The zombie genre has been a staple in horror for over 50 years. Though lore revolving around the dead coming back to life has existed in many cultures for hundreds of years, George A. Romero is often credited with bringing those stories to the world of modern cinema with his 1968 filmNight of the Living Dead. Since that film was made, there have been many iterations of zombies in TV and movies, with each story putting its own spin on what these creatures represent and how they act.
Originally, zombies were relatively slow-moving, but were very deadly. They moved in packs and fed on human flesh. Their disease spread like a virus. Those who were bitten, or sometimes even just scratched, slowly went through a transformation into the undead. Now,there have been many versions of zombies. It’s a popular debate among fans whether they prefer fast or slow zombies. In some versions, all dead are subject to reanimation. In others, a bite is all that’s needed. Zombies also have been used to many sociopolitical metaphors. Romero’s film seems filled with allegories for racism, mob mentality, and police brutality. Another of his zombie works,Dawn of the Dead, takes place inside a shopping mall and has been credited as commentary on late-stage capitalism and overconsumption.
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As different world issues come into the mainstream, the zombie trend often emerges with new meanings and ideas. Because it’s so popular,the genre is largely oversaturatedand zombie movies don’t make the same waves they used to. It takes something special to break the mold, stand out from the crowd, and get the attention of fans around the world.
Enter Canadian director and writer Rob Jabbaz in his feature film debut, a Taiwanese Shudder Original titledThe Sadness. This story is vastly different from any other zombie film, and the movie is getting a ton of buzz from horror fans.The Sadnesscurrently holds very high scores from critics and the public alike, but that’s not the only reason people are talking about it. It’s also garnering a lot of attention for its incredibly violent nature. Multiple publications, reviewers, and average fanscite it as the most brutalzombie film ever made. But does it live up to the hype?
The story ofThe Sadnessis heavily inspired by theCrossedcomic book series. It revolves around a couple in Taiwan who have been separated, and are attempting to reunite in the midst of a zombie virus outbreak. These zombies, however, aren’t mindless, and they aren’t just eating whomever they please. Instead, they are fully sentient and intelligent, maintaining their use of speech and thought. However, they certainly aren’t themselves. This zombie virus turns those affected into depraved and violent killers, who hurt people in the cruelest and most violent of ways. And they do so gleefully.
Without a doubt,the film is incredibly violent. The acts shown are depraved and brutal. The gore is plentiful, and the blood is certainly flowing. Many violent acts are depicted, including torture and sexual assault. With that being said, there are a few instances of the viewer’s imagination being more powerful than what’s actually shown. Don’t be mistaken;The Sadnessis still very tough to sit through without looking away. However, even though enough context is given to make sure audiences know exactly what’s going on, the most depraved acts are implied without being directly shown.
The brutality is not just evident in the actual violence and gore depicted onscreen. Part of the disturbing nature is in the mannerisms of the infected public. They say things that are incredibly foul and disturbing, with a lot of graphic and explicit language. They smile and laugh while doing some of the most disgusting things imaginable. It’s not just gross,but it’s very scary, and has the ability to shake audiences deeply.
Ultimately, whether a film is “the most brutal of all time” will be highly subjective. But isThe Sadnessin the running for the title? Absolutely. With its extreme level of violence comes an extremely well-crafted film. The gory special effects look fantastic and, though the buckets of blood may seem unrealistic, they work beautifully with the style and story presented here. The camerawork and editing are spotless, and the score is like a cherry on top. Though there isn’t much character background or development, the way the story unfolds is engaging andeverything feels high-stakes. It’s not just senseless torture porn, it’s meaningful.
There are clear visual metaphors for the current COVID-19 pandemic which aren’t hard to notice, but they don’t feel painfully obvious either. There are also metaphors revolving around human nature, inherent violence, government, and the media.The Sadnessis making a statement and, while the faint of heart should avoid a viewing, there’s going to be plenty for audiences to take away from it. It’s rare that a film steeped in so much depravity can also have so much meaning, and be so cleanly made. Perhaps theachievements in filmmaking and storytellingare what should be making headlines here, instead of just the heaps of violence.
