New film tackles cyber violence and online malice

Malice, the latest film produced by renowned filmmaker Chen Sicheng, has been simultaneously released across China and in the United States on Saturday.

The film begins with the tragic fall of a young girl battling cancer and her nurse at a hospital. When a veteran journalist investigates the case, it grows increasingly complex — especially after the story goes viral, sparking widespread speculation and backlash online. As the truth becomes more elusive, the darker side of the internet emerges, exposing a malice that demands deeper reflection.

With Chen serving as the executive producer and scriptwriter, the film is co-directed by Lai Mukuan and Yao Wenyi, starring actress Zhang Xiaofei as the journalist and veteran Mei Ting as the patient's mother.

During the movie's recent Beijing premiere, Chen, best known for the blockbuster Detective Chinatown franchise, shared that the project was inspired by E Nyu A'you (The Wicked Girl A'you), a novella that won the top prize in a competition organized by writer-filmmaker Han Han.

Captivated by the story's exploration of cyber violence, Chen and his team spent three years refining the script. Despite the dark theme, he chose an optimistic tone for the film, aiming to highlight the enduring presence of goodness in a world sometimes shrouded in malice.

As of Tuesday, the film has grossed 90 million yuan ($12.5 million) to become one of the highest-grossing titles this week, according to the showbiz information live tracker Maoyan Pro.