Thirteen Lives: Ron Howard’s Sensitive, Immersive Look at the Thai Cave Rescue in 2018

Listen to the Stuff To Watch podcast by hitting the play button below, or find it in podcast apps like Apple or Spotify.

REVIEW: Already the subject of a Thai drama (2019’s The Cave) and an award-winning National Geographic documentary (2021’s The rescue), it’s hard to know what else can be said about the incredible story that unfolded in Thailand in June and July 2018.

But veteran director Ron Howard brings the same blend of Hollywood glamor, outspoken sentiment and celebration of understated derring-do that made his Apollo 13 such a crowd-pleaser so that while we all know the outcome, you’ll be captivated by the events depicted in Thirteen Lives (which begins streaming on Prime Video on August 5).

With 142 minutes, often poignant and emotionally filled, this is no easy feat, but Howard and screenwriters William Nicholson (Everest, To breathe) and Don MacPherson’s (2014 miniseries Fleming) methodical, slow approach is what attracts you and quickly gets you hooked.

READ MORE:
* Apollo 13: One of the Most Gripping Dramas of the ’90s Comes to Neon
* Timeline: The Full Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
* Reason why we cared so much about imprisoned Thai boys

For the first half hour we follow the misfortune of the Wild Boars Junior Football Team as they fill the time between their training and an evening birthday party with a spontaneous visit to the popular Tham Luang Caves.

After reaching their original destination, the action cleverly shifts to the party preparations and, as the weather rapidly deteriorates, they worry that the 12 boys and their coach are now late. It may be early for the monsoon, but once they are informed, the officials are not taking any chances.

Knowing that the cave floods every year, seals are used. “This could be a long night,” warns the outgoing governor of the area (Sahajak Boonthanakit), who urges them to stay there until this burgeoning crisis is satisfactorily resolved. Unfortunately, to disappointment and dismay, the seals are the only ones to reappear – and even they come back injured.

As more government agencies and international media join the makeshift village at the cave entrance, the pressure for a successful outcome – by any means necessary – mounts. Crops are sacrificed to keep the seemingly endless rainwater from filling the cave’s internal chambers, while local cave expert Vern Unsworth (Lewis Fitz-Gerald) believes he knows the exact international expertise needed for this seemingly hopeless situation. Retired firefighter Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen) and IT consultant John Volanthen (Colin Farrell) may not be the most obvious of heroes, but their caving knowledge and skills are virtually unparalleled.

Although, if they’re not bickering over custard cream assignment, it won’t be long before that couple starts to wonder if this search and rescue is even beyond their capabilities.

Mortensen and Farrell deliver powerful, yet understated performances, allowing the situation, rather than any theatricality, to dictate the drama. Joel Edgerton arrives late on the scene and also impresses as Australian Dr. Harry Harris, a man with a very special set of skills that may be the key to their success.

However, the real MVP of Thirteen Lives has to be Thai cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (call me by your name, Memory). A tightly framed vantage point and shooting both above and below water induce a real sense of claustrophobia and danger that is hard to shake as a viewer. Stretched? You’ll gnaw on the pillows if you’ve already finished your fingernails.

It’s not perfect – disappointingly, some Thai characters drop out after being a key part of the opening scenes – and Howard would always struggle to top The Rescue’s intoxicating mix of real-life visuals and cleverly constructed reenactments, but there’s no doubt this is a compelling story, sensitive and cleverly designed for maximum engagement.

Thirteen Lives will begin streaming on Prime Video on August 5.