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Director Shal Ngo’s latest psychological horror movie, Control Freak, blends elements of body horror and creature horror to outline the trappings of the mind. Presenting a literal manifestation of a depressed, tormented psyche in the form of a hideous, monstrous creature, the movie goes to great lengths to showcase different aspects of the gradual degradation of mental health and how our own toxic tendencies propagate it. Playing the lead character, Kelly Marie Tran does all the heavy lifting as there was very little scope provided for other characters to shine. Despite that being the case, the talented supporting cast of Control Freak delivers memorable performances according to the demands of the narrative.

Valerie Nguyen Played By Kelly Marie Tran

Daughter of a Vietnamese refugee couple, actor Kelly Marie Tran has seen her fair share of hardship while growing up in the States. Her big break came back in 2015 when...

A new horror film from A24 is now playing in theaters, the latest Samara Weaving genre movie is available for you at home, and Terrifier 3 now has its own official streaming documentary.

Here’s all the new horror that released March 10 – March 14, 2025!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Now streaming on Screambox is the horror-thriller Uncontained, in which a mysterious drifter struggles to protect an abandoned boy and his little sister from an infection that turns people into a feral-like state and a ruthless militia leader searching for his missing daughter.

Subscribe to the Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox by the end of the day today, March 14, 2025, with the code SB3 to get your first three months for just $2.99/month!

Uncontained marks the feature debut of police officer-turned-video game writer and technical director Morley Nelson (The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, Mib: Alien Crisis).

Morley Nelson...

“Control Freak” is a fascinating story arriving on hulu today, following a woman who gradually loses her sanity and takes us along on her worst nightmares. This foray into psychological horror and delirium, with its good pacing and some impactful scenes, offers truly striking moments.

Plot

The story follows Valerie, a charismatic motivational speaker played by Kelly Marie Tran, whose life takes a sinister turn when she’s plagued by an uncontrollable itch on her head. This seemingly innocuous symptom triggers a series of disturbing events as Valerie becomes infected with a parasitic demon from her homeland.

The Cast

Kelly Marie Tran, known for her role in the Star Wars saga and for voicing Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess in “Raya,” delivers a powerful and nuanced performance. The cast is rounded out by Miles Robbins as Robbie, Valerie’s husband, Toan Le as Sang, Valerie’s father, and Kieu Chinh as Aunt Thuy.

The body horror film, a Hulu Original, stars Kelly Marie Tran, Miles Robbins, and more.

Despite her success as a motivational speaker, there is still an itch Valerie cannot scratch. The Hulu Original “Control Freak” stars Kelly Marie Tran as a woman on a terrifying journey as she battles an unrelenting parasitic demon on the back of her head. The body horror film debuts this Thursday, March 13— watch exclusively on Hulu with a free trial or subscription!

How to watch ‘Control Freak’ When: Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 3 a.m. Et TV: Hulu Stream: Watch with a 30-day free trial to Hulu From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know to stream ‘Control Freak’

How to watch ‘Control Freak’

What time will ‘Control Freak’ be available?

Can you watch ‘Control Freak’ for free?

Watch the trailer for ‘Control Freak’

What is ‘Control Freak’ about?

What other...

An ambitious motivational speaker is tormented by an unrelenting itch in the back of her head in Hulu’s new horror film, Control Freak, but that itch seems destined to never be satisfied. And it’s a 50/50 split whether horror fans will be, either, in this Kelly Marie Tran-led outing written and directed by Shal Ngo (based on his Hulu short film Control). Tran, known for her work in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Raya and the Last Dragon, is perfectly cast, however. Tran creates a believable protagonist as a fast-rising motivational speaker named Valerie, who spirals down a psychological rabbit hole that leads to bloody terror.

The film is part of a collaboration between Hulu and WorthenBrooks, which has doled out a slew of successful horror movies, including The Mill,Appendage, and Carved. Here, Val battles a mysterious parasitic demon from her homeland — which she believes is inside her,...

“That voice was a parasite inside my mind – and I was way too generous a host.”

This line sets the tone for Control Freak,Hulu's latest bone-chilling psychological horror. Written and directed by Shal Ngo and starring Kelly Marie Tran (of Star Wars and Raya And the Last Dragon fame), Miles Robbins, Kieu Chinh, Callie Johnson and Toan Le, Control Freak is an intensely heady, emotionally charged and unnervingly relevant meditation on the destructive trail of mental illness. Based on Ngo's 2021 short film of the same name, featured in Hulu's Bite Size Halloween, the full-length feature goes all-in on its literal depiction of mental illness, inherited trauma and Buddhist folklore, but its longer length and unsteady pacing works against it.

