The Sadness

Now I read somewhere online that someone had written something in the likes of "if you're just going to watch one zombie movie this year, make it this one". And that made me actually take notice of the 2021 Taiwanese horror movie "Ku Bei" (aka "The Sadness"). I had initially skipped it back in 2021, and then sought it out here in 2022, as I read that praise of the movie.

So it was with some expectation that I sat down to watch what writer and director Rob Jabbaz had to offer with "Ku Bei". And I will say that it was watchable, for sure, but it just wasn't all that fantastic or outstanding. And the "if you're just going to watch..." sentence hardly rang true for "Ku Bei". As a matter of fact, then "Ku Bei" felt like a Taiwanese tribute to the 2002 movie "28 Days Later", as there were massive similarities.

And as for "Ku Bei" being a zombie movie. No. It is not a zombie movie. Very much similar to "28 Days Later", "Ku Bei" is a movie about people getting affected with some sickness that makes them into raging lunatics that also have cannibalistic and sexual deviant tendencies.

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, but then again I am not well-traversed in the Taiwanese cinema.

The good part about "Ku Bei" was the gore and mayhem. This movie was bloody, so very, very bloody. In fact, at times it was just too much. There was a scene where there literally was a fountain of blood spraying from the neck of someone. I have to say that I was good and ready to turn the movie off at that time, because it was just infantile stupid. But I opted to stick with the movie and give writer and director Rob Jabbaz a proper chance.

The effects in "Ku Bei" were good. There was a ton of blood and gore, which I enjoyed. And I have to say that the effects looked realistic, and it added a lot of enjoyment to the movie. So thumbs up to the special effects department for this accomplishment.

"Ku Bei" is watchable, as I mentioned earlier, but it is by no means a revolutionary movie in the horror genre. Sure, I enjoyed the mayhem, gore and visceral brutality in the movie. I am a life-long gorehound after all. However, I doubt that I will ever return to watch "Ku Bei" a second time, simply as the storyline just doesn't have enough depth or contents to support a second viewing.

Personally, I think the whole sexual deviant aspect to the infection in the movie was unnecessary, and it just added a level of sleaze to the movie that held it back somewhat. And there were some scenes in the movie that also were unnecessary to include on that account. But hey, a matter of personal preference, I suppose. But if you are a true hentai - go for it.

My rating of "Ku Bei" lands on a six out of ten stars.

If you've not heard yet, the movie is quite infamous. Because it goes places (especially visually) that may be a bit too much for some viewers. As others surely have pointed out, the idea is not new. And you won't really see too much of a story here. Actually you may wonder if what we learn from the relationship that our two leads have, was in any way essential or necessary.

But before the mayhem begins, it is always nice to have some ... well quiet time. Also the beginning clearly is a statement - to all the conspiracy theories and to how the world has gone mad. Quite a few stabs at things going wrong - politically but also socially speaking.

That is not the only thing you get though. Apart from the overall plot being lifted from something like The Crazies by Romero, you also have homages to a lot of other scenes from many different movies. Irreversible, Night of the Living Dead, Serbian Film and so forth ... I reckon a second viewing would reveal even more to me.

As it is, this is no holds barred, mostly practical effects violent splatter fest ... take it or leave, just don't judge for something it isn't.

This is a hot one right now. It promises violence and definitely delivers on that front. Some, however, are praising it for its commentary on the COVID pandemic but I found its messages to be pretty thin. I think there was potential for a profound allegory but it merely toys at one here and there and then remembers what it is - a nihilistic gorefest. I will say it has great production value and some very memorable shots. It will appease the twisted side of the hardcore horror fan - it superficially prioritizes shock value and I suppose it's worth a viewing out of pure curiosity. In the end though, I didn't find it to be too special in the grand scheme of zombie/Crazies-type films.

What is the human without constraints? A monster.. In "the sadness" a virus mutation transforms the infected! - this has nothing to do with zombies, nothing at all - into such unregulated creatures.

For fans of "the crossed" from Garth Ennis, this will be quite known territory. Although where Crossed can show this happening at a broader scale "the sadness" always seems quite limited. Even though there are a few nice Splatter scenes and especially the beginning is quite atmospheric, the more the movie nears it´s -predictable- ending, the less is actually happening.

Six points for the bravery to actually try this kind of stuff. Could have been much better though.

There are few movies that push the envelope so much that you wonder how they were even able to be released. Movies like Martyrs, Irreversible, Inside ect. Are all films that make you wonder "How did anyone come up with such a twisted film and how did it ever get released?". This is one of those movies. In fact, this movie takes it one step further; it actually shows you everything that can go wrong if your basic violent instinct were left unchecked. It's a raw, gritty, over the top spectacle that that never lets you forget that this is just a movie and things like this can't really happen, right? RIGHT?!?!

Things kick off almost as soon as the movie begins, and they really don't let up throughout. You have every single extreme horror trope thrown in here, everything you could possibly see in your average horror movie can be found here; dismemberment, blood, carnage, evisceration, a bloody orgy. I mean, the only thing it doesn't show is the more extreme stuff that no one wants to see anyway and that never warrants a mention, but for true gore hounds and fans of movie such as those from the French Extremity, this is right up your alley.

The acting is great, the effects are realistic and comically well done and excessive, and the movie is just a truly entertaining watch from beginning to end. You know it's going to end in a messed up way but you watch anyway, simply because everyone put their true heart and soul into this film. The SFX crew in particular should be commended at creating some of the best facial deformities I have ever seen. During some scenes, I literally said, "How the hell did they do THAT?!?".

Many people have been comparing this film to the comic book series "CROSSED" and I can see where the similarities can be found. But let's be real, folks; half the stuff in Crossed could NEVER be used in a movie, and this film is tame compared to some of the truly twisted and sick things that happened in that comic book.

I loved every minute of this film, and although it's nasty and extreme and vulgar, it never lets you forget that despite all that, it's just a movie. Most people won't like it, and deservedly so. But for those of us who do enjoy this type of film, it's one of the rare ones that truly lives up to the hype.

I was thoroughly impressed in every possible way with this movie, but I deducted 2 stars simply because I felt it could have gone further. Perhaps an uncut version will be released down the line and make me eat my words. Fingers CROSSED!!!! (Get it?!?!)