Throughout the seven movies that he has directed, Tom Waller has proven his knack for diversity. From the spiritual crime film of “Mindfulness and Murder” to the delirious biopic about Thailand's “Last Executioner”, to the story of the students trapped in “The Cave” the result is always intriguing, with his works, particularly of the latest years, combining Hollywood aesthetics with an intense local flavor. The turn towards actual stories, however, is a fact, and his latest work, “Kiss of the Con Queen” cements it in the most evident fashion. Just like “The Last Executioner” though, there is a significant twist in the real history of a con man who cheated numerous members of the movie industry before his arrest: Both the protagonist of the movie, Eoin O'Brien, and a number of other members of the cast and crew were actual victims of the scam.
Ryan is an Irish actor trying to fulfill his dream of becoming a self-sustaining actor in the film industry of Bangkok. To do so, he is training in Muay Thai, and he is taking expensive acting classes, along with a friend, Jay, and Jan, with whom he shares a reluctant attraction. While his financial situation is not exactly the best, considering that it has been some time since he landed a meaningful part, he also learns that his father back in Ireland, Shay, is ill. Right about this rather difficult time, he is contacted by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder's wife, for a role in the latter's movie. Considering this is his big chance, he goes full in, even fronting the costs of flying to Jakarta and paying for shooting permits for screen tests that never seem to actually happen. As time passes, he realizes that something is amiss.
The best qualities of the movie are actually the most obvious. For starters, having a protagonist that underwent what is happening in the story in reality, induces the whole narrative with an undeniable sense of authenticity, that definitely works in its favor. Granted, a bigger name in what is, essentially, a mainstream production would definitely help, but as it is actually mentioned in the movie, the story is so strong by itself, that the celebrity status of the actors is not a significant factor. In the same path, that one could say goes to an even further meta level than films-about-films, that the gig workers who were targeted by the Hollywood Con Queen manage to turn the whole thing over and shoot a movie about their experiences, emerges as a true triumph. Moreover, that they used an experience that turned their dreams into a nightmare, in order to actually fulfill their dreams, makes their success even more significant, highlighting that in the end, they are the ones who won.
Apart from the elements ‘around the movie', the actual film also has a lot to like. For starters, the presentation of the lives of the small level actors, and the financial and psychological issues they face in this highly competitive industry, is quite realistic, dictating the reasons so many of them fell victim to this scam, as much as how the perpetrator managed to succeed so extensively and for so long. The way the movie turns from a drama with perversely sexual connotations to a thriller and eventually an action thriller works well too, adding to the entertainment the whole thing offers, again in mainstream cinema terms.
This last aspect also owes a lot to the big production, as “Kiss of the Con Queen” was filmed in 5 countries (Thailand, Jakarta, United States, Ireland and Japan), with the job done in the presentation of the different settings by DP Wade Muller resulting in images of intense beauty, in the majority of the settings. The visual approach in general is quite polished, but in a style that fits the overall aesthetics. Harin Paesongthai and Mitphon Ekphasuphor's editing is also on a high level, with the overall fast pace suiting the narrative and the moments where the Queen is presented being well timed.
And talking about the Queen, Ravi Patel in the role is outstanding, highlighting the character's abilities and perversion in the best fashion, with the ‘phone sex' scenes and the fighting ones being among the most memorable moments of the movie. Eoin O'Brien in the role of Ryan is also convincing, in a part that also aims at showcasing his traits including his fighting skills, in an aspect, though, that is toned down. One could say that the arcs in Ireland and the romantic one are underdeveloped, but the whole character of the father with his movie lines and the presence of gorgeous Lynette Emond as Jan definitely compensate. The second one who steals the show, however, is definitely Yayu Unru in the role of the cunning poor devil/driver.
“Kiss of the Con Queen” is both a message on how people should deal with scams and a rather entertaining movie that is bound to gain an audience for its visuals and the fact that it takes the concept of true crime to a whole new level.
