Horror movie The Third Eye and Ham Tran's ambition

However, while teaching a group of screenwriters a few years ago, the director had the opportunity to chat with two friends and learned about some inexplicable spiritual phenomena. Their story inspired Ham Tran deeply, reminding him that such stories aren't just meant to frighten people, but can sometimes also heal.

"After 5 years in production, I am thrilled to share the stories that inspired me in The Third Eye (originally titled The Red Thread), a film about souls connected by destiny, meant for both the living and the dead," he said. This intense horror film is slated for theatrical release nationwide starting December 4th.

The director also revealed his desire to develop The Third Eye into an IP capable of expanding across seasons or future cinematic works. According to him, material from real life, urban legends, and the spiritual world remains vast enough to unfold multiple standalone stories within a shared connected universe.

To make this film, the overseas Vietnamese director knew from the outset that it wouldn't be easy. "Yet every film has its own path and voice. This story kept compelling me to make it. It was still there while I was shooting the series Missing on the 30th, Devil's Diner, and the film Hijack…" he shared.

The image of the "third eye" thus kept recurring in his mind. For Ham Tran, the "third eye" is not merely the ability to see spirits, but also opens up realities beyond ordinary perception. To one person, it might be a gift, but to another, a curse. He believes the film touches directly upon its core essence: the fear of the unknown, and the journey to find meaning in what exists beyond the tangible world."

On the evening of November 11, the crew of The Third Eye released the trailer and poster, teasing a plot involving Vien - a fanatic butcher who proclaims himself as the emissary of Black and White Impermanence. He believes the third eye on his forehead is waiting to be opened, believing he is the chosen one with the power to judge and decide the lives of others.

Instead of using the familiar prototypes from Chinese culture, when developing the characters of Black and White Impermanence, director Ham Tran chose to create a new design featuring two staffs topped with ear and nose shapes, accompanied by distinctive clicking sounds.

In Ham Tran's spiritual world, karma and affinity continue to bind human destinies, even when they reside in the realms of the living and the dead. "The Third Eye is not simply a story about the ability to see the departed, but also opens up realities beyond human perception," he shared.

The Third Eye brings together a cast including: Doan Minh Anh, Ba Tay, Kieu Trinh, Quang Tuan, Ngoc Phuoc, Tran Nghia, Loube Nguyen, Gia Tue, Cao Thuy Linh, Truong Minh Thao, Uy Nhan, Hien Ng…