Valerie Nguyen (Kelly Marie Tran) is a successful motivational speaker. In public, she is capable, confident, and, above all, in control. Behind the scenes, Val's desperate need for control isn't so well-received.

Control Freak: A Hulu Horror That Will Make You Fear the Itch

Hulu’s newest psychological horror film, Control Freak, offers a chilling yet darkly comedic dive into perfectionism, control, and the horrifying consequences of losing both. Starring Kelly Marie Tran in a captivating lead role, this movie transforms a simple nuisance—an itchy scalp—into an unsettling body horror experience that will make you hyper-aware of every little tingle on your skin.

Kelly Marie Tran takes on the role of Val, a motivational speaker known for her Ted Talks, where she inspires thousands to take charge of their lives. On stage, she exudes confidence, but behind the scenes, Val struggles with internal battles she cannot seem to win. Beneath her poised exterior lies a woman plagued by compulsions and anxieties that refuse to be tamed.

When an unexplained itch starts tormenting her scalp, Val initially chalks it up to stress.

"There's something wrong with her..." "I can't stop!" Hulu has unveiled an official trailer for another new super creepy streaming horror film titled Control Freak, directed by filmmaker Shal Ngo. Even though it's not part of their usual Huluween offerings, this feels like it belongs in that category. In Control Freak, the very talented actress Kelly Marie Tran stars as Valerie, a woman whose life spirals into chaos due to an inexplicable & powerful affliction on her. Val is a motivational speaker who is tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head, which turns out to be some gross parasitic demon.

If you were itching to see Kelly Marie Tran in a horror film, you're in luck, but its premise — on the surface — may confuse you. You see, the Star Wars star is slated to go head-to-head with... an itch. On the back of her head. Only it's not just a pesky patch of dry skin, it's a full-on parasitic demon that has made its way into her body, and it's causing her to do a whole host of uncharacteristic things. Did we mention she is also a motivational speaker? Yeah, Control Freaksounds like it's going to be very stressful. And possibly gory. But also maybe funny?

Given that the film is coming to Hulu, we're inclined to follow our hopes on that. But you can also make your own assessment by watching the extremely anxiety-inducing new trailer for the film, released to entice you to tune in when it hits...

The latest Hulu Original horror flick, Control Freak, has gotten a poster or trailer, but be forewarned – if you suffer from arachnophobia you might not want to look at the poster I’ve included below. It’s a little gross! Control Freak, comes from director Shal Ngo, who expands his own horror short, Control, to feature length with this. The short was originally featured on Hulu’s Bite Sized Halloween. Ngo also recently directed The Park, which was like Lord of the Flies set in an amusement park, but this seems to be his biggest movie to date.

It stars Kelly Marie Tran (of Star Wars: The Last Jedi) as “a motivational speaker is tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head.” The trailer actually reminds me a bit of a fun old schlocky horror movie from the seventies called The Manitou, where a woman was similarly infected by a parasite,...

Kelly Marie Tran will always be known for her role as Rose in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, particularly in The Last Jedi, but she’s found success beyond a Galaxy Far, Far Away in other projects after last appearing in a Star Wars project in The Rise of Skywalker. Hulu has debuted the official trailer for Control Freak, a provocative new horror film that also stars Miles Robbins, Toan Le, and Kieu Chinh. The project follows a motivational speaker tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head. This leads her down a path that pits her against a parasitic demon from her homeland. Control Freak promises to bring a fresh and thrilling perspective to the horror genre and it will begin streaming exclusively on Hulu on March 13.

Hulu has unveiled the official new trailer for Control Freak, an original horror movie starring Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi actor Kelly Marie Tran as a woman afflicted with a demonic parasite.

Control Freak debuts exclusively on Hulu on March 13.

The logline for this psychological thriller is straightforward, simple, and effective: “A motivational speaker is tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head.”

Watch the new trailer below, which introduces the start of the parasitic affliction. Intriguingly, the trailer withholds any full glimpse of the entity, though the creepy, crawly new poster below might give us a better look.

