Summary
There is usually comfort in the familiar, but this SARS epidemic drama has enough realism to engage and emotionally charge you as a viewer.
Here is our review of the 2023 Taiwanese Netflix film Eye of the Storm, which does not contain spoilers.
Are we sick of films that are disturbingly familiar to our post-covid times? If not, then this film will be right up your street. Eye of the Storm follows the story of Dr. Zheng Xia, a dedicated surgeon in Taipei, who is trapped in a hospital lockdown on his daughter’s birthday.
He has to face an unprecedented crisis as an unknown deadly virus spreads inside the hospital. A brazen journalist called Jin Youzhong collaborates with Dr. Xia to investigate the virus’s origin.
Together they make a shocking discovery, and with the threat of the virus looming, they are faced with difficult decisions.
Eye of the Storm Review (2023) and Plot Summary
Chun-Yang Lin’s Taiwanese thriller film looks at the empathy of humans when facing despair. Set during the SARS outbreak of 2003, the film does have all the right triggers to emotionally engage and enrage us after what we’ve collectively been through in recent years.
There is real footage used, showing the panic and strife people felt at the time, and it gives a grueling touch.
As a whole, the film explores the tension that was brought about when forced into a lockdown through multiple perspectives. While the main story arc follows Dr. Xia, there are multiple others running parallel.
The film mixes the genres of melodrama and mystery very well, and Jake Pollock’s cinematography helps isolate the viewer, giving a thriller aspect, almost verging on a horror genre as well. Some shots are similar to a documentary style, so like a lot of Asian cinema, this film mixes a multitude of genres.
There is a focus on the characters and their relationships, which worked well, but when that wasn’t at the forefront, and the film was showcasing the panic and tension, that’s when it thrived.
I found the relationship/friendship of the helpful taxi driver and the little girl a very sweet relief — until the scene where she looks for her mum. That scene is quite harrowing.
The cast gives solid performances without being cheesy or over-the-top. They bring compelling compassion to their characters and are, at times, effortless to watch on screen.
Is Eye of the Storm (2023) good or bad?
Overall it is a decent film. However, like similar films lately, it’s too long, throwing too many genres and characters in, not giving you enough time to digest and invest as a viewer.
Is Eye of the Storm (2023) worth watching?
Yes. It’s another long film with a runtime of 118 minutes, but if you are into your medical dramas and are okay with the subject matter, then I recommend this film to watch.
What did you think of the 2023 Taiwanese Netflix film Eye of the Storm? Comment below.
