Joan Chen, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in Twin Peaks and The Last Emperor, has signed on to headline The Evil Inside, a psychological thriller currently in production. This project marks Chen’s first collaboration with a Taiwanese production team, with Taiwan’s DaSun Pictures handling worldwide sales at the Cannes market.
The film pairs Chen with director Lingo Hsieh, whose previous work includes Netflix’s Green Door and the feature The Bride.
A Dark Premise from Real Events
The Evil Inside draws its unsettling premise from actual events that once shocked Taiwan. The story centres on an illegal gambling operation that exploited terminally ill patients, turning their remaining lifespans into betting stakes while masquerading as compassionate care.
Chen stars as Ho Jen-Jen, once a celebrated Taiwanese showbiz icon known as Golden Phoenix. Her life took a dark turn after being overwhelmed by gambling debts, leading her to abandon her young daughter. Years later, she awakens in a sinister nursing home, where she discovers this macabre betting ring. As she fights to escape and reunite with her daughter, even darker secrets come to light.
Chen’s Return to a Complex Role
Director Lingo Hsieh specifically envisioned Chen for this demanding role. “This role was written with Joan in mind,” Hsieh said. “I’ve long felt she would be perfect for such a flawed yet complex character, the anti-hero of motherhood in this story. I’m truly delighted we’re finally collaborating.”
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Chen, whose extensive career spans both Hollywood and Asian cinema, expressed her approach to the character: “I look forward to embracing and defending this deeply scarred and morally complex woman — an incorrigible gambler — infusing her dark, tormented soul with light and warmth, and granting her the ultimate triumph: salvation through defeat.” Chen remains the only artist in Golden Horse Awards history to have collected trophies for best actress, best scriptwriter, and best director.
A Powerful Ensemble and International Ambition
The film expands its cast with veteran Taiwanese actor Jason King, who will play Guang, an evangelical figure running the corrupt nursing facility. King, who earned a Golden Horse Award nomination last year, aims to show the nuanced side of his villainous character. “Even though this character has a lot of evil inside, I still want to show the humanity of such a dark person, how he gets there,” King said, adding that Chen’s presence elevated his performance. “Her charisma and prowess actually elevate my performance. Psychologically, I think we go tit-for-tat beautifully.”
Rising star Zin Yang takes on the role of Meiyu, Guang’s loyal associate, and two-time Golden Horse nominee Eugenie Liu plays Bao, Chen’s estranged daughter. Liu shared her admiration for working alongside Chen: “My character makes brutal choices, but acting opposite Joan gives me space to go deep. I’m honored she plays my mom.”
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Jackol Kao, producing for DaSun Pictures, envisions The Evil Inside as a Mandarin-language film with significant international appeal. “With Lingo Hsieh’s distinctive direction and Joan Chen’s remarkable performance, we believe the film will captivate global audiences and showcase the unique voice of Asian genre cinema,” Kao said. The project seeks to highlight Asian genre cinema on the world stage.
