The Sadness (2021): When Humanity Dies, Madness Begins

“This virus doesn’t kill — it awakens the darkest side of humanity.” 

The Sadness (2021) is a Taiwanese horror film that redefines the limits of onscreen brutality and psychological terror. Directed by Rob Jabbaz, the film imagines a pandemic scenario where a mutated virus turns ordinary people into sadistic, bloodthirsty maniacs. Unlike typical zombies, these infected retain intelligence — but lose all empathy, driven purely by cruelty and primal urges.

Set in modern-day Taipei, the story follows a young couple, Jim and Kat, who are separated just as the outbreak begins. What follows is a frantic journey through a collapsing city, where the infected commit unspeakable acts and every encounter becomes a fight for survival. As Jim searches for Kat, he must navigate through crowds of twisted killers and confront the inhumanity that’s overtaken his world.

What makes The Sadness stand out isn’t just its violence — though it is extreme — but its reflection of real-world fear and moral breakdown. The film taps into anxieties surrounding pandemics, societal collapse, and human fragility. The infected aren’t monsters from folklore — they are humans stripped of conscience, which is far more terrifying.

Visually, the film is relentless. Blood flows in nearly every frame, but it’s shot with purpose and clarity. The cinematography captures both the chaos of the outbreak and the emotional devastation left behind. There’s a sickening beauty to the destruction, and a heavy sadness that lingers long after the credits roll — just as the title promises.

Critics have praised The Sadness for pushing boundaries while still delivering tight storytelling and strong emotional performances. It’s not a film for the faint of heart — but for those who dare to watch, it poses an unforgettable question: what’s scarier — monsters, or what we might become?