'Ba' Review: A Dark and Moving Hidden Gem Worthy of a Larger Audience
- Becca Johnson
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
By Becca Johnson - June 13, 2025
A directorial debut from filmmaker Benjamin Wong and starring Lawrence Kao (Insurgent) and Kai Cech (Marshmallow), Ba is a fantastical drama thriller centering on the father daughter relationship. Superbly acted with a unique plot and great development of its themes, Ba is a dark and moving hidden gem worthy of a larger audience.
What is 'Ba' about?
Kao plays a single father named Daniel, who winds up deceived into a treacherous career as the grim reaper, whilst his precocious daughter Collette (Cech) grows increasingly suspicious of his whereabouts. Daniel must fight to unwind his fate, whilst keeping Collette hidden from his predicament.
The plot Ba delivers is simple yet effective. It may start off a little on the generic side, with Daniel struggling to make ends meet and traveling around in his car with his daughter Collette and dog, Charles. However, once the grim reaper twist comes into play, this becomes something else entirely. Roaming the streets at night, waiting to find out whose life he must take next, Daniel’s victims come to the end with just a simple touch. Trying to make enough honest money to be free of this curse, whilst ensuring his daughter isn’t spotted by child protection services and other locals, Daniel’s ride is incredibly tough. It might be a slightly dystopian idea, but the script does well to ground it by exploring the lengths we’d go to when we’re desperate - especially when we have young lives to think about.
The cinematography is quite stunning, especially during those night-time sequences, and despite the plot being simplistic and slow in approach, it ensures to add in some twists and turns along the way to keep us invested. With a run-time of just 80 minutes, it certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome, and understands that this idea can only do so much. If you’re looking for an original story that provides something you haven’t seen before, Ba is an excellent choice.
What helps sell this unique story are the performances guiding it. Lawrence Kao is exceptional as Daniel, delivering a very layered and emotional turn. He is expert at showing the love for his daughter, and clearly struggles with the horrendous task of taking peoples lives, even if they are ready and it only takes one touch. His determination to make a better life for him and his daughter, after her mother leaves, jumps off the screen. It’s nice to see a father daughter relationship at the forefront, and Kao is masterful at it. This is even more commendable given that the pair aren’t often in the same room, due to Daniel both needing to hide his harrowing appearance from her and being unable to touch her.
Starring alongside as his daughter Collette is Kai Cech, who is equally fantastic. Showing an admirable amount of understanding for the depth of the role at such a young age, Cech not only nails the emotion required, but the childlike naivety of the situation. Her love for her dad is very clear, her desire to stay close to him tugs on the heartstrings on multiple occasions, and her sweet nature and potential to become someone very special only strengthens the audiences love for them both. They’re a pair worth rooting for, and Kao and Cech bring them to life even more.
Ba is at its strongest when more simplistic and straightforward. Anytime it tries to add in some lore or fresh ideas, they may be interesting, but they don’t feel entirely warranted. The portals that appear when Daniel takes his victims over to the other side don’t feel all that necessary, and take away from the mystery of his job and the dark, unknown feeling behind it. The script hints throughout that there may be more to Collette than meets the eye, which is confirmed during the final act, but we don’t get much of an explanation for this and it doesn’t feel developed enough to pack a punch. Speaking of the final act, the last few moments are exceptional and wrap things up in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way, but the 10-15 minutes that precede this are a little clunky. It’s a difficult story to end, but those final beats feel less cohesive than the rest of the commendably tight narrative. It doesn’t go off road enough to hinder enjoyment, but the final act could’ve been neater.
Is 'Ba' the indie film that puts Benjamin Wong on the map?
Overall, Ba is an exceptional indie flick that pegs Benjamin Wong as an emerging talent to keep an eye on. The story is unique and engaging, finding a suitable balance between family drama and dystopian thriller, and it boasts superb performances and plenty of unsettling visuals amongst its impressive cinematography. It may struggle to wrap things up, and a few of the ideas introduced feel a little out of place, but this doesn’t prevent Ba from striking a chord and saying a lot within its short run-time.
'Ba' is available on digital platforms
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