The Soul (film)

{{Infobox film

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|

| t = 緝魂

| p = Jī Hún

}}

| name = The Soul

| image = The Soul poster.jpg

| director = Cheng Wei-hao

| producer = Veronica Jin, Bernard Yang (楊庭愷)

| screenplay = Cheng Wei-hao, Veronica Jin, Chen Yen-chi (陈彦齐)

| based_on = Yihun Youshu by Jiang Bo

| starring = Chang Chen
Janine Chang
Sun Anke
Christopher Lee

| music = Luming Lu

| cinematography = Kartik Vijay

| editing = Shieh Meng-ju

| production_companies = TMZ Media
霍尔果斯众合千澄影业有限公司
Rise Pictures
Pon Pon Pictures

| distributor = QC Media
Taopiaopiao
China Film Co., Ltd.
Vie Vision Pictures

| released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|01|15|mainland China|2021|01|29|Taiwan}}

| runtime = 124 minutes (mainland China)
130 minutes (Taiwan)

| country = {{ubl|China|Taiwan}}

| language = Standard Chinese

| budget = TWD160 million

}}

The Soul ({{zh|s=缉魂|t=緝魂|hp=Jī Hún}}) is a Chinese-Taiwanese tech noir mystery crime film based on Jiang Bo's (江波) novel Yihun Youshu (移魂有术). It is directed by Cheng Wei-hao and stars Chang Chen, Janine Chang, Sun Anke, and Christopher Lee.{{cite news |title=张震新片《缉魂》深度解析！从头到尾捋一遍，你得看懂细节才行 |url=https://new.qq.com/omn/20210121/20210121A09EJU00.html |accessdate=2021-01-21 |work=腾讯网 |date=2021-01-21 |language=zh}}

Plot

The film begins with the brutal murder of CEO Wang Shi-cong, who developed futuristic cancer treatments. His wife, Li Yan, is found holding the murder weapon. Detective Ah-Bao and her prosecutor husband, Liang Wen-chao, are involved in the investigation. Liang is also battling cancer, and the couple is advised to consider RNA restoration technology.

Li Yan claims Wang's son, Tian-you, committed the murder, supported by Dr. Wan and the maid's testimonies. Surveillance reveals Li Yan experiencing epileptic fits and hallucinations involving Wang's first wife, Tang Su-zhen, who had cursed Wang before her suicide. Liang suspects a link between Li Yan's fits and her behavior.

Further investigation reveals Dr. Wan and Li Yan's involvement in a scheme to transfer Tang's brain cells to Li Yan. Liang discovers Tang's affair with Dr. Wan and accuses him of resurrecting his lover in Li Yan. Meanwhile, Wang Tian-you is arrested, and when confronted with Li Yan, she seemingly channels Tang, thanking Tian-you for the murder.

Liang has an epileptic episode, learns his cancer has spread, and discovers his wife tampered with evidence for his treatment. Li Yan, now CEO, is confronted by Liang, who believes Wang transferred his brain into Li Yan. Dr. Wan confesses to the brain transfer, driven by his love for Wang, and pleads with Liang, who refuses to protect him due to the evidence tampering.

In a final confrontation, Dr. Wan attacks Li Yan, and Liang confesses to tampering with evidence. Li Yan pleads guilty, Dr. Wan commits suicide, and Ah-Bao visits Li Yan in prison, showing her the baby. A gesture by Li Yan hints at Liang's presence in her.

Cast

Chang Chen as Liang Wen-chao
Janine Chang as Ah-Bao
Sun Anke as Li Yan
Christopher Lee as Doctor Wan Yufan
{{ill|Baijia Zhang|zh|张柏嘉}} as Tang Su-zhen
Erek Lin as Wang Tian-you
{{ill|Samuel Ku|zh|古斌}} as Wang Shi-cong
Lü Hsueh-feng as Zhang
Daniel Chang (張哲豪) as Liang

Production

Director Cheng Wei-hao asked male lead Chang Chen to lose 10 kilograms and shave his head for his role as cancer patient Liang Wenchao. Chang lost 12 kg within three months.{{cite news |title=张震为《缉魂》剃光头减肥12公斤被赞拍一部电影学一项技能 |url=http://k.sina.com.cn/article_2810373291_a782e4ab02001ykt1.html |accessdate=2021-01-21 |work=新浪 |date=2021-01-19}}{{cite news |title=【電影時刻】張震、張鈞甯主演懸疑燒腦《緝魂》上映！劇情一再反轉飆豆瓣評分7.1 |url=https://www.vogue.com.tw/entertainment/article/movie-the-soul |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=VOGUE TAIWAN |language=zh-TW}} Janine Chang changed her hairstyle for the film, cutting her hair short for her role as a police officer. In preparation for filming, Cheng Wei-hao and Janine Chang visited police stations to talk to female officers about their work and observe police officers' uniforms and behavior on the job.

