'THE SADNESS' (2021) – UNDERSELLING WITH THE TITLE
The market for unflinchingly brutal and depressing set pieces tends to be dominated by South Korea and Japan. However, Rob Jabbaz has certainly brought his A-game with his debut feature film, the Shudder exclusive, The Sadness.
The story is based in Taipei, Taiwan. A couple, having been separated during their normal daily routine, desperately tries to reunite as a wave of murderous chaos erupts around them. After the immediate outbreak, the sparse news reports speak of a virus that may be the cause, and as people appear to become psychotic, seemingly out of exposure to the violence of others, the question becomes “Is anyone immune?”
This movie is precise and incisive, and not only did they get some good talent for writing and directing to really bring the gravity and crushing depression of their tale across, they also deserve serious awards and acclaim for the special effects and makeup.
This movie is not for anyone more squeamish than myself (I flinch pretty easily, watching significant parts of this movie from between my fingers). They really went to a lot of effort to get amazingly realistic wounds and damage, and their cinematography goes all the way to show it off. I can only recall two or three times that damage to someone happens just out of shot, everything else is front and center.
Having taken inspiration from the comic series, The Crossed, Rob Jabbaz’s movie puts to shame every American, post-apocalyptic film, or movie of various roving maniacs. The Sadness is willing to really show what people will do to each other when there is a complete collapse or morals, laws, inhibitions and self-preservation.
Be warned…
The film presents depictions of rape, torture, mutilation and cannibalism. So if any of that is likely to disturb or trigger you, best to give it a miss (though on a side note, there is no violence directed at animals).
For everyone else, I recommend having something funny or grounding to watch after this. It’s a pretty intense rollercoaster, but a very well made one with a lot of thought and creativity going into each moment.
You can check out The Sadness exclusively on Shudder.
Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following MacabreDaily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
