A 2013 news report about thousands of dead pigs floating in a river ignited the creative spark behind director Feng Yongqin's debut crime thriller, "The River of Fury."

The cast and crew of "The River of Fury" pose for a photo at the film's premiere in Beijing, March 19, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Hanna Pictures]

"At that time, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some dark secret behind those pigs that couldn't be revealed," Feng told China.org.cn. "In reality, the pigs were dumped into the river because of a swine epidemic. During this period in my life, I was also contemplating how a lack of love could breed an 'epidemic' in society. If that absence becomes a starting point, it can snowball into countless things, including extreme evil. That's how the characters in our film came to be, and that's how this story was born."

After seven years of development, "The River of Fury" finally debuted across China on March 22. The film, written by Feng and featuring veteran actors Ning Li, Wang Xun, Liu Mintao, Duan Bowen, Li Chunyuan, and Lyu Xiaolin, follows the disappearance of a young veterinarian. As the investigation unfolds, clues link her case to a suspect in serial murders characterized by a gruesome ear-cutting method 20 years ago. With seven new victims emerging, a detective from the original unsolved case renews his vow to catch the killer. His investigation leads him to suspect the pig farm owner and her three children, ultimately revealing an even more sinister secret.

"This film is actually an exploration of the dark side of human nature," the director said. "The subtle point here is that while we have many tools — education, art, and so on — to encourage people to be good, the primal power of humanity's dark side still cannot be ignored, even after all these years. Through this film, I hope to draw attention to these shadows within human nature while also reminding everyone to protect the kindness in their hearts, that spark of light, no matter the circumstances."

Shot in Chongqing, the film is shrouded in the city's signature misty weather. The director also shared that they chose to focus on family relationships. "Because family is actually a breeding ground for evil in our story, and it's something close to everyone," he said.

The story attracted Huang Bo, a veteran Chinese actor and producer, who included this project in his "HB + U" program designed to support young filmmakers. 

"Without Mr. Huang Bo, this film would never exist," Feng said, noting that Huang not only brought in funds but also shared years of filmmaking experience. "I saw the responsibility and dedication of a true filmmaker, and this truly became a source of inspiration for me. I believe this will benefit me for a lifetime."

Actor Wang praised Feng for his directorial debut, "The film is brilliant. It has great elements like any commercial film, but it is also profound as if it borrows something from art-house cinema — something that delves deeply into human nature."

Wang added that Feng is highly talented, deeply passionate about film and relentless in facing challenges. "I believe many viewers will notice the director's maturity when watching the film."

Wang portrayed a complex villain in the film, a pig farmer struggling with hearing impairment. Upon reading the script, he discovered that the evil character concealed profound inner wounds.

"I felt there was a lot to explore and dig into with this character. As an actor, the worst thing is playing a role that feels predictable from the start, but this character is clearly not that kind," he said.

"I feel that, although the director created a group of villains, he tells a story about what love is," the actor said. "These are stories that could very well happen around us, ones that we might find hard to accept. Such things definitely exist around us, and some might even be more terrifying than what's shown in the film — we just don't know about them. So where does the root of it all lie? It lies precisely in the misunderstanding of love — how to nurture and protect it. When love goes wrong, the consequences can be terrifying."

"So, it's ultimately a film that explores evil to call for love," he added.