Taiwan Limited Series: If I Don’t See the Sun on Netflix
A young filmmaker’s assistant becomes oddly fascinated with a serial killer, grappling with her attraction while also perceiving young girls whom others cannot see. Is she unwittingly caught in the web of a murderer?
Opening Shot:
2014. A search for a secluded ramen shop unveils a moth fluttering around a streetlight. A hooded man places an order. The scene shifts to him, blood smeared across his face, as another man gasps for life, throat slit. Suddenly, rain begins to fall.
Key Points:
News flashes highlight a series of horrific murders, all under stormy skies. We learn that 25-year-old Li Zhenyao has confessed to being the so-called “Storm Murderer” and has surrendered himself.
Fast forward to 2023. Chou Pingyu finds herself waking from a vivid dream. She stumbles through her new, barely unpacked apartment, only to discover that it feels haunted. Working for a documentary production, she assists director Su Tawei, who is working on a film about Li Zhenyao. Surprisingly, Zhenyao agrees to an interview with her.
During her prison visit, Pingyu becomes smitten with the charming killer, confiding in her cousin that he’s “not as bad” as everyone claims. Simultaneously, she envisions herself in intimate moments with him and repeatedly sees a girl in uniform, as real as the world around her.
What Show Does It Remind You Of?
If I Don’t See the Sun feels like a blend of Silence of the Lambs and Donnie Darko.
Our View:
This series doesn’t lay all its cards on the table right away. In her interviews with Zhenyao, he cryptically states he kills out of disdain for rainy days, hinting at deeper complexities. As the narrative unfolds, Pingyu’s attraction to him intensifies.
Additionally, there’s a storyline involving Chen Xiaotong, the girl Pingyu keeps seeing. There’s a link between her and Zhen Yao that later episodes revisit, exploring their high school past. As Pingyu dives into this history, the mystery of who Xiaotong is unfolds.
There’s certainly a lot of potential here; Pingyu is on a quest to understand why Zhenyao began targeting her former classmates, largely through the visions of Xiaotong that haunt her.
Featured Performance:
Zheng Jinghua delivers a compelling performance as Li Zhenyao, exuding both charisma and menace.
Sex and Skin:
None.
Parting Shot:
As Pingyu speaks to her cousin about her filming experience in the rain, she catches Xiaotong’s reflection in a mirror.
Sleeper Star:
Moon Li brings a hauntingly sad presence every time Xiaotong appears in Pingyu’s life.
The Most Pilot-Like Line:
After Zhen Yao references his rainy-day killings, an irritated Su Tawei slams his equipment into a car trunk, only for the lid to pop open again—likely an unintended moment.
Our Call:
Let’s stream the first episode. If I Don’t See the Sun introduces an intriguing dual narrative surrounding a serial killer’s past and the filmmakers’ ties to one of his victims years later.