In Control Freak, Tran plays “Valerie, a woman whose life spirals into chaos due to this inexplicable and relentless affliction.” Opposite Tran, Miles Robbins plays “her on-screen husband Robbie.” Toan Le rounds out the cast as Valerie’s father, Sang, with Kieu Chinh as Aunt Thuy.

March is already looking to be a good month, with a slew of horror content making its way to Hulu, including chilling new releases, classic scares, and must-watch thrillers. Among the new arrivals is the horror thriller Control Freak, starring Kelly Marie Tran. It's a Hulu original movie that should definitely be added to everyone's watchlist.

We first learned about this film back in April 2024 when it was announced that Sweet Tooth actress Kelly Marie Tran and Halloween's Miles Robbins had signed on to star. While an official release date wasn’t provided at the time, it was confirmed that the movie would debut in early 2025. Now, we finally have the release date. Control Freak is slated to be released on Hulu on Thursday, March 13, 2025. With March right around the corner, you want to make sure not to forget the date. Better yet, it's probably best that you mark it down in your calendar.

Kelly Marie Tran in ‘Control Freak’ (Photo Credit: WorthenBrooks/Hulu)

Hulu’s released the first few photos from Control Freak, the body horror film starring Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi). The photos arrived along with the confirmation of a March 13, 2025 premiere date on the streaming service.

In addition to Tran, the cast includes Miles Robbins (Blockers) and Toan Le and Kieu Chinh from The Sympathizer.

“Control Freak introduces a chilling narrative: ‘A motivational speaker is tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head.’ This intriguing premise leads into a terrifying journey as she battles a parasitic demon from her homeland, bringing a fresh and thrilling perspective to the horror genre,” reads Hulu and WorthenBrooks’ synopsis. Kelly Marie Tran stars as Valerie, “a woman whose life spirals into chaos due to this inexplicable and relentless affliction.” Miles Robbins plays her husband, Robbie,...

Hulu’s upcoming psychological thriller from Shal Ngo will arrive sooner than fans expect as the streamer has finally set a release date, nearly a year after unveiling part of the film's cast list. Starring Kelly Marie Tran, Miles Robbins, Toan Le, and Kieu Chinh, Control Freak will premiere exclusively on Hulu on Thursday, March 13, only a few weeks away, and will be available on Disney+ internationally at a later date. In addition to the release date, Hulu has dropped first-look images featuring the main cast, which you can check out below.

Hulu has revealed first look photos of Control Freak, a new horror movie featuring Star Wars franchise star Kelly Marie Tran. A release date for the film has also been announced.

Per Hulu,Control Freak will start streaming exclusively on Hulu on March 13, 2025. From WorthenBrooks and Hulu Originals, the movie will be made available on Disney+ internationally on a later date yet to be determined. The feature film was spawned from the short film Control featured in the second season of Hulu's Bite Size Halloween event in 2021. Shal Ngo, the writer and director of the original short, returned to write and direct Control Freak as well. The filmmaker's previous work includes The Park, The Box, and The Last Fisherman.

RelatedHulu Pulls the Plug on Series Adaptation of Popular Fantasy Novel After 4 Years Spent in Development Hell

The series was to have been produced by Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ronald D. Moore...

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi star Kelly Marie Tran will find herself dealing with a mysterious parasitic affliction in WorthenBrooks and Hulu Original’s Control Freak, and our exclusive first look images indicate a psychologically disturbing, bloody time ahead.

Control Freak debuts exclusively on Hulu on March 13 before heading to Disney+ internationally at a later date.

The logline for this psychological thriller is straightforward, simple, and effective: “A motivational speaker is tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head.” That strange itch gives way to an intense journey as the woman finds herself battling a parasitic demon from her homeland.

Tran plays “Valerie, a woman whose life spirals into chaos due to this inexplicable and relentless affliction.” Opposite Tran, Miles Robbins plays “her on-screen husband Robbie.” Toan Le rounds out the cast as Valerie’s father, Sang, with Kieu Chinh as Aunt Thuy.

The...

Kleo is a German spy action-thriller and dark comedy-drama series created by Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf, and Bob Konrad. The Netflix series is set in 1989, soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall and it follows the story of a former East German spy as she goes on a revenge mission to kill people who betrayed her. Kleo stars Jella Haase in the lead role with Dimitrij Schaad, Julius Feldmeier, Vincent Redetzki, and Marta Sroka starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the dark comedy, thrilling drama, and espionage in Kleo here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Killing Eve Credit – BBC America

Killing Eve is a British spy thriller and dark comedy-drama series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Based on a novel series titled Villanelle by author Luke Jennings, the BBC America series revolves around a bored British intelligence agent who is tasked with tracking down psychotic assassin,...

