out of view from the teachers (think the Morse code). All of this is accomplished against crippling deadline pressure.

Cheungcharoensukying is a quality actress who is able to play the part with the perfect combination of calmness and worry. As a student, Lynn has nothing to fear, but as a cheating student, she is constantly looking over her shoulder and hoping not to get caught. To act between these two extremes takes a lot of effort from Cheungcharoensukying.

Thaneth Warakulnukroh also does an admirable job as Lynn’s father. He is dedicated to his daughter’s academic success and also flabbergasted at her unethical choices. He wants to support her educational goals, but cheating challenges his understanding and sympathy for Lynn.

Poonpiriya has the action play out like a cutthroat thriller. There’s no blood or high-speed car chases, but the adrenaline is as fever-inducing. This is the academic equivalent to Fast and Furious. Kudos also to Poonpiriya and his screenwriting team of Tanida Hantaweewatana, Vasudhorn Piyaromna and Timothy Teo. Sometimes the plot grows too far-fetched, but, for the most part, the story stays on track and ever more gripping.

Bad Genius, a strong entry for this year’s New York Asian Film Festival, plays Friday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at New York City’s Water Reade Theater.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Bad Genius (2017), directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, stars Chutimon Cheungcharoensukying, Chanon Santinatornkul and Thaneth Warakulnukroh. The film, running 130 minutes, was written by Poonpiriya, Tanida Hantaweewatana, Vasudhorn Piyaromna and Timothy Teo. In Thai with English subtitles. Rating: Click here for more information and tickets.