🔦ILLUMINANT OBJECT – A Chinese Thriller That Blurs Reality and Mystery

"In the shadows of Xiangshan, what you see may not be what’s real."

Prepare for a chilling journey into suspense and the unknown with Illuminant Object (象山发光事件), a Chinese thriller directed by Zhao Yu, set to release on October 31, 2025. Known internationally as Illuminant Object, this film promises a spine-tingling narrative that blends pseudo-documentary realism with supernatural intrigue, exploring the blurry line between truth and deception.

🎬 About the Film

• Original Title: 象山发光事件 (Xiangshan Luminous Event)

• Director & Screenwriter: Zhao Yu

• Stars: Xiao Shenyang, Wang Wei, Zhang Dengping, Ni Jingyang, Dong Zhiyi

• Genre: Thriller / Suspense

• Production Company: Beijing Momen Culture Communication Co., Ltd.

• Runtime: 89 minutes

• Language: Mandarin

• Release Date: October 31, 2025

Shot in locations across Chongqing Fuling, Jiangjin, and Guizhou Anshun, the film immerses audiences in a suspenseful narrative rooted in local culture and dialects, using pseudo-documentary techniques for a heightened sense of realism.

🕵️‍♂️ Plot – A Mystery Decade in the Making

Ten years ago, a supernatural luminous incident in Xiangshan led to the mysterious disappearance of Zhang Peng’s friend. Now, a decade later, documentary director Zhou Shiyong and his crew return to the site with Zhang Peng to uncover the truth.

As they follow eyewitness accounts, contradictions and ambiguities deepen the mystery. Each interview reveals differing perspectives, making it unclear what really happened. When the crew finally reaches a mysterious man-made cave, they discover that the “mystery” itself was deliberately orchestrated by a director—but the ultimate truth remains elusive.

In the shadowy depths of Xiangshan, who is the manipulator and who is being manipulated becomes increasingly uncertain. As the dusty cement door creaks open, what unfolds challenges perception itself, leaving both characters and viewers questioning reality.

🌌 Style & Themes

• Pseudo-Documentary Format: The film blurs the line between fiction and documentary, creating an immersive investigative experience.

• Dialect & Authenticity: Incorporates Sichuan and Chongqing dialects to enhance realism and cultural texture.

• Suspenseful Storytelling: Combines supernatural elements with psychological tension, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

• Themes of Manipulation & Perception: Explores how truth can be shaped by perspective, power, and deception.

⭐ Cast Highlights

• Xiao Shenyang plays Zhang Peng, whose quest to uncover a decade-old mystery drives the narrative.

• Wang Wei and Zhang Dengping are key investigators and companions.

• Ni Jingyang and Dong Zhiyi play supporting roles that heighten tension and mystery.

The ensemble brings depth to the story, balancing suspense with human emotion in a way that resonates beyond the supernatural plot.

📅 Release & Reception

Illuminant Object premiered at the FIRST Youth Film Festival on July 21, 2025, and was shortlisted for the Golden Rooster Film Venture Capital Conference as a notable project in production. Its official release in China is set for October 31, 2025, promising audiences a thrilling, thought-provoking cinematic experience just in time for Halloween.

💡 Why Watch Illuminant Object?If you love psychological thrillers that test your perception, pseudo-documentary narratives, and mysteries with supernatural undertones, Illuminant Object is a must-watch. It’s a film that doesn’t just tell a story—it questions the nature of truth itself, leaving viewers pondering long after the screen goes dark.