Tiger & Lightning
feature / 98pp / action thriller / neo-western
A free-spirited American adventurer framed for the murder of his girlfriend joins forces with a disgraced Thai boxer. Together, they escape towards the Thai border pursued by a merciless police hitman and a vengeful biker hoard.
the pitch
‘Lethal Weapon’ meets ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’.
An action thriller, with Western tropes, set in modern Thailand… Motorbikes for horses, Thai boxing for bar brawls, beaches for deserts. A buddy movie about two charismatic men from different worlds who share similar traumas, both entangled in corruption and gang crime in Thailand.
With themes of revenge vs deliverance, chivalry and romance, and recovering from grief. Featuring heartfelt camaraderie, martial arts, original action set pieces, and intense chase sequences. This is a stylised ode to 90’s action movies set in a transportive world rarely seen. With American and Asian leads, this movie will appeal to Western and Eastern audiences alike.
casting inspiration
Dylan (Lightning)
On the run from the authorities, haunted by the murder of his beloved girlfriend, Dylan is a hard-drinking loner hiding in the shadows and searching for a way out. We catch glimpses of the man that was - a worldly, charismatic, free-spirited, adventurer - whether motorbiking, rock climbing, or surfing, he’d always push the limits, within the limits of a good time. Now, there’s a feeling he’s done living and has nothing to lose - just about hanging on to the hope of taking his life back.
Tiger
A softly spoken, tattooed Thai hippie working bar on Thailand’s remote beaches, but the shadow of Tiger’s former life looms large. As a champion Thai boxer known as Leaping Tiger and an enforcer for a criminal biker gang, Tiger was forced on the run after his father was murdered. As a child, Tiger and his brother were taken as payment by a local gangster after their father missed repayments on a loan. Torn between vengeance and the promise of a new life, Tiger bides his time.
thai mythology
The film incorporates Thai mythology, the story of Suea Saming - which means, a tiger that is haunted by demons. It is said that although Suea Saming looked like an ordinary tiger, because he had devoured so many human souls, sometimes he would be consumed by them - at which point they could take their revenge.
In Thailand, the tiger represents strength, protection and conviction. The character Tiger has a 3 pronged scar on his shoulder resembling the strike of a tiger’s claw. Dylan has a twin tigers tattoo on his shoulder.
The Western Theme
Our protagonists meet in a dramatic night surfing sequence where Dylan rides a seemingly endless wave out of the darkness. This moment is framed by an atmospheric Western theme, that is then revisited at the end of the film. Wanderer by Condor Gruppe offers a great example, but if this Western theme was played featuring Thai instruments / style then it could be extra transportive.
location
Thailand offers unique settings rarely seen on film, particularly in the South West with stunning deserted beaches and incredible limestone cliffs dripping into the jungle.
writer’s statement
I first travelled to Thailand in 1998, at 19 years old. For a year I explored, adventured, met amazing people, discovered places off the beaten track, and felt a sense of freedom I’d never known before. I’ve been back many times since. I love the people, food, landscapes and checking out the sights on motorbikes. I’ve come to realise Thailand is a rough diamond… police corruption is rife, extreme violence lurks in the shadows, and if you’re unlucky, it’s a place where bad situations can spiral quickly out of control.
Whilst on my first trip to Thailand I met a seasoned traveller who left a big impression. He was the epitome of cool; charismatic, funny, confident, and had many stories to tell. He also had a dark side and seemed to be escaping ghosts from his past. Perhaps Thailand was the perfect place for a man to disappear back then. He was every bit an action hero of old... In Dylan, I wanted to create a character that embodied that sentiment and gives an actor the chance to take on a role that’s as cool as hell. There’s not enough of those!
the sequel
‘Thelma and Louise’ meets ‘Tiger & Lightning’
Dylan’s recovered from the shootout and escaped Thailand. He’s riding across India on his motorbike, a lone explorer (and an international fugitive). Meanwhile, a Western doctor stationed in a remote Indian village with her father, befriends a young Indian girl with an abusive husband. The doctor helps the girl and her child escape, in the process accidentally killing the girl’s husband in a violent skirmish. On the run, and with the husband’s cohorts and the police on their tail, it becomes apparent the doctor is also looking to escape the man she was with… The female fugitives cross paths with Dylan, and the three embark on an adventure to escape their pursuers and find a new life.
