The Red Envelope (2025) is a Thai action-comedy that blends crime, fantasy, horror, and mystery. It is a remake of the Taiwanese movie Marry My Dead Body. The film was directed by Chayanop Boonprakob and stars Putthipong Assaratanakul, Krit Amnuaydechkorn, and Arachaporn Pokinpakorn.
The movie explores themes of love, sacrifice, betrayal, and family bonds. This was my first time watching a Thai movie, and at first, I confused the language and characters with Korean. I had to check the movie’s origin before continuing.
Menn, the main character, is an ex-convict who now works as a police spy. He has a crush on a female police officer and tries his best to impress her, hoping to one day be officially accepted into the police force and become worthy enough to date her.
His life takes an unexpected turn when he casually picked up a red envelope and becomes entangled in a strange traditional ceremony called a “ghost marriage,” where a living person is symbolically married to a deceased person.
The “bride” in this movie is Titi, a young gay man who died under suspicious circumstances. Menn is super straight, and the forced “marriage” makes him extremely uncomfortable. Titi’s spirit is bound to him until certain conditions are fulfilled. Titi insists that his death was no accident and demands that Menn help him find out the truth.
At first, Menn resists Titi completely. He doesn’t believe in ghosts and is more focused on his own goals, getting close to the female officer and proving his worth to the police. But as unfortunate events keep happening and Titi keeps appearing to him, Menn has no choice but to work with him.
Together, they start investigating Titi's death. The case leads them into a web of dangerous crimw dealings, betrayal from people Titi once trusted, and deeper corruption than Menn expected. Along the way, their constant bickering turns into an unusual partnership. Menn begins to see Titi not just as a burden but as someone who also suffered, loved, and lost.
In the final act, the truth about Titi's death is revealed alongside with a crime case Goi, Menn's police crush was trying to solve.
The ending is bittersweet: justice is served in a certain way but Titi must say goodbye. The farewell scene is emotional, as their bond has grown beyond their differences. Menn is left changed, not only as a man but also in how he sees life, death, and love.
I enjoyed this movie much more than I expected. The characters, who at first seemed too exaggerated, became more natural as the story unfolded. The relationship between Menn and Titi was entertaining and touching at the same time. Their constant back-and-forth, cultural elements, and mix of comedy with emotional scenes kept me watching.
I wouldn't fail to mention Titi's parents, particularly his mother who is very compassionate and I found her way of speaking amusing. Although the father wasn't initially supportive of Titi's sexuality, he eventually opened up after getting to know Menn and explained his reasons for not supporting Titi, which seemed valid. Titi realized that his father, though tough, had always meant well for him.
The balance between humor, mystery, and heartfelt drama was done well. I laughed a lot, but I also felt for the characters, especially toward the end.
If you want something different, funny but still with a meaningful storyline, The Red Envelope would be worth watching. It’s a good introduction to Thai cinema and offers a unique mix of genres that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
It’s a 4.5 out of 5 for me.
Thanks for reading, friends. I truly appreciate your time and support.
Have you seen The Red Envelope or the original Marry My Dead Body?🤭 Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Until next time, keep enjoying great films.
I leave with you a very interesting trailer from YouTube👇
