Trai buon nguoi follows people deceived into travelling to criminal compounds under the promise of easy work and high pay. The film depicts their struggle to survive, as well as scams and cross-border human trafficking.
The film received an 18+ rating because it contains erotic scenes and violence. It was released on September 25 and quickly attracted audiences. Some viewers suggested making a version for people aged 13 and over so teenagers could also see the story.
Director Toni Duong Bao Anh and producer and creative director Meo Bich Trang told Dan Tri that the team is studying a possible 13+ version.
The filmmakers said the initial 18+ rating was intended to preserve the realism of the story, including scenes showing the brutality inside scam compounds. They also believe middle and high school students should be warned about scams on social media, so the team is looking for a way to reach this audience.
“The production team is urgently studying ways to cut and adjust the most violent and shocking scenes to create a proper 13+ version. We must meet the classification criteria of the Cinema Department while preserving the film’s human warning,” the director and screenwriter said.
The 13+ version is still under study and has not been approved by the authorities. Any changes must meet film-classification criteria before the version can be released.
The team believes that a wider audience would allow the film to reach more students. Some of them use social media regularly and could encounter fake job offers aimed at people who want to make money quickly.
“We will try to complete the approval documents as soon as possible so the film can reach students and help spread awareness of social problems among young people,” director Toni Duong Bao Anh and screenwriter Meo Bich Trang said.
Toni Duong Bao Anh directed the film after drawing inspiration from the escape of human-trafficking victims in Tinh Bien, An Giang province, in 2022. The cast includes Steven Nguyen, Quach Ngoc Ngoan, People’s Artist Nhu Quynh, Tung Mint, Khanh My, Hoang Kim Ngoc, Danis Nguyen and others.
The film passed VND 100 billion after 3.5 days in cinemas. More than 700 actors took part in large-scale scenes, while the total number of actors and crew members exceeded 10,000. The Vietnam Record Association, VietKings, recognised the film for the number of actors and production participants.
Some critics described Trai buon nguoi as a high-intensity action film that maintains tension through situations involving dead ends, counterattacks and escapes. Alongside positive comments about the action sequences and scale, critics also pointed to logical flaws and weaknesses in the development of some characters.
After one week in cinemas, the film had earned nearly VND 300 billion and remained the box-office leader.
Sources: Dân Trí
