The Rio Theatre’s Friday Late Night Movie series continues on Friday, April 29 with one of the most talked-about horror movies of 2021, Canadian writer-director  Rob Jabbaz‘s brutally explosive, hyper-violent zombie horror satire THE SADNESS. As the city of Taipei suddenly erupts into bloody chaos in the midst of a plague, ordinary people are compulsively driven to enact the most cruel and ghastly things they can imagine – as they are turned into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists. Heavily inspired by the Crossed comic book series, the film stars and stars Berant Zhu and Regina Lei as a Taiwanese couple who attempt to reunite amidst a viral pandemic that turns people into homicidal maniacs. With Wei-Hua Lan, Apple Chen, Ralf Yen-Hsiang, Johnny Wang.

Winner: New Flesh Award for Best First Feature (Fantasia Fest 2021)
Winner: Best Horror Picture, Best Horror Director (Fantastic Fest 2021)

“‘The Sadness’ is the most violent and depraved zombie movie ever made.” (Rue Morgue)

“Some kind of genius, propelling ahead with a vicious force, full throttle, both embracing and disregarding convention.” (Film Threat)

“Jabbaz’s confident, daring debut operates on pure, unbridled fury. It’s a vicious anthem that keeps you in its grip, forces you to stare into the abyss, and dares you to look away.” (Bloody Disgusting)

“Even the most hardcore horror fans may take issue with some of the abuse on display here. But there’s a sense of release watching this kind of explosive gore.” (Dread Central)

“There’s no sugar-coating ‘The Sadness,’ it is an absolutely brutal film that seems expressly constructed to shock and offend.” (ScreenAnarchy)

Friday, April 29
Doors 10:15 pm | Movie 10:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets HERE

Sunday, May 1 Final Screening
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets HERE

*This film contains depictions of extreme and graphic violence. Must be 19+ for bar service. Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*If you are looking to redeem your tickets to either a canceled Rio Theatre screening or a Rio Theatre gift certificate, please email <[email protected]> with info including your name, canceled receipt number, gift certificate info, what you are wanting to see and when, and we can make the switch for you in advance. Alternately, you can bring this information with you to the venue, and we will do our best to help you at the box office.

THE SADNESS “Ku Bei” (Rob Jabbaz, 2021 / 18A / 99 mins / Mandarin with English subs / Graphic violence) After a year of combating a pandemic with relatively benign symptoms, a frustrated nation finally lets its guard down. This is when the virus spontaneously mutates, giving rise to a mind-altering plague. The streets erupt into violence and depravity, as those infected are driven to enact the most cruel and ghastly things they can think of. Murder, torture, rape and mutilation are only the beginning. A young couple is pushed to the limits of sanity as they try to reunite amid the chaos. The age of civility and order is no more. There is only “The Sadness”.