Macabre…ish Horror Review: The Sadness

 

 

 

 

The Sadness, 2021/ 1 hr 39 min

 Chinese: 哭悲

 

In Taipei, Taiwan the day begins like any other day except on a news podcast the host is arguing with a scientist about the actual danger of a new virus named Alvin. The expert argues in favor of a nationwide quarantine and he implores the government to take this seriously. The virus can mutate out of control and they will not be able to control it.

 

The host brushes him off and accuses him of fear mongering and being political because it is election season. Meanwhile, a couple, Jim (Berant Zhu) and Kat (Regina Lei), has started their day and immediately notice the  normally calm peaceful Taiwanese are different today.

 

There are police out arresting unusually violent people and unusually bloody victims are covered and on gurneys. On the return home, the same police car remains, doors open and no one’s around. In a store, an elderly woman walks in, dirty and dressed in a bloody night gown and immediately starts attacking guests and staff. And they begin to change and attack as well.

 

Jim runs outside to see more of the same, bloody deranged people who suddenly are focused on him. But he makes it home safe and immediately calls Kat. Over the intercom outside, a crazy man speaks madness, insanely promising destruction for the locals and that this is their new life. All while cackling hysterically.

 

The next door neighbor sneaks up on Jim and he gets his fingers cut off and chewed up by his now rabid neighbor, then escapes from the apartment. He has to find Kat. The streets are filled with deranged people with black eyes, chasing and torturing people to death. And doing it with a great deal of pleasure.

 

While this is happening, Kat is on the train being harassed by an older man who is very audibly bemoaning his frustration. As other passengers board, she moves and a man with a knife goes on a stabbing spree. An impossible amount of blood is everywhere and just as the man is brought under control, others begin to change and attack.

 

And they don’t just torture and kill, they rape and they do it all with glee. Sometimes they act alone but also often as a group. And their victims very often change while being attacked and either join in or revel in the perversion.

 

After escaping the train, Kat is trying to find her way to a hospital with a new blind friend who was stabbed in the eye with an umbrella. And Jim is trying to find Kat on his moped through a ruined city full of mobs of murderous sexually sadistic people hunting for uninfected people to torture.

 

And on tv during a presidential address meant to reassure the populace, a crazed General puts the President in a head lock, stuffs a grenade in his mouth and pulls the pin, live on national tv.

 

Jim is getting closer to Kat but first she lands in the hands of the scientist who knows the most about this virus. But in his zeal to find a cure, he is committing atrocities in the name of science. And it is disturbing.

 

This is a gore fest directed by Rob Jabbaz. The quality of the physical effects and cinematography are good. All kills, gore and violence is over the top. Barrels of blood and very graphic scenes. For all intents and purposes, this is a zombie movie, the zombies just do not necessarily start off dead. They can still talk and use weapons and they are fast. This is a tough film to watch, it is very graphic and unrelenting. And is sometimes even hard to listen too. It is brutal to say the least.