Joan Chen’s ‘The Evil Inside’ Adds Jason King, Zin Yang, Eugenie Liu

Jason King, Zin Yang and Eugenie Liu have joined the cast of “The Evil Inside,” the new thriller from acclaimed Taiwanese filmmaker Lingo Hsieh now in production. The trio joins international star Joan Chen, whose casting was previously announced by Variety, in the genre-bending film inspired by real-life events that shook a nation.

The project marks Chen’s first Taiwanese feature film, adding another milestone to the career of the actor known for “The Last Emperor,” “Lust, Caution” and “Didi.”

King, a veteran of Taiwanese cinema since the 1980s who earned a Golden Horse Award nomination last year for “A Journey in Spring,” will play Guang, an evangelical figure running a nursing facility with dark secrets. The character exploits terminally ill patients in an illegal gambling operation disguised as compassionate care.

“Even though this character has a lot of evil inside, I still want to show the humanity of such a dark person, how he gets there,” King said.

“Her charisma and prowess actually elevate my performance. Psychologically, I think we go tit-for-tat beautifully,” King said about acting opposite Joan Chen.

Director Hsieh praised King’s approach to the complex character. “Jason’s performance is full of nuance and even grace, which makes his character so compelling,” she noted.

Rising star Zin Yang, who won a Taipei Film Award for “Wrath of Desire,” takes on the role of Meiyu, Guang’s loyal associate. “She’s not a cartoonish villainess,” Yang said. “She’s a human being – blindly loyal, emotionally manipulated. I wanted audiences to see her pain.”

Two-time Golden Horse nominee Eugenie Liu, recognized for her work in “Old Fox” and “Daughter’s Daughter,” plays Bao, Chen’s estranged daughter in the film. “My character makes brutal choices, but acting opposite Joan gives me space to go deep. I’m honored she plays my mom,” Liu said.

Hsieh, who gained attention with her 2016 horror film “The Bride,” is directing and co-writing the thriller. The project is being produced by DaSun Pictures, known for developing cross-border collaborations between Southeast Asian and North American markets.