"Hunger" joins a canon of "eat-the-rich" stories that try to portray a similar level through the strength of emotion. The trailer for "Hunger" is reminiscent of "The Menu," only with a Thai perspective. Nonetheless, the film itself is not as amusing nor practical due to its slow pace and obvious execution of the premise. Appearance-wise, it's lovely, and Bangkok seems as enticing as ever.

Director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, famous for his work on the Netflix series "Girl From Nowhere," unleashes his thriller instincts in "Hunger.” It is full of blood and depravity but ultimately lacks impact. To me, "Hunger's" glaring depiction of social inequality in Thailand should have been mitigated with more attention to Thai culture.

In "Hunger," Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying plays Aoy, a young prodigy chef who has just taken over her father's pad saw nouveau restaurant. The restaurant is the only source of income for a family that could be better off. Then one day, a man invites her to a fancy restaurant, "Hunger.” There, the chef is the "High Priest" of Thai cuisine. Despite Aoy's initial disinterest, after hearing more about Chef Paul, he comes to appreciate how "special" he is. She is hired to work for him, but the price of being "special" is high. The film follows Jessica as she works for Chef Paul and tries to balance her dreams with her contradictory thoughts.

Chutimon is fantastic as the dedicated, caring, and hard-working Aoy. Her chic demeanor and presence save the film from total disaster. Her redemptive arc in "Hunger" is something to look forward to because she is so genuine. Nopachai Chayanam's character, Paul, the "Terence Fletcher" of Bangkok's kitchens, is a mephistophelian genius. Nopachai convincingly portrays the ruthless boss, even if the gist of his work is frequently incomprehensible.

A cook who takes delight in serving the wealthy and seeing them enjoy their meal. Tone and Tos are some well-performed supporting characters who provide a welcome reprieve from Paul and Aoy's intense confrontation. When Aoy, the student, realizes she doesn't want to work with Paul anymore since she doesn't share his low standards, she decides to leave and start her own business. Soon enough, she sees that she, too, is replicating Paul's behavior. Like so many others, is she going to give into the temptation of ultimate control?

Peppered with humorous banter that raises pertinent issues like, "Is it the spectacle that brings taste to the food for the wealthy?" Is the high price due to a product's specialization, or does the price determine its specialization? The poor eat to satisfy their hunger, but the rich eat to satisfy their need for more. The primary idea of "Hunger" is this. Aoy used to believe that her uniqueness lay in her ability to serve the wealthy, prepare exotic dishes, and learn from Chef Paul. However, as she gains experience working with him, she comes to see her worth and talent.