The Evil Lawyer

Thailand for many of us is a mysterious country, perhaps best known for its food.  With "The Evil Lawyer" (2026) it is consolidating its film production.  They have previously concentrated on the winners like romance, comedy and horror, but with this series they are moving into legal dramas.  Already it is receiving very favourable reviews and ratings.  

The writer, director and producers spent several years researching the Thai legal system to get the details accurate.  They are able to call on the expertise for a wide variety of film making skills.

"The Evil Lawyer" is realistic in that it delves into the justice system that is far from pure.  We meet Jettri in a case where she seems to be defending the indefensible and wins.  We learn she discredits opposing witnesses and recruits co-operative witnesses among other underhanded strategies.  Mek is disgusted.  He is concerned about a client who confesses, but Mek determines it is to protect someone with power.  

By the first episode we learn his girlfriend, Ang broke with him without explanation.  He is invited to the home of a boyhood friend, the son of the police chief, Anan.  He wants Mek to drop the case with a (false) confession.  A Burmese servant woman is forced to accompany the two men so they can compete with a golf club.  The woman is abused and at one point strikes the police chief's son with a golf club and kills him.  Gun shots attracted attention, blood flows and the woman flees.  Shortly after, an official shows up.  Mek is accused of murder and it turns out the case is politically very delicate.  He feels political forces are against him and turns to Jittri.

Part of the deal is that Jettri, although not charging him, demands he help her on some other cases.  One is of a verbally graphic sex assault in which a guilty man gets off.  Mek begins to see that life is unfair and to get justice it pays to use tricks.

The situation gets more complicated.  Ang comes back and wants to help.  She is very concerned about justice and makes some big decisions of her own.  Politics, unions, illegal immigrants from Myanmar all seem to be linked.

There is a stunning, I mean for you my reader shocker at the end, on more than one count.  I am looking forward for a possible (likely?) second season.

Many people contributed to this success of this series.  Here are a few.  I recognize the names are difficult for Anglophone ears, but they are well worth knowing more about.

Nottapon Boonprakob was the director and a writer.  He has studied for a Master's degree in Social Documentaries at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  Nottapon has 5 directing credits, 6 for writing and 4 for camera and the electrical department including "Mad Unicorn" (2025).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/mad-unicorn-exciting-series-fromthailand.html

Sopana Chaowwiwatkul was one of the writers.  Sopana has 10 writing credits including "The Notebook" (2019) and "Analog Squad" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/12/analog-squad.html 

Songphon Jantharasom was the producer.  Songphon has 3 producing credits and 6 for assistant directing including "Bad Genius" (2017) and "Mad Unicorn" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/06/bad-genius-out-of-thailand.html

Siwat Homkom was the composer with 9 composing credits.

Koi Boonyanush Kratheg was the cinematographer.

Supawit Buaket was an editor.  He has 9 credits for the editorial department, 3 for editor and 1 for visual effects including "Thai Cave Rescue" (2022), "The Believers" (2025) and "Send Help" (2026).    See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/09/thai-cave-rescue.html and   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/04/the-believers.html 

Rhatha Phongam  plays Jittri the "evil" lawyer.  She is a trained ballet dancer, singer and has modeled.  Rhatha has 36 acting credits and 1 for soundtrack including "Only God Forgives" (2013) with Ryan Gosling.

Nat Kitcharit plays Mek.  He has 18 acting credits.

Atchareeya Petipipittanakorn played Ang, Mek's girl friend at one time and political activist.  She has 14 acting credits.

Sarinrat Thomas played Atchara, Ang's mother and the head of a progressive political party.  She has been a television hostess in Thailand and became inspired by some of her guests advocating for mental heatlh.  In 1997 she went to the United Kingdom to learn a variety of mental health therapies with the Health Professions Council (HCPC), graduating in 2000.  She is a psychotherapist, a drama therapist, acting coach and workshop facilitator.  Sarinrat has 10 acting credits including "The Impossible" (2012), "Bad Genius" (2017) and the very popular "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" (2024).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies.html

Songait Roognophakunsri played Anan, a police chief.  He has 58 acting credits including "In Family We Trust" (2018).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/09/in-family-we-trust.html

Phollawat Manuprasert played Mek's father, a well respected judge.  He has 34 acting credits including "In Family We Trust" (2018).

Nopoachai Chaiyanam played Kosol.  He has  30 acting credits and 9 for directing including "Analog Squad" (2023) and "Hunger" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/05/hunger-interesting-movie-from-thailand.html

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time and if you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.

"The Evil Lawyer" is available subtitled or dubbed on Netflix. You will find the series very engaging.

Mad Unicorn, Exciting Series from Thailand

Thailand is upping its international presence, partly due to Netflix.  

"Mad Unicorn" is based on a true story, a rags to riches tale about a local hero.  Jira Maligool, the executive producer interviewed Kamsan Saleen who started poorly and built a delivery express business that became very huge.  From there the story was developed by a team.

In the series Santi starts off as a worker in a sand pit, but is able to negotiate money for a bigger opportunity in Bangkok.  Working for a touring company he helps a wealthy Chinese man have sex with a Thai woman by translating each to the other.  He gets invited to Shanghai where he gets embroiled in a drinking challenge.  There he meets up with an older mentor, Kanin and is given an opportunity.  He also meets up with a Chinese Thai woman, Xiao who seems very sophisticated.  You sense a romance, but it doesn't end the way you would hope.

Between Kanin and Xiao he does get started on an Express company, but soon finds himself betrayed and up against formidable obstacles.  The focus on the series is how he innovates and steels himself.  Constantly looking for investors with the major ones being Chinese.  Tension mounts, but he is a tough cookie.

Basically it is a business story with lots of crookery and determination to overcome it.  A little more physical action than might be typical.  Santi is a very likeable as is Xiao, but Kanin is evil.  It is engaging--one of the most intense bingeing adventures for me.

The cast and crew are key to its success.  Here are a few contributors.

Jira Maligool, was the executive producer who started the ball rolling.  He has 40 producer credits, 4 for directing and 8 for script and continuity including "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" (2024).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies.html

Nottapon Boonprakob was the director and one of the writers.  He studied Social Documentary Film in New York.  He has 4 directing credits, 5 for writing and 3 for the camera and electrical department.

Tanida Hantaweewatana was a key writer.  She has 7 writing credits including "Bad Genius" (2017).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/06/bad-genius-out-of-thailand.html  

 Vichaya Vatanasapt was the music composer.  He got a degree in architecture, but had joined a band and  soon helped form a music producing company.  He has 30 composing credits and 3 for the music department including "Bad Genius" (2017).

Phalao Jiraungkookun was the cinematographer.  He has 7 cinematography credits including one of my favorites, "Bad Genius" (2017).

Natara Nopparatayapon played Santi.  He studied Mandarin for two months and was able to master a two page monologue in that language.  He has 8 acting credits including "Delete" (2023).

Jane Methika Jiranorraphat played Xiao.  She was once a runner up for Miss Teen Thailand.  She joined a girl band and has been involved with singing.  Methika  was part Taiwanese and didn't have to learn Mandarin.  She has 23 acting credits.

Thaneth Warakulnukroh played Kanin, a ruthless business man.  He was a singer and also record producer.  Thaneth has 10 acting credits including "Pop Aye" (2017), "Bad Genius" (2017) and "Thai Cave Rescue" (2022).

Thailand has produced a number of memorable movies and is developing the necessary multitude of skills. "Mad Unicorn" is available on Netflix, subtitled or dubbed.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time and if you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.