Bold, suffocating, and oppressive.

Director Luong Dinh Dung's 18+ rated horror film was released to audiences on October 13, 2023. Titled " The Sleeping City ," Luong Dinh Dung portrays the life of the male protagonist, Tao, in a bustling but heartless city.

Tao lived alone on the rooftop of a building, earning a living by butchering chickens. He was taciturn, patient, and often treated harshly by those around him. Despite this, he persevered in staying in the city.

The film creates a suffocating, dark atmosphere.

Conflict arose when a gang of thugs brought a prostitute to take Tảo's place. Their interaction led Tảo to develop feelings for the girl, and unfortunately, she became pregnant. Knowing his "means of livelihood" was pregnant, the gang leader was furious.

He brutally abused the girl and tormented Tao, using her as a source of amusement. Unwilling to accept this, Tao sought revenge and retaliated against the thugs with acts even more cruel and twisted than their own.

The film, which is over 70 minutes long, features daring "sex scenes," explicit language, and dark, oppressive cinematography. Many viewers at the premiere expressed discomfort with the overly disturbing, violent, and distorted portrayals of the characters, to the point that some left the theater before the film ended.

The entire film is set in a dilapidated, desolate neighborhood, a stark contrast to the bustling city. The director skillfully uses camera angles and settings to "trap" the viewer in a cramped, dark space, which is precisely what the characters in the film are experiencing.

The film contains many violent, gruesome, and psychologically distorted scenes that can be distressing for viewers.

Not only the male lead but also the audience seemed to be "going crazy" and wanted to release their frustration and annoyance.

The film is made in a "show don't tell" style, telling the story through images (both ordinary and metaphorical) instead of dialogue. The characters in the film speak very little, and the less they interact with each other, the more it highlights the violent and distorted actions they perform.

However, the lack of dialogue also makes the film's story quite disjointed and incoherent. The script also leaves many "loopholes" in the eyes of the audience. Tảo is the male lead, but there is no character background; people have no idea who he is, why he's in this city, or why he's trying to survive by slaughtering chickens.

Director Luong Dinh Dung shared his thoughts about the film.

The idea that Tảo imprisoned three thugs in an abandoned building and tortured them for months without anyone noticing, even though people came by daily to hire the protagonist to butcher chickens, is unrealistic.

It's fair to say that the film hasn't really convinced audiences in terms of its script, and the plot is unclear. Furthermore, the violent scenes and psychologically distorted narratives are disturbing and unsettling for viewers, making it difficult to say whether the film will create a "buzz" in the bustling October market.

In fact, director Luong Dinh Dung once revealed that the film "The Sleeping City" was rejected for release in many countries because it was too violent. He also stated that this is a psychological thriller that perhaps those who are not psychologically strong or are not used to "heavy" films should not watch.

Perhaps the biggest mark that "The Sleeping City" has left on Vietnamese cinema is that it's a unique, strange film that haunts and frustrates viewers.

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