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The Sadness (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Sadness (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 99 min · Chinese
Echo score 68
Directed by
Rob Jabbaz
Starring
Berant Zhu, Chi-Min Chou, Emerson Tsai, Lue-Keng Huang, Ralf Chiu, Regina Lei

In Taipei, an inexplicable madness sweeps through the city, triggering a horrifying descent into savagery. As humanity succumbs to gruesome violence, a young couple fights to reunite amidst the escalating chaos. Their desperate search becomes a harrowing test of their sanity as they face unimaginable horrors and depravity. The collapse of civilized society plunges everyone into a terrifying and bloody nightmare.

Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (4)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Sadness
  7. 7 Every angle

4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Sadness Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Sadness (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jim (Berant Zhu)

    Jim is a young man caught in the turmoil of a viral outbreak, struggling to protect his girlfriend, Kat. As the chaos unfolds, he is propelled into a state of panic, dealing with both physical injuries and mental unraveling. His character reflects the human instinct to survive amid existential threats and challenges the fragility of hope.

    • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Love
    • 😨 Fear
    • 💪 Survival

  • Kat (Regina Lei)

    Kat is a resilient young woman who faces unimaginable horrors during the outbreak. Her journey highlights her courage as she navigates dangerous situations, trying to save herself and others while confronting the consequences of the virus. Kat's character evolves from vulnerability to a fierce determination to fight for her life.

    • 💪 Courage
    • ❤️ Love
    • 😱 Survival

  • Dr. Alan Wong (Wei-Hua Lan)

    Dr. Alan Wong is a medical professional desperately searching for solutions to combat the Alvin virus. His character embodies the moral complexities faced by scientists in a crisis, as he balances the quest for knowledge with ethical implications. Alan's actions reveal the turmoil within him as he grapples with the fate of those around him.

    • 🔬 Science
    • ❓ Ethics
    • 💔 Sacrifice

  • Molly (Ying-Ru Chen)

    Molly serves as a companion to Kat during the chaos, enduring her own harrowing experiences. Her character is notable for her vulnerability and resilience, showcasing the impacts of violence through her injury. Molly represents the innocent bystanders who are swept up in the brutality of the outbreak.

    • 👭 Friendship
    • 💔 Tragedy
    • 😢 Innocence

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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Setting

Where and When Does The Sadness Take Place?

The setting of The Sadness (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film unfolds during a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal issues related to health crises and governmental response to emergencies. At the heart of the narrative is the alarming spread of the Alvin virus, which serves as a metaphor for real-world fears surrounding contagions and public health negligence.

Location

Taipei

Taipei, the vibrant capital of Taiwan, is known for its mix of modern skyscrapers and traditional temples. The city serves as a hub of culture and commerce, but in this film, the urban landscape becomes a backdrop for chaos and fear as citizens confront a viral outbreak. The juxtaposition of everyday life against such horror amplifies the tension throughout the story.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌍 Urban

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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3 major themes

The Sadness Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Sadness (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    Survival is a dominant theme as characters grapple with life-threatening chaos triggered by the Alvin virus. The dire circumstances force individuals to confront their deepest fears and instincts, propelling them into violent confrontations. As chaos unravels societal norms, the film explores the lengths one would go to in order to protect loved ones and themselves.

  • Love and Madness

    The relationship between Jim and Kat embodies the complexities of love amidst turmoil. As the virus induces violent tendencies, the thin line between love and madness blurs, culminating in a tragic exploration of how desperation can twist human connection. Their emotional struggles highlight how love can be both a source of strength and a perilous vulnerability.

  • Scientific Dilemma

    The film raises critical questions about the ethical dilemmas of science and medical interventions in crisis situations. As Dr. Alan Wong seeks to understand and perhaps harness the virus, the intersection of science, morality, and the human condition comes into sharp focus. This theme underscores the responsibility that comes with knowledge in life-or-death situations.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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Character & theme questions

The Sadness Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Sadness (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Sadness set?

The Sadness takes place in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. The film uses the city's mix of modern skyscrapers and traditional temples as a backdrop, contrasting everyday urban life with the horror of the viral outbreak. This juxtaposition amplifies the tension as a normally vibrant city descends into chaos.

  • taipei
  • taiwan
  • setting
  • location
  • urban city
Q2

When does The Sadness take place?

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern societal issues related to health crises and governmental emergency responses. While no specific year is given, the setting mirrors present-day concerns about contagions and public health emergencies.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern
  • year
  • setting
Q3

What is the main theme of The Sadness?

The primary themes of The Sadness include survival, love and madness, and the scientific dilemmas surrounding crisis management. The film explores how extreme circumstances force people to confront their deepest instincts while examining the breakdown of social order and the psychological toll of a viral apocalypse.

  • themes
  • meaning
  • survival
  • love
  • madness
  • science
Q4

What does the Alvin virus represent in The Sadness?

The Alvin virus serves as a metaphor for real-world fears surrounding contagions and public health negligence. It triggers uncontrollable violent and sexual impulses in infected individuals, acting as a catalyst for societal collapse and exploring humanity's capacity for savagery when civilized structures break down.

  • alvin virus
  • viral outbreak
  • metaphor
  • disease
  • contamination
Q5

Who is Jim in The Sadness?

Jim is the male, portrayed by Berant Zhu. He is a young man caught in the viral outbreak who struggles to protect his girlfriend Kat. His character reflects the human instinct to survive amid existential threats, dealing protagonist with both physical injuries and mental unraveling as chaos spreads throughout Taipei.

  • jim
  • protagonist
  • berant zhu
  • main character
Q6

Who is Kat in The Sadness?

