BA is a new supernatural thriller with a story that feels small and relatable. Yet, somehow, it’s larger than life as it deals with precisely that: Life and death. A small story that stays with you after the end credits. Read our full Ba movie review here!
BA is a supernatural thriller with distinct horror elements. Don’t let the IMDb genre label of “drama” fool you. I mean, the story features a story about a man who (inadvertently) makes a deal that requires him to take other people’s lives.
He has to become Death to keep his daughter safe – and to be able to stay with her. It’s a small story that hits hard and features two wonderful lead actors as father and daughter. A movie that stays with you after its 80-minute runtime.
Continue reading our Ba movie review below. Find it on VOD from May 27, 2025.
A story about Life and Death
Ba is a story about life and death, but more so, it’s about what makes life worth living and when someone is ready for death. In this movie, we meet a man very much down on his luck, but with lots of love in his life.
Their little family consists of him, his daughter, and their dog.
While on this supernatural “contract”, he isn’t even truly human. A huge problem as he is a single parent to his wonderful young daughter, who needs him. The two find ways of getting by, as they always have, but it’s a struggle beyond anything he could’ve imagined.
This movie offers a very relatable story that is dark but heartwarming. One that keeps you guessing and tugs at your heartstrings throughout. Not an easy watch, but one worth watching.
A sentimental genre-bender
One of the best descriptions of Ba comes from the press material we received along with the screener. This describes Ba as a sentimental genre-bender, which pinpoints how it really is a heartwarming (and heartbreaking) story while also covering multiple genres.
The cast with Laurence Kao in the lead as the title character (Ba means Dad in Mandarin Chinese), who is named Daniel, and the daughter, Collette, portrayed by Kai Cech, is stellar casting. They work wonderfully as father and daughter, but also on their own.
In other key roles, we see Michael Paul Chan (Major Crimes, The Goonies), Brian Thompson (9-1-1), and Skelli Boone (Why Women Kill).
Watch Ba on VOD
Ba comes from writer and director Benjamin Wong, who makes his feature film debut here. A wonderful and strong movie that stays with you after the end credits. It’s not without flaws, but the ending isn’t one of them.
In fact, I was wondering how this movie could possibly end in any way that wasn’t total heartbreak and disaster, but Benjamin Wong had the ideal solution set up all along.
This is a dark story, but with lots of heart, and it works solidly as a genre-bender that leaves room for the supernatural alongside the everyday, relatable drama. Be sure to check it out and support this wonderful filmmaker and his stellar cast and crew.
Ba is out on VOD nationwide on May 27, 2025.
Details
Director: Benjamin Wong
Writer: Benjamin Wong
Stars: Lawrence Kao, Kai Cech, Michael Paul Chan, Brian Thompson, Shelli Boone
Plot
A single father is deceived into a treacherous career as the Grim Reaper, while his precocious daughter grows increasingly suspicious of his whereabouts.
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