Joan Chen thriller ‘The Evil Inside’ joins Vorteks for Cannes market sales

Vorteks, the division specialising in unique genres at Dubai-based sales company Cercamon, has taken on the international rights outside Taiwan for “The Evil Inside,” a thrilling psychological drama directed by Lingo Hsieh and starring Joan Chen.

Now in the post-production phase, the movie is set to be presented to potential buyers at the approaching Cannes Film Market.

This is Vorteks' pioneering acquisition of an Asian movie, focusing on narratives of horror, thriller, sci-fi, action, and fantasy.

Inspired by actual events in Taiwan, the storyline revolves around Ho Jen-Jen, a previous star known as “Golden Phoenix,” who left her daughter and disappeared under the pressure of overwhelming gambling debts.

She wakes up as a prisoner in a mysterious care center where life expectancies of terminally ill patients are wagered in a sinister game called Death Bet. She must compete to earn her freedom and reunite with her daughter.

"As Vorteks expands, we continue its legacy in the genre space with filmmakers like Lingo Hsieh, who has developed a complex thriller featuring an outstanding performance by Joan Chen in a way you’ve never experienced before," expressed David Kwok, partner, acquisitions and sales at Vorteks.

"We are honored to partake in her voyage as a global storyteller, with ‘The Evil Inside’ as our inaugural Asian title under this label."

Chen’s filmography includes “The Last Emperor,” “Twin Peaks,” and “Dídi.” Joining her in the cast are Golden Horse Award nominees Jason King and Eugenie Liu, along with Taipei Film Award recipient Zin Yang.

Jackol Kao serves as the producer for DaSun Pictures, a Taiwanese production company focused on genre films. Kao and Hsieh have previously teamed up for “The Bride” and “Green Door.”

“She has composed a film that is distinctly Taiwanese yet captivates worldwide. We feel privileged to collaborate with Vorteks to share this work on a global platform,” Kao mentioned.

“Despite being a thriller, the tale stems from a deeply personal origin, and I am eager for audiences to engage with the film and the issues it presents,” Hsieh commented.