Uncover the Darkest Depths in ‘Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell’: Thai Action Film Climbs Global Charts

Experience the wild ride of Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hellas viewers follow Wanchai navigating the chaos of his hellish life, all sparked by a seemingly innocent milk tea incident. This full-scale action film has soared to the No. 2 spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 Films (Non-English) chartwhile also ranking in the Top 10 in 32 countries - including Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, and more - with a total of 5 million hours viewed (from September 23-29, 2024).

Who would have guessed that beneath the surface of this intense action flick lies a wealth of unconventional ideas from acclaimed action-movie director Kome-Kongkiat Komesiri? This is the untold story of a hell crafted by humans and a narrative that will make you hit that replay button again and again!

Extraordinary ideas behind deeply layered characters

The secret to creating a film that goes beyond mere action set pieces lies in its uniquely crafted characters. Even if the audience only sees them for a brief moment, each character in the film was designed to tell their own story. Kome shared his vision for character creation, emphasizing the importance of making each character memorable and impactful.

One of the standout characters is Darlie, played by Day Thaitanium. Kome describes him as a "Rat King" - distorted on the outside and harboring a devilish nature. "The goal was to make Day unrecognizable despite his fame as a rapper. Der, from the production design team, suggested Darlie should be a scary, unpredictable character with vitiligo to make him terrifying, and I agreed. Darlie is the king of this dump, so he must be a very crazy king," Kome explains. With the word "Sawasdee" tattooed on his forehead and a penchant for eating durian while slapping those who offend him with the peel, Darlie showcases Thai culture in a unique way.

Another complex character is Bank (Fluke-Teerapat Lohanan), who struggles with psychogenic stuttering. In the film, Bank tries to show off and present himself as a fierce thug while attempting to control the gambling den. "Yet deep down, he is incredibly fragile, projecting strength and aggression that he ultimately cannot sustain - a character filled with contradictions," Kome muses.

Sumeth, played by Ping Lumpraploeng (Bhubhing Bhangsa-ard) is another notable character. Known primarily as a director with a great sense of humor, Ping takes on the role of a serious mob leader for the first time. "I advised him not to be funny because we didn't want him to bring humor to this character," Kome says. "It would be quite surprising to see him in this type of movie."

The multidimensional meaning of the name Saisin

Saisinis an auspicious name, but the character is often referred to as Sin, which sounds likeSil, meaning "canon" in Thai. This refers to principles that shouldn't be violated. However, when the screenwriting team translated the name into English, it became Sin, which adds another layer of depth to the character.

As Sin matures, he realizes that happiness doesn't rely on money; it comes from reflecting on one's past actions and the pride derived from them. The situations in the movie will test Sin and force him to choose his path as either a good guy or a bad guy.

Kome revealed why he believed Doo-Sanya Kunakornwould be perfect for this role: "I chose Doo because of his looks, particularly his glasses, and his well-known role as an MC, which shapes public perception of him. I aimed to make the audience question whether that was really Doo-Sanya. It's a surprise, and Doo loved it because he was able to change his persona and do something he hadn't done before. No one on set recognized him. It was a true transformation, and we believe we are offering the audience something they haven't seen before."

Mind 4EVE, who plays Meiji, shared her experience from the shoot: "When I saw Doo on set, I was a bit scared of him because he had transformed into a completely different person! He was portraying such a scary character and delivered his performance very convincingly. But once the director said 'cut,' he returned to being his kind self. I want you all to see him in this film."

A housing community brought to life

Kongkiat envisioned the Ruamjai Housing Community as a run-down area - one that no one would want to enter. Life within the community is unknown to outsiders; a hellscape filled with crime, gangsters, and impoverished residents that was crafted so realistically that Doo-Sanya Kunakorn thought it was a real place: "I walked in and thought, 'Is there really a place like this in Thailand?' It looked so scary. However, the art department informed me that everything I was seeing was created by their team. They had constructed concrete building shells in a flooded swamp, which was incredible. It felt like being in another world."

It wasn't just the set that was believable, but the people too. Doo-Sanya continued, "On the first day of filming, about 50 actors played homeless people. Usually, supporting actors wear minimal makeup because they're far from the camera; but in this production, they were fully immersed in their roles. The crew was meticulous, ensuring every detail felt authentic."

A movie that showcases the survival of individuals across different generations

Kongkiat, who both directed and wrote the screenplay, wanted to convey to the audience that no matter what terrible circumstances life throws our way, the key to survival is to simply keep breathing.

Weir-Sukollawat Kanaros, who plays Wanchai, shares: "This film brings together many generations, and each character represents different backgrounds, perspectives, occupations, and ages. Despite their differences, they must unite and flee from danger together, learning from one another along the way. When you watch this film, you'll see each character's perspective through the actors and you'll find yourself asking, if you were faced with such a situation, how would you change? Would you listen to others? Which path would you choose? Survive or perish - it's up to you. I believe this is the message the audience will take away from our film."

Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hellis now streaming, exclusively on Netflix.

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