Kat is the female protagonist, portrayed by Regina Lei. She is a resilient young woman who faces unimaginable horrors during the outbreak. Her character evolves from vulnerability to fierce determination as she navigates dangerous situations and fights for her survival while trying to reunite with Jim.

  • kat
  • protagonist
  • regina lei
  • main character
Q7

Who is Dr. Alan Wong in The Sadness?

Dr. Alan Wong, portrayed by Wei-Hua Lan, is a medical professional desperately searching for solutions to combat the Alvin virus. His character embodies the moral complexities faced by scientists during a crisis, as he balances the quest for knowledge with ethical implications and grapples with the fate of those around him.

  • dr alan wong
  • scientist
  • doctor
  • wei-hua lan
  • medical
Q8

Who is Molly in The Sadness?

Molly, portrayed by Ying-Ru Chen, serves as a companion to Kat during the chaos of the outbreak. Her character represents the innocent bystanders swept up in the brutality of the viral apocalypse, showcasing both vulnerability and resilience through her harrowing experiences and injury.

  • molly
  • ying-ru chen
  • supporting character
  • bystander
Q9

Does The Sadness explore love and madness?

Yes, the relationship between Jim and Kat is central to exploring love and madness. As the virus induces violent tendencies, the line between love and madness blurs. Their emotional struggles highlight how love can be both a source of strength and a perilous vulnerability, culminating in a tragic exploration of how desperation twists human connection.

  • jim and kat
  • relationship
  • love
  • madness
  • desperation
  • romance
Q10

What scientific dilemma does The Sadness present?

The film raises critical questions about the ethics of science and medical interventions during crisis situations. Dr. Alan Wong's pursuit to understand and potentially harness the virus brings the intersection of science, morality, and the human condition into focus, questioning the responsibility that comes with knowledge in life-or-death scenarios.

  • science
  • ethics
  • medical
  • dilemma
  • responsibility
  • dr wong
Q11

What kind of movie is The Sadness?

The Sadness is a horror film known for its exceptionally intense, non-stop pacing and relentless depiction of a viral apocalypse. The tone is unambiguously dark and bleak, focused on the total collapse of society and the psychological destruction of its characters. It features graphic violence and explores disturbing themes of loss of sanity and identity.

  • horror
  • genre
  • tone
  • violence
  • psychological
  • bleak

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Sadness, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Sadness tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Brutal apocalyptic collapse movies like The Sadness

Stories of fast-paced societal collapse fueled by a brutal, sanity-shattering force. If you liked the breakneck pacing and total societal implosion of The Sadness, explore more movies like it. These similar films feature high-intensity survival horror, fast-paced viral outbreaks, and stories of civilization's swift, bloody end, capturing a chaotic and hopeless vibe.

  • chaotic
  • hopeless
  • brutal
  • savage
  • apocalyptic
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, bleak, chaotic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are typically linear and straightforward, focusing on the immediate and horrific chain of events following a catastrophic trigger. They follow protagonists as they fight for survival against overwhelming odds, often witnessing the psychological and moral destruction of those around them, culminating in bleak outcomes.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the rapid, violent end of society. They deliver a coherent experience through their fast pacing, high intensity, dark tone, and graphic depiction of a world succumbing to its most savage impulses, creating a deeply disturbing and anxious viewing experience.

28 Weeks Later movie poster

28 Weeks Later

2007
The Sadness movie poster

The Sadness

2022
Condemned movie poster

Condemned

2015
Survival of the Dead movie poster

Survival of the Dead

2010
Rabid movie poster

Rabid

1977
The Remaining movie poster

The Remaining

2014
Re-Kill movie poster

Re-Kill

2015
Nightmare City movie poster

Nightmare City

1980

Psychological body horror and madness movies like The Sadness

Horror where physical transformation mirrors a terrifying loss of sanity and self. Fans of The Sadness's themes of psychological unraveling and visceral body horror will find more movies like it here. Discover similar stories exploring descent into madness, disturbing transformations, and horror that attacks the mind as much as the body, all with a heavy emotional weight.

  • disturbing
  • psychological
  • gruesome
  • desperate
  • body horror
  • unraveling
  • Tone: dark, disturbing, desperate
  • Pacing: variable, often intense
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories often use a physical plague or transformation as a metaphor for a deeper psychological collapse. The narrative journey follows characters as they confront the loss of their own humanity or witness the degradation of loved ones, creating intimate horror amidst larger chaotic events.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the intersection of mental and physical horror. They create a cohesive vibe through heavy emotional weight, disturbing themes, and a dark tone that explores how violence and disease can shatter the human psyche, making the horror feel deeply personal and traumatic.

Body Parts movie poster

Body Parts

1991
Thanatomorphose movie poster

Thanatomorphose

2012
Suitable Flesh movie poster

Suitable Flesh

2023
Tormented movie poster

Tormented

1960
The Forest Hills movie poster

The Forest Hills

2024
Torment movie poster

Torment

2013
Dark Sanity movie poster

Dark Sanity

1982
Excess Flesh movie poster

Excess Flesh

2015

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Movies Like The Sadness

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Triangle of Sadness movie poster

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2022
Blindness movie poster

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Ghost Ship movie poster

Ghost Ship

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Desolation movie poster

Desolation

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Get Away movie poster

Get Away

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The Ferryman movie poster

The Ferryman

2007
Anguish movie poster

Anguish

1987
Madness movie poster

Madness

1980
Happiness movie poster

Happiness

1000
Madness movie poster

Madness

1971
Human movie poster

Human

1962
Anthropophagous 2000 movie poster

Anthropophagous 2000

1999

Every angle

The Sadness (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Sadness in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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