Joan Chen Leads Thriller ‘The Evil Inside’ as DaSun Pictures Shops Film at Cannes Market (EXCLUSIVE)

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Actress Joan Chen, known for her roles in “Twin Peaks” and “The Last Emperor,” will lead the cast of the suspenseful film titled “The Evil Inside.” The distribution rights for this movie globally have been acquired by DaSun Pictures during the Cannes Market.

Right now, the project underway finds Chen working alongside up-and-coming director Lingo Hsieh, known for “Green Door” on Netflix. This is Chen’s debut venture with a movie crew from Taiwan.

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Currently in progress, the project brings Chen together with director Lingo Hsieh, who has gained recognition through “Green Door” on Netflix. This will be Chen’s first time teaming up with a film crew based in Taiwan.

Chen plays the character of Ho Jen-Jen, formerly known as Taiwan’s cherished entertainment figure, “Golden Phoenix.” After being consumed by gambling debts, she vanished, leaving behind her young child. Time passed, and she found herself in a chilling nursing home. It was there that she uncovered a disturbing gambling operation where gamblers placed bets on the remaining lives of terminally ill patients. Determined to break free and reconnect with her daughter, she soon encounters even more shocking truths.

The suspenseful story is loosely based on real-life scandals that rocked Taiwan, involving a clandestine gambling ring. This underground enterprise exploited the lives and fates of terminally ill patients, using them as bets while pretending to offer compassionate care.

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The thriller takes its cue from true events that caused a stir in Taiwan, where an illegal gambling operation took advantage of terminally ill patients. By disguising itself as a provider of compassionate care, this secretive venture made wagers on the lives and deaths of these vulnerable individuals.

Hsieh stated that the role was specifically tailored for Joan. For quite some time, he has believed that she would excel at portraying a character who is both imperfect and intricate, serving as the ‘anti-hero’ of motherhood in this narrative. He’s thrilled that we’re now working together on this project.

In a nod to Chen’s diverse film background, they remarked, “I eagerly anticipate portraying this troubled and multifaceted character – a compulsive gambler with a profoundly damaged psyche. I plan to imbue her with hope, warmth, and eventually lead her to redemption through the hard-earned victory of defeat.

This exceptional actress is unique in Golden Horse Awards history, as she has won trophies for best actress, best scriptwriter, and best director. Her latest projects include “Dídi” and “The Wedding Banquet,” and she will soon be seen in Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures” and the Canadian film titled “Montreal, My Love.

Jackol Kao, working under DaSun Pictures, envisions this project as a Mandarin-speaking movie with worldwide appeal. “Under Lingo Hsieh’s distinctive guidance and Joan Chen’s exceptional acting, we anticipate that the film will mesmerize global viewers and exhibit the singular voice of Asian genre cinema,” Kao expressed.

Previously, I had the honor of directing the feature film “The Bride” in 2016, following my movie “The Evil Inside” receiving the Best Picture award at the Golden Harvest Awards in Taiwan.

Chen is represented by Anonymous Content and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

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2025-05-15 08:46