Horror films are not for the faint of heart, so imagine a movie like Terrifier, which cranks up the terror to a whole new level. Now, take that intensity and amplify it with even more graphic violence, gore, disturbing visuals, and a storyline that keeps you at the edge of your seat. This is the type of film that takes horror to its darkest extremes, and it's available now on Shudder. What movie are we talking about, you ask? Well, it'll be the 2021 Taiwanese zombie horror The Sadness.
We'd call this horror flick a hidden gem as it's often overlooked by mainstream audiences even though it offers a uniquely disturbing experience that rivals some of the most talked-about films in the genre. It’s a must-watch for true horror fans who crave something darker and more unsettling. Just when you thought you saw it all, The Sadness comes along to push the boundaries even further, proving that there’s always a darker, more twisted path to explore in the horror genre.
It's not your typical zombie movie either, which makes it even more appealing. While The Sadness involves a viral outbreak that turns people into violent, zombie-like creatures, the infected are more like homicidal, sadistic maniacs. They aren’t just mindless predators like you see in a typical zombie film. Once the humans are turned into zombie-like creatures, they still retain a twisted semblance of their former selves, which makes their actions even more disturbing and unpredictable.
Their behavior is driven by sadistic impulses instead of basic hunger, making them far more terrifying than traditional zombies. They don’t just attack to feed. They derive pleasure from violence, torture, and inflicting pain on others. What further distinguishes them is their unsettling fixation on sexual violence. This focus on sexual violence, in particular, adds another layer of shock and discomfort, intensifying the horror and making the film far more than just a series of gruesome, bloody scenes.
The Sadness stars Berant Zhu and Regina Lei as Jim and Kat, a young couple who are trying to find their way back to each other as a viral outbreak that transforms people into sadistic, zombie-like creatures wreaks havoc on their city. Also in the cast are Tzu-Chiang Wang, Emerson Tsai, Wei-Hua Lan, Ralf Chiu, Lue-Keng Huang, and Ying-Ru Chen. Canadian filmmaker Rob Jabbaz wrote the script as well as directed and edited the film. He made his feature film directorial debut with this movie, after previously directing only short films.
Check out the official poster for The Sadness right below!
Now, take a look at the thrilling trailer for a sneak peek.
Here’s what a few critics have shared about The Sadness on Rotten Tomatoes:
"If you have limits, The Sadness will push them. If you think you can handle gory movies, it will make you question your resolve. And if you have a sensitive gag reflex, the film will test it." - Brian Eggert
"Rob Jabbaz's uncompromising commitment to pure survival horror and unbridled gory depravity make this one of the most singularly nasty and impressively vicious genre debuts to come around in some time." - Christian Valentin
"Jabbaz's confident, daring debut operates on pure, unbridled fury. It's a vicious anthem that keeps you in its grip, forces you to stare into the abyss, and dares you to look away." - Meagan Navarro
Have we convinced you to check out The Sadness? If so, head on over to Shudder and start streaming it now!