Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Sadness’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Sadness’.
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One thing that horror fans can agree upon, is that the zombie is perhaps… one of the most terrifying monsters the genre has to offer. After all, these creatures are in fact, disgusting. Since they are often rotten corpses returned from the void that no longer resemble our loved ones and no longer hold our values. They are merely machines of pure, motorized instinct that wish to consume flesh courtesy of an insatiable hunger. Plus, what they represent is equally as terrifying since they in essence, thumb their nose at our biological purpose in life and everything that we hold near and dear to living and their uncomfortable wonder, doesn’t end there. For they also stand in often, as the allegory for our world’s problems.
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Since they have served as a mirror for our obsessions with consumerism and materialism, and often help to examine our societal woes and concerns. Which means at this point, the zombie has in many ways... reached its apex as a villain, and simply cannot be improved upon in the slightest, as evidenced by its current popularity and how well its design blends into modern zombie stories. But there are some creatives out there, who don’t subscribe to that in the slightest, and firmly believe that the zombie can in fact, be scarier and can push the envelope storytelling wise and commentary wise, further and well… it just so happens that Shudder is now host to a zombie film that makes a grand and successful attempt to reinvent the zombie and make it a more frightening creature, and that makes The Sadness, a revolutionary horror film. 

One that at first glance… appears to be nothing more than standard zombie fare. For when this movie opens, we are plunged into a world that resembles our own. Since there is a pandemic happening, one that has fatigued the world to the point where life appears to be getting back to normal, as evidenced by the mundane interactions we bear witness to, early on in this story. Since Jim and Katie are arguing about simple things when when we catch up with them, right before their day takes quite the turn. For a mutation in the infamous Alvin Virus, has transformed some of the sick into bloodthirsty murderers. Who appear eager to inflict cruelty upon others through wanton and brutal violence and now… Jim and Katie will have to fight hard to survive a world that is quickly crumbling around them. 

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Which really is a by-the-numbers zombie movie plot. One that should offer us nothing revolutionary. But making us comfortable with a story that we’ve seen a thousand times before, really is quite the wonderful way to set up the surprise in this film. In that the zombies here are classic in nature, and full of infection over a bastardization of death… and they fully comprehend the horrors and atrocities they are taking part in. Which immediately changes the game since they can talk and express their twisted feelings. But what truly sets these zombies apart and makes them so original… is the pleasure they take in killing and harming others. Because they are in a state of bliss when they rip out an eyeball or play with entrails and that is… something incredibly fresh to see within the genre and it quite frankly, terrifies the viewer to their absolute core. 

For we cherish our ability to produce beauty and kindness, and we firmly believe that we as a species have moved beyond the savagery of our lesser instincts and our cruelty. Which is why it is always shocking to us to see anyone decide to embrace that darkness, because it immediately reminds us… that we are supremely capable of savagery and cruelty and have not moved on from it, and to see that on display here, is a real assault on the senses. Because it is just horrifying to watch people smile with glee as they tear open the flesh of a terrified person and the commentary that comes with that in some instances, combined with the conscious decision to show that violence in an unfettered and unrestrained manner, leads to long and extended sequences of terror and discomfort. The kind that is further enhanced by the fact… that the imagination of these transformed humans knows no bounds in how to impart cruelty.

Which means, that you absolutely need to be warned up front, that this is an extremely graphic and disturbing motion picture. One that crosses just about every line that can be crossed, as it works to examine as to whether or not modern mankind is as evolved as it believes it is, or if by chance… we are merely one-step away from transforming into true monsters. An examination that carries weight when one considers the fears we currently harbor worldwide, regarding the sudden resurgence of ideologies and organizations we thought were long defeated. If anything, all of these elements make this a brilliant and frightening motion picture. One that truly reinvents the zombie subgenre in a horrifying new manner, and stays with you long after its come to an end, and the good news, is that if you’re okay with a story that pulls no punches… you can enjoy this twisted and visceral creation, just by logging into Shudder.  

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