The film began shooting on 20 November 2019, and began post-production in early 2020.{{cite news |title=张钧甯电影《缉魂》官宣短发造型干练帅气 |url=https://ent.ifeng.com/c/7uuX99hDLim |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=ent.ifeng.com}}

Six minutes of the film were cut from the mainland Chinese version due to censorship,{{cite web |title=张震、张钧甯《缉魂》今日公映，删掉了6分钟血腥镜头 |url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/G0CPMHFL051492T3.html |website=网易 |date=15 January 2021 |accessdate=2021-02-28 |archive-date=2021-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627193353/https://www.163.com/dy/article/G0CPMHFL051492T3.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=张震主演的《缉魂》获业内力挺，但为什么票房不行？ |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_10856658 |accessdate=2021-01-21 |work=澎湃新闻 |date=2021-01-20}} mainly of violence.{{cite web |last1=Elley |first1=Derek |title=Review: The Soul (2021) |date=31 March 2021 |url=http://sino-cinema.com/2021/03/31/review-the-soul-2021/ |access-date=20 June 2021}}

Soundtrack

{{Tracklist

| collapsed =

| headline =

| extra_column = Performed By

| total_length =

| all_writing =

| all_lyrics =

| all_music =

| title1 = No Bitterness 不苦{{cite web |title=吴青峰深情演唱《缉魂》主题曲爱与执念的人性羁绊引人落泪 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/446848422_120490186 |website=Sohu |date=January 26, 2021}}

| note1 = theme song

| lyrics1 = Cheng Weihao

| music1 = Peggy Hsu

| arranger1 =

| extra1 = Wu Qing-feng

| length1 = 6:12

| title2 = Ambition 野心{{cite web |title=《缉魂》推广曲MV上线薛之谦献唱演绎欲望纠缠 |url=https://www.1905.com/news/20201223/1496222.shtml |website=1905 |date=December 23, 2020}}

| note2 = promotional song

| lyrics2 = Joker Xue

| music2 = Joker Xue

| arranger2 =

| extra2 = Joker Xue

| length2 = 3:37

}}

Release

The Soul was released in mainland China on 15 January 2021, and grossed RMB111 million.{{Cite web|title=艺恩-数据智能服务商_影片详情|url=https://www.endata.com.cn/BoxOffice/MovieStock/movieShow.html?id=698687|accessdate=2021-03-19|work=www.endata.com.cn}}

The film was released on 29 January 2021, in Taiwan and grossed TWD50.9 million.{{cite web|title=張鈞甯「白目行為」報應來了！張震冷看笑話：想當初⋯|url=https://star.ettoday.net/news/1915986|accessdate=2021-02-09|website=ETtoday新聞雲|date=2021-02-06}}

The film was released internationally for streaming on Netflix, on 14 April 2021.{{cite news |title=Best Netflix movies: Why Did You Kill Me and more (April 14, 2021) |url=https://netflixlife.com/2021/04/14/best-netflix-movies-april-14-2021/ |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=Netflix Life |date=2021-04-14}}

Reception

On Douban, The Soul initially reached an average rating of 7.3 out of 10, which fell to 7.1 soon after its release. It received an average score of 8.0 on Maoyan and 8.1 on Taopiaopiao.{{cite news |title=业内好评的《缉魂》为什么市场表现平平？{{!}}界面新闻 · JMedia |url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/5569538.html |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=www.jiemian.com}}

Critic Sean Aversa praised the film for its intricate and unpredictable plot, saying that it was "exceptionally well written" and the cast's performance was excellent.{{cite news |title='The Soul': A Winding Thrill — Netflix's Chinese-Taiwanese Mystery Film A Real Mindbender |url=https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/the-soul-review-chinese-taiwanese/ |access-date=26 June 2021 |website=Hollywood Insider|date=16 April 2021|first1=Sean|last1=Aversa}} Decider called it "a dark, dense film that’ll reward attentive viewers and turn away those looking for light entertainment",{{cite news |title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Soul' on Netflix, a Taiwanese Potboiler Blending Elements of Horror, Sci-fi, Mystery and Melodrama |last1=Serba|first1=John|url=https://decider.com/2021/04/15/the-soul-on-netflix-stream-it-or-skip-it/ |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=Decider |date=2021-04-15}} while Han Cheung of the Taipei Times lauded its "suspenseful, nuanced storytelling".{{cite news |title=Film Review: The Soul |author=Han Cheung|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2021/02/04/2003751735 |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=Taipei Times|date=2021-02-04}} Jiang Bo, author of the original novel, said that the adaptation was extremely successful.{{cite news |title=悬疑犯罪电影《缉魂》发布口碑特辑震撼人心直击泪腺好评不断_YNET.com北青网 |url=http://ent.ynet.com/2021/01/12/3094911t1254.html |access-date=28 June 2021 |work=北青网}}

On the other hand, Derek Elley panned the film, calling it "relentlessly downbeat" and described the plot as "convoluted and outrageous".