Title: Frozen Hot Boys (2025) Director: Nareubadee Wetchakam & Tanakit Kittiapithan Rating: TV-14 Genre(s): Coming-of-Age Run Time: 1h 58m Star(s): Natapohn Tameeruks • Nuttawat Thanataviepraserth HEARTWARMING COMING-OF-AGE FILM WITH TACKY SPECIAL EFFECTS “Powerful encouragement for troubled teens, once you ignore the tacky special effects.” A teacher in a juvenile detention centre signs up a group of misfit boys in a snow sculpting contest in Japan. Meanwhile each member of the team struggles with personal conflicts during the journey. The film explores themes of redemption, and mentorship. As each boy carves ice, symbolically they carve a new path for themselves towards redemption. Mentorship is demonstrated through their resilient teacher who is a constant source of encouragement for the boys whenever a mistake from the past threatens to dampen their spirit showing that having positive role models in a young person’s life is crucial for their development. Although each cast member delivered exceptionally well, Sadanont Durongkavarojana a supporting actor, stood out for his emotionally charged portrayal of Jo, a youth guilty of a serious crime. Durongkavarojana, masks his inner pain in the form of humour and releases his pent-up feelings at an inconvenient moment portraying the reality of young men and boys often not encouraged to communicate their emotions in a healthy way. The use of rock music in this coming-of-age film is not only intriguing but gives an insight into Thailand’s contemporary culture. Viewers who are familiar with the music scene in Thailand understand that Thailand has a loyal fanbase in rock music. Using rock music in a coming-of-age film not only gives a motivating edge to the scenes but gives a glimpse into Thailand’s music preferences. While Frozen Hot Boys has heart, its special effects and animation often veer into unintentionally hilarious territory. From CGI snow to an animated phoenix that feels ripped from a low-budget video game, the visuals are cringey rather than dazzling. The exaggerated effects—meant to add flair—end up feeling more like slapstick filler, giving the film an almost parody-like vibe, and was completely unnecessary. That said, the film is not a completely tacky and is a great educational and motivational tool for youth. The message is evident, character growth is admirable, and the lessons are relevant for young audiences. Final Thoughts: Frozen Hot Boys is a great film for the right audience, with occasional messy CGI and special effects. Rating: 7/10 Watch purely for enjoyment not analysis, or you'll be disappointed.