A new mystery thriller film, "The Invisible Guest," premiered in Beijing on Dec. 2, impressing the audience with its intricate plot twists.

Cast and crew of "The Invisible Guest" pose for a photo with the audience at the film's premiere in Beijing, Dec. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of iQiyi Pictures]

Directed by filmmaker Chen Zhuo, the film features a talented ensemble cast including Greg Hsu, Janine Chang, Kara Wai and Zheng Yin. The director and main cast members all appeared at the premiere, interacting enthusiastically with the audience, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and discussing the fates of the characters.

In "The Invisible Guest," greedy police chief Zheng Wei, portrayed by actor Greg Hsu, discovers that Joanna (Janine Chang), the wife of a wealthy businessman, has been falsely accused of murder. Zheng strikes a deal with Joanna, demanding a substantial sum of money to exonerate her. The movie also features a vulnerable mother (Kara Wai) who has suffered the loss of her family and courageously shares her own experiences of oppression by those in authority. Additionally, the son of a congressman (Zheng Yin) becomes entangled in the case, ultimately uncovering the truth behind the murder. The film is a Chinese-language remake of the 2016 Spanish thriller "Contratiempo."

The original movie, directed by Oriol Paulo and featuring Mario Casas, achieved huge success when it was released in China in 2017, becoming the highest-grossing Spanish film in the country with box office earnings of 172 million yuan ($24.07 million). It has since been remade as "Confession" in South Korea, "Badla" in India and "Il Testimone Invisibile" in Italy. Additionally, it served as inspiration for the Indian Telugu-language film "Evaru."

Director Chen Zhuo expressed his hope that the film would inspire people to reflect on human nature, emphasizing that good and evil would eventually face consequences. He added that one should never underestimate the destructive power of human nature and desires, as well as the explosive force of family bonds.

Lead actor Greg Hsu on stage during an audience Q&A at the premiere of "The Invisible Guest" in Beijing, Dec. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of iQiyi Pictures]

Greg Hsu plays the villainous police officer in the movie. At the premiere, he spoke about some of the challenges he faced portraying an antagonist on the big screen for the first time, such as the need to create seamless transitions that followed his character's arc.

"Filming confrontational scenes sometimes required transitioning between different scenes, while at other times it needed to be done seamlessly in one take," he said. "I played a police officer involved in blackmail, so I had to strive to match the image I had imagined."

Lead actress Janine Chang on stage during an audience Q&A at the premiere of "The Invisible Guest" in Beijing, Dec. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of iQiyi Pictures]

"The characters in the story are revealed to be more than just criminals; they are also victims," actress Janine Chang explained, highlighting the significance of a pair of earrings worn by her character. "In fact, the pearl earrings were a small detail we intentionally included to portray her. On one hand, she came from a humble background as an orphan, and we wanted to convey a sense of simplicity. On the other hand, she married into a wealthy family, so they symbolize prosperity and ambition."

The character's complex story adds an extra layer of challenge for the audience when contemplating the boundaries between good and evil. Viewers cannot simply categorize the characters as either one or the other, which creates an ambiguity that enhances the depth of the film.

Several well-known filmmakers and actors, including Chen Jianbin, Liu Haocun and Li Yitong, also attended the premiere to show their support for the film, praising it as "beyond expectations" and "exhilarating." "The Invisible Guest" also received rave reviews from other audience members and critics after the premiere. The film is scheduled for nationwide theatrical release on Dec. 8.

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