Director Park Chan-wook didn’t always storyboard scenes to help his filmmaking: It wasn’t until his 2000 film “Joint Security Area” that he began using the technique. “My producer argued that America’s filmmaking process was far more advanced and he wanted me to do that,” he recalled to Variety.

Park found the storyboarding process to be arduous and time-consuming, but when he got into production, he found it paid off with more efficient filming. He says storyboarding was a necessity on HBO’s “The Sympathizer” — especially to pull off the series’ most elaborate sequence.

At the end of Episode 1 of the limited series set during the Vietnam War, The Captain (Hoa Xuande), The General (Toan Le) and their families are attempting to flee Saigon by plane and come under heavy bombing. Park, who directed the first three episodes, found that intricately storyboarding the sequence helped his team. Speaking to Variety via a translator,...

Editor’s note: Deadline’s It Starts on the Page features standout limited or anthology series scripts in 2024 Emmy contention.

“What they want to hear, Sir, is that we still share a purpose: the Mission Civilization, a faith in the good fight, the American way, et cetera,” double agent the Captain (Hoa Xuande) tells the desperate General (Toan Le) as the fall of Saigon appears imminent in the opening episode of HBO’s The Sympathizer. “A sophomore debate theme for a Fort Leavenworth alum like yourself.”

In many ways, the line from the “Death Wish” script, written by The Sympathizer creators Don McKellar and Park Chan-wook, sums up the complexities and duplicities of the premium cabler’s multi-genre limited series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name.

Starring Robert Downey Jr in several roles personifying America and its disastrous involvement in Southeast Asia, The Sympathizer...

Robert Downey Jr.’s career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The Oppenheimer star has seen it all – the highs and the lows. From his early rise to fame, that was stunted by a crippling drug addiction and was at once threatened to stunt his career as well. But he bounced back in style. Since then, there has been no turning back for him. And he’s played numerous interesting roles. But on the top of his list would be a series which saw him take on the mantle of playing 4 roles.

Robert Downey Jr.’s rise (and return) to fame

Robert Downey Jr. has not taken a step back after the turn of the millennium l l Author: Georges Biard Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Ever since Robert Downey Jr. came out of rehab, it’s been about going from strength to strength for him. The 59-year-old was always known for his acting prowess.

In HBO/Max’s war drama The Sympathizer, adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel and co-created by renowned director Park Chan-wook, a communist spy from North Vietnam (The Captain, played by Hoa Xuande) accompanies a Southern Vietnamese general (Toan Le) as he prepares to flee for America or risk capture. In this scene from episode one, The General is compiling his list of names to board the getaway plane with him, while The Captain starts crossing out those who’ll stay behind, masterfully depicted onscreen through this transition (one of many impressively complex scene changes in the series) showing the paper and the red pen indicating those fated to remain and face their victors’ wrath.

Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong chose this shot out of the show’s many cinematic frames because, he says, it’s “accumulating movement. It’s not a simple, static shot.” This particular scene was filmed...

The Captain (Hoa Xuande) is our guide through both Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel and the HBO limited series version of “The Sympathizer,” but he is also a mystery — most especially to himself. A communist spy who is pulled irresistibly towards the height of Western decadence (Los Angeles in the late ’70s) and depravity (a film set in the late ’70s), the goal of the show is to mirror Nguyen’s prose and give the viewer a visceral sense of The Captain’s alienation.

While the flashiest choice “The Sympathizer” makes is Robert Downey Jr. playing all the significant Western figures who attempt to influence The Captain, there are also smaller, subtler tortures within the show’s imagery itself. The cinematography (by “Decision To Leave” maestro Kim Ji-yong and “The Hurt Locker” veteran Barry Ackroyd) continually puts pressure on The Captain through a sense of heat, sickly light, and eyes just beyond the frame.

Co-producers are eager for The Sympathizer season 2 with more character exploration. They were focused on season 1 before planning sequels. Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar-created series features a talented and starry cast.

The Sympathizer season 2 gets a candid update from the producers of the HBO drama, which recently concluded its run. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer was created by showrunners Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, with the acclaimed filmmaker Park directing the first three episodes. The cast includes Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, Duy Nguyn, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Phanxin, Kieu Chinh, Alan Trong, and Sandra Oh.

In an interview with TheWrap, co-producers Amanda Burrell and Susan Downey gave an update on the chances of The Sympathizer season 2:

Burrell: Were so in love with these characters and I think with Hoa as our are Captain it would be amazing.

Spoiler Alert: The following interview contains spoilers for “Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?,” the series finale of “The Sympathizer” on HBO.

Robert Downey Jr. may have played five different characters in “The Sympathizer,” but he’s not the only actor in the cast who assumes multiple identities.

The limited series follows a North Vietnamese communist spy simply known as the Captain (Hoa Xuande) who’s embedded in a South Vietnamese community in Los Angeles after the war. Duy Nguyễn plays Man, the Captain’s handler, best friend and sole remaining connection to his home country. But for fear of surveillance, the two send decoy letters addressed to the Captain’s fictional aunt. Any real truths must be brief, focused and written in invisible ink. Therefore, when the Captain is lonely and in need of connection, he has imaginary conversations with Man as though he were with him in person.

The Sympathizer is a period spy thriller and dark comedy series created by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar. Based on a 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Vietnamese author Viet Thanh Nguyen, the HBO series follows the story of the Captain, a North Vietnam spy planted in the army of South Vietnam but when he is forced to flee to the United States, he keeps gathering information on his community to send it back to the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande in the lead role with Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Alan Trong, and Sandra Oh starring in supporting roles. If you loved the spy thriller and dark comedy aspects of The Sympathizer here are some similar shows you could watch next.

The Americans (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – FX

The Americans is a...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Sympathizer” Episode 6.

In Sunday’s episode of “The Sympathizer,” the Captain (Hoa Xuande) murders his nemesis Sonny (Alan Trong) in his apartment, following the General’s (Toan Le) orders after concerns surfaced about his reporting on their covert mission.

But the decision is fueled by more than just the directive, after The Captain learned that his girlfriend Sofia Mori (Sandra Oh) had been having an affair with Sonny while he was away, working as a Vietnamese interpreter on Nikos’ (Robert Downey Jr.) movie.

“We have a rivalry that’s obviously spanned through our childhood because we have very similar backstories. The Captain and Sonny had American education before they split ways, so they see their causes for the Vietnamese people very similarly, but they obviously act upon it in very different ways,” Xuande told TheWrap. “I can only speak on behalf of the...

In the upcoming episode of “The Sympathizer” titled “Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?” viewers are in for a gripping ride as the story delves deeper into the life of the spy embedded in the South Vietnam army. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War’s final days, tensions run high as the spy navigates his double life in the United States, torn between loyalty and survival.

As the episode unfolds at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, 26 May 2024, on HBO, audiences can expect to witness the intricate web of espionage and betrayal unravel in unexpected ways. The spy’s struggles intensify as he grapples with the moral complexities of his actions, blurring the lines between right and wrong in a world fraught with uncertainty.

With stellar performances and a riveting storyline, “The Sympathizer” continues to captivate viewers with its raw portrayal of war, identity, and the human experience. As the series reaches its seventh episode,...

The satirical spy-thriller “The Sympathizer” hopes to make a mark at the Primetime Emmys this year, as HBO/Max has submitted the show for 27 Emmy categories. The hopeful bids from creators Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar include acting recognition for breakout performer Hoa Xuande and superstar Robert Downey Jr., as well as outstanding limited or anthology series.

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 debut novel, “The Sympathizer” tells the story of “The Captain” (Xuande), a North Vietnamese soldier in the South Vietnamese army who is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to spy on the community, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life.

Fresh off his Oscar win for supporting actor in “Oppenheimer,” Downey aims to become the first male actor to win an Oscar and...

Get ready for an intense and gripping episode of “The Sympathizer” as Season 1 Episode 6, titled “The Oriental Mode of Destruction,” airs at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, May 19, 2024, on HBO. In this thrilling installment, viewers will be drawn deeper into the world of espionage and intrigue as the story nears its climax.

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War’s final days, “The Sympathizer” follows a spy embedded within the South Vietnamese army as he flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community. Despite his new surroundings, the spy continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong, navigating a dangerous world of double-crosses and betrayal.

As tensions rise and the stakes escalate, viewers can expect plenty of twists and turns as the spy’s loyalties are put to the test. With its complex characters, gripping plot, and thought-provoking themes, “The Sympathizer” offers...

Robert Downey Jr. shines in The Sympathizer, playing four captivating characters in this acclaimed HBO miniseries. Episode 4 brings chaos and references to classic Vietnam War films like Apocalypse Now, with a touch of Tropic Thunder's satire. While not as visually stunning as Apocalypse Now, The Sympathizer is a strong series with comedic elements and great performances.

Robert Downey Jr.'s latest television series features a great callback to his 2008 comedy classic. The new HBO limited series The Sympathizer is a critically acclaimed adaptation based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Since releasing on April 14, 2024, The Sympthzier has earned an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and is widely considered one of the best miniseries currently on television. The acclaimed series stars Downey Jr. as four different characters in his first major role since his Oscar-winning performance in 2023's Oppenheimer.

The Sympathizer's cast also includes Hoa Xuande,...

The Sympathizer took the Max streaming service by storm, leading fans to want to know more about one of the show's brightest rising stars, Vy Le.

Based on the debut novel of the same name by Vietnamese-American professor and writer Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer is a political drama that follows a North Vietnamese plant placed in a refugee camp in the United States full of South Vietnamese people.

In the show, actress Vy Le portrays Lana, the daughter of Toan Le's The General.

Read full article on The Direct.

The Sympathizer, starring Robert Downey Jr., deals with the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The series is a semi-fictional story based on a book by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The fall of Saigon was the catalyst for the HBO miniseries and is crucial to the story.

HBO's latest miniseries deals with the aftermath of the Vietnam War in the mid-'70s, both with the Vietnamese and Americans who were involved in the war. The drama is an adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novel of the same name and is written and executive produced by legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. The miniseries has also been made in collaboration with A24, and Robert Downey Jr. serves as an executive producer and stars in the show. The Sympathizer is a semi-fictional story based on the real-life events of the Vietnam War and primarily takes place after the Fall of Saigon in 1975.

While the main characters are entirely fictional,...

HBO's miniseries The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel and focuses on a North Vietnamese spy continuing his mission as a South Vietnam plant after the end of the Vietnam War. The show features a diverse ensemble cast and crew, showcasing Vietnamese representation and collaboration among Asian cultures. Phanxin and Kieu Chinh open up about their character arcs in the show, how their real-life experiences informed their performances, and the importance of the show's Vietnamese representation.

Get a new perspective on the Vietnam War and its fallout with The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO miniseries centers on the Captain, a North Vietnamese spy working as a Communist plant in the South Vietnamese army in the '70s. When the war comes to an end, and he's forced to escape his home to head to America, the...

Projects about the Vietnam War and its aftermath are so plentiful as to be practically their own genre, and they’ve starred a who’s who of Hollywood icons, including John Wayne, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Christian Bale.

Notably missing from the casts — at least among the substantive speaking parts — have been performers of actual Vietnamese descent. That’s finally changed with The Sympathizer, HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel. Robert Downey Jr. (who also executive produces) and Sandra Oh are the big names involved, but they are led by relative newcomer Hoa Xuande and joined by Vietnamese costars to tell a story about spycraft and personal and collective identity immediately following the conflict, centering the people whose lives and country were torn apart as a result.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with eight of...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Sympathizer episode 3.

The Sympathizer episode 3 unites all Robert Downey Jr.'s characters in a plot to take out The Major, escalating tension and intrigue. The Captain faces moral dilemmas as he struggles to follow orders to assassinate an innocent man, revealing dark secrets within the ranks. Dark themes of betrayal, espionage, and inner conflict are skillfully woven together, culminating in a shocking assassination and unexpected twists.

The Sympathizer episode 3 titled "Love It or Leave It" was released exclusively on HBO and Max on April 28, 2024. The third episode of the seven-part miniseries, The Sympathizer episode 3 featured the union of all four of Robert Downey Jr.'s characters in the same scene. Since releasing on April 14, 2024, The Sympthzier has earned an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and is widely considered one of the best new miniseries on television. The acclaimed series stars Downey Jr. in his first major acting...

The Captain has a big morale dilemma in the first season of The Sympathizer TV show on HBO. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like The Sympathizer is cancelled or renewed for season two. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the first season episodes of The Sympathizer here.

An HBO historical dark comedy-drama series, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese...

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers for Episode 3 of “The Sympathizer” on HBO.

Phanxine isn’t an actor.

Or so he says, though one might beg to differ after seeing his performance in “Love It or Leave It,” the third episode of HBO’s “The Sympathizer.” Though he’s no stranger to filmmaking, having directed and produced popular features such as the Vietnamese box office hit “Sweet 20,” Phanxine is a first-time performer. In fact, his involvement in “The Sympathizer” only came together after an audition he attended as a prank — more on that later.

Episode 2 saw the General (Toan Le) begin to suspect the presence of a North Vietnamese spy among the South Vietnamese community he began building in Los Angeles after the war, but he’s still far from realizing that it’s the Captain (Hoa Xuande) who’s betraying him. In an attempt to keep his cover, the...

This Sunday on HBO, viewers are in for a gripping and thought-provoking episode of “The Sympathizer” with Season 1 Episode 4 titled “Give Us Some Good Lines.” Set near the end of the Vietnam War, the series follows the journey of a spy embedded in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States and settles in a refugee community. Despite his new surroundings, he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong.

In this installment, tensions rise as the spy navigates the complexities of his double life while grappling with the moral dilemmas that come with espionage. As the stakes escalate, viewers will be drawn deeper into the web of intrigue and deception that surrounds the protagonist.

Tune in at 9:00 Pm this Sunday, May 5th, 2024, on HBO, and immerse yourself in the thrilling world of “The Sympathizer.” It’s a riveting portrayal of loyalty, betrayal, and...

We don't have to wonder if The Sympathizer will be cancelled or renewed for a second season since it's been promoted as a limited series. Still, HBO sometimes likes to change course and find a way to keep shows going. Big Little Lies and The White Lotus are good examples. Could The Sympathizer continue beyond these seven episodes? Stay tuned.

A historical dark comedy-drama series, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War. He flees to America with his general (Le) and begins a new life in Los Angeles within a...

Vulture Watch

The Captain has serious choices to make. Has The Sympathizer TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on HBO? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of The Sympathizer, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A historical dark comedy-drama series airing on the HBO cable channel, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War. He flees...

Park Chan-Wook's new Max series, The Sympathizer, explores themes of revenge and loyalty on a grand scale. The Captain, a communist spy, must navigate betrayals and dangerous missions in the waning days of the Vietnam War. The show's focus on the devastating impact of revenge, mixed with tragedy and humor, continues Park Chan-Wook's exploration of these dark themes.

The brand-new Max series The Sympathizer, co-created and directed by legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, looks to continue the themes of the auteur's underrated Vengeance Trilogy. Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer chronicles the story of an unnamed communist spy during the waning days of the Vietnam War. As Saigon falls, main The Sympathizer character The Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) is forced to undertake a more dangerous mission infiltrating the United States. The source material is equal parts tragic, thrilling,...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Sympathizer episode 2.

The Sympathizer episode 2 introduces new characters and explores the aftermath of the tragic events from episode 1. Professor Hammer, played by Rdj, and Sandra Oh's character Sofia Mori play key roles in The Captain's journey in Los Angeles. The intricately woven plot includes coded messages to Man, suspicions of a spy by The General, and a shocking set-up by The Captain.

The Sympathizer episode 2 titled "Good Little Asian" chronicled the aftermath of episode 1's tragic cliffhanger ending. The Sympathizer's cast is led by recent Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. as Claude, an eccentric yet incredibly resourceful CIA operative, who is just one of the four characters that Rdj plays in the series. His second character, Professor Hammer, is an Asian-American Studies professor at a college in Los Angeles who used to teach The Captain (Hoa Xuande). The Captain was one of Professor...

HBO's new limited series The Sympathizer is set to run through April and May 2024. The celebrated new series has debuted at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, solidifying itself as one of the most celebrated new miniseries of 2024. Robert Downey Jr. stars as several characters in the critically acclaimed new limited series which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The Sympathizer's cast also features performances from Sandra Oh, Toan Le, and Fred Nguyen Khan.

The Sympathizer episode 1 dives into the final days of the Vietnam War before the real-life Fall of Saigon. Downey Jr. plays Claude, a fierce and manipulative member of the CIA who works with the General of the South Vietnamese Army to help him flee the country to the safety of the United States. While Downey plays several major roles in The Sympathizer, the series' protagonist, who is simply...

Get ready for an intense episode of “The Sympathizer” titled “Love It or Leave It,” airing on HBO at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, April 28, 2024. In this gripping installment, tensions rise as the Captain grapples with the General’s orders to eliminate the spy among them.

Feeling the weight of this task, the Captain turns to Bon for assistance in crafting and executing a plan, timed perfectly for Independence Day. As they strategize, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the pressure mounts as they race against time to uncover the traitor in their midst.

Meanwhile, amidst the turmoil, Claude introduces the Captain to the enigmatic figure known as the Auteur during an upscale lunch. With alliances shifting and secrets lurking, the Captain finds himself navigating treacherous waters where loyalty and betrayal blur the lines.

Don’t miss out on the suspenseful twists and turns of “Love It or Leave It...

Exclusive: Kelly Marie Tran and Miles Robbins will star in Shal Ngo’s Control Freak, a psychological thriller from WorthenBrooks for Hulu Originals. The feature film has wrapped production and will premiere in early 2025.

Control Freak follows a motivational speaker plagued by an uncontrollable itch on her head, who becomes infected with a parasitic demon from her homeland. Tran stars as “Valerie,” alongside Robbins who plays her husband, “Robbie.”

Additional cast includes Toan Le (The Sympathizer) as Valerie’s father, “Sang” and Kieu Chinh (The Joy Luck Club) as her “Aunt Thuy.”

Toan Le and Kieu Chinh

Ngo was tapped to direct Control Freak based on the short film Control. He also wrote and directed for Season 2 of Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween. WorthenBrooks developed Control Freak for Hulu Originals with David Brooks,...

The Sympathizer is a historical black comedy series with elements of war, spy, politics, and mystery. Based on a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winning 2015 best-selling novel of the same name by Vietnamese-American professor Viet Thanh Nguyen, the HBO series is co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook.

The HBO series is set near the end of the Vietnam war and it follows the story of a spy embedded in the South Vietnam army as he flees to the United States to gather intelligence for the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer is simply a thrilling experience with some great comedy and layered characters that will have you glued to your screen.

The Sympathizer – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Arrive?) Credit – HBO

The Sympathizer consists of seven episodes in total. The historical dark comedy series premiered on HBO with its first episode on April 14, with the rest of the episodes coming out weekly every Sunday.

Don McKellar tackles a new project with The Sympathizer, bringing his creative talents to the TV sphere with renowned director Park Chan-wook. The Sympathizer delves deep into a complex narrative, capturing the essence of the source material's Hollywood satire and war drama. McKellar navigates challenges in adapting the novel, particularly in capturing the voice of the Captain through a unique narrative device.

Multihyphenate Don McKellar is tackling his biggest project to date with The Sympathizer. The Canadian creative first found success as an actor in everything from the David Cronenberg-helmed eXistenZ to the Samuel L. Jackson-starring The Red Violin, which he also penned. McKellar went on to find further acclaim behind the camera with the 1998 apocalyptic black dramedy Last Night, which he wrote and directed and won him the Cannes "Award of the Youth" trophy.

With The Sympathizer, McKellar makes his return as a creator/showrunner in the TV sphere,...

Vietnamese actors in HBO's The Sympathizer present a truthful depiction of their culture on screen through natural dialogue delivery. The show's non-linear production allowed stars Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Toan Le to grow with their characters, exploring inner power in different ways. Director Park Chan-wook's precision and vision made him the perfect choice to helm the HBO thriller to his stars, guiding them with exact direction.

Some wars continue long after they end, as seen in The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO miniseries revolves around a North Vietnamese spy simply known as the Captain, who has been working undercover in the South Vietnamese army in the hopes of undermining their war efforts in the '70s. As the Vietnam War comes to an end, the Captain and some of his South Vietnam cohorts escape to America to start new lives,...

The Sympathizer presents Vietnamese culture with a primarily Vietnamese cast speaking their native tongue. Stars Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyn researched extensively to time-travel into the late 1970s setting, finding inspiration in music. Interestingly, the two actors were already friends well before being cast in the show, which further helped them capture the close bond between their characters.

The Vietnam War is being told through a unique new lens with The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO thriller is set near the end of the Vietnam War, following a group of refugees as they escape from the country and head to America to build new lives. Amid the refugees is the Captain, a spy for North Vietnam who had been working undercover in the South Vietnam army and continues his mission while on the other side of the world.