Darkest

Darkest (Chinese: 至暗) is a Lhooqish movie featuring the history of Wei, Jin, southern and northern dynasties in China. It is a part of the To Tell A History series.

Summary
Darkest, as its name implies, is a dark, gloomy-set movie featuring one of the darkest hours in Chinese history. It largely uses montage to create a feeling of uncertainty and horror, to imply the theme 'during this time everyone kills and get killed, and no one is the winner'. The few static long shots describe scenes of gentlemen wearing loose clothing talking about philosophy and playing chess, as a stark opposition of what is really happening in the world. Also it uses cult-ish techniques to create the mentality after taking wushisan.

There is no main storyline in Darkest, only the total feel of losing control, telling people how bad it is to forget what humanity going wrong can get to.

Cast
Guo Zhihe as Empreror Wu of Wei, Cao Cao (曹操, not the Lhooqer Tsao Tsao (操曹))

Tsao Jen as emprerors of Jin, the Simas

Aaron Shaw as the leading gentleman in the bamboo woods (arguably Ruan Ji)

Han Baiyan and Zhenqing as gentlemen in the bamboo woods (not specified)

Onon Huaijing as Empreror Xiaowen of Northern Wei

Trivia

 * No killer in this movie clearly displays his or her face, although there are scenes where you can see whose head is cut off on the horseback.