The Sadness (2022)

Streaming Service: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: The Sadness (2022)

Genre: Horror
Length: 1h 39min
Rating: Unrated
Production/Distribution: Machi Xcelsior Studios, ESC Editions, Capelight Pictures, Shudder
Director: Rob Jabbaz
Writer: Rob Jabbaz
Actors: Berant Zhu, Chi-Min Chou, Emerson Tsai, Lue-Keng Huang, Ralf Chiu, Regina Lei, Tzu-Chiang Wang, Wei-Hua Lan, Ying-Ru Chen
 
IMDb Blurb: A young couple trying to reunite amid a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists.

 
Selina’s Point of View:
Writing about The Sadness is going to be a little bit difficult. I’m honestly not sure that I want to give it any publicity at all.
 
When we went through all the trailers for films coming out in May of 2022, on our monthly Trust the Dice stream, I noted that The Sadness had a hell of a time getting a rating that wasn’t the equivalent of an NC-17. You hear that a lot with horror films, and it’s usually some kind of PR stunt to get people to see it. In this case, I absolutely think there’s more truth to it than that. In fact, I think the finished product should still have the aforementioned rating.

 
The Sadness was the single most violent film I have ever seen. I don’t say that lightly. Violence doesn’t usually trigger me at all, but almost every scene in this flick did. There are a huge number of rape scenes mixed in with the rest of the blood-spilling, and I found it to be unnecessary – to say the least. Gratuitous is too mild of a word. Numbing might be closer to correct.
 
There are very few things that will make me think art – of any kind – has crossed a line. In this case, though...
 
The Sadness took things too far. It had the potential of a great zombie flick but turned out to be too much for even me to stomach. I do not believe it’s something people should watch. 

 
Cat’s Point of View:
Holy shit.
 
The Sadness was one of the most difficult-to-watch films that I have ever viewed.
 
I’m not generally squeamish, but this production had a level of violence and brutality that was uncomfortable, over-the-top, excessive, and really disturbing. I will admit there were several places I simply had to look away from the screen or cover my eyes.

 
Trigger warnings abound with The Sadness. If you’re sensitive to flashing lights, don’t watch the credits- and that’s the least problematic element here. If you can think of something heinous that one person could do to another, it’s probably represented in this movie. In addition to mountains of blood, gore, and foul language, rape, torture, sexual sadism, physical assault, as well as graphic cannibalism infect the screen much as the narrative’s virus spreads through its population.
 
With as many movies we watch with similar themes, you’d think I’d have had the ending for this one pegged. I wasn’t entirely off base, but it still caught me off guard.

 
The Sadness was truly terrifying on so many levels. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping well tonight. It’s a safe bet that I’ll likely never watch this production again. Further, I would offer a heaping helping of disclaimers to any prospective viewers. The Sadness is absolutely not for the young or faint of heart. Watch at your own risk.
 
The Sadness will become available to stream on Shudder starting May 12^th.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 93%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – 76%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Parental Advisory Rating – NC-17
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 0/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 1/5
 
Movie Trailer: