The Living Dead (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A supernatural investigation moves from a town's ghostly taboo to a mansion hiding illusions, dark magic, and a concealed resurrection scheme.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Fufeng Under the Bell

The town lives under a night-time prohibition against candles and lamps. Another attack leaves unexplained corpses and sends fear through the community.

Key Events

• The Night Bell Prohibition — After the night bell rings, residents must extinguish every candle and lamp. Location: Town of Fufeng
• Fear of the Blood Ghost — Residents believe light summons a ghost that drains human blood and flesh. Location: Town of Fufeng
• Another Night Attack — A new attack leaves corpses without visible wounds and intensifies the town's terror. Location: Town of Fufeng
• Investigation Reaches Mansion — The investigation leads Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui to the abandoned mansion. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion

The Mansion Survivor

Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui trace the investigation to the abandoned Xiao mansion. They find Xiao Yi hiding inside, hear his account of the masked figure, and promise to protect him.

Key Events

• Survivor Found Hiding — The investigators find a terrified survivor concealed inside the mansion. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Survivor Is Xiao Yi — Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui identify the survivor as Xiao Yi, the family's second son. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• A Promise of Protection — Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui promise to protect Xiao Yi from further danger. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Masked Figure in Red — Xiao Yi says a masked figure in red murdered his family and repeatedly tortured him. Characters: Xiao Yi, Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Yin Iron Manuscript — Xiao Yi connects the disaster to a manuscript and the Yin Iron's dark puppet-controlling power. Characters: Xiao Yi, Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion

The False Heir's Scheme

Xiao Yi's testimony points toward the Yin Iron and its manuscript. The investigators learn that a servant concealed his identity, manipulated a family member, and pursued resurrection through dark magic.

Key Events

• The False Family Heir — The testimony reveals that the supposed heir was actually a servant hiding his identity. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• A Hidden Love — The concealed servant is described as secretly loving a woman of the Xiao household. Characters: Xiao Yi, Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• Dark Magic Manipulation — Dark magic makes a respected family member appear responsible for the murders. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Resurrection Motive — The hidden culprit seeks to resurrect the woman he loved through the manuscript and Yin Iron. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• Illusions Hide the Mansion — Illusions and an enchantment conceal the culprit's actions within the mansion. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui, Xiao Yi Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion

Illusions in the Mansion

After the manipulated man dies, the investigators return and discover that the enchantment remains active. Lan Sizhui is trapped in an illusion, but Wen Ning recognizes the deception.

Key Events

• The Manipulated Man Dies — The family member manipulated into appearing guilty dies after the deception unfolds. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• Investigators Return — Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui return to the mansion to find the real culprit. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Enchantment Remains — The active enchantment proves that the killer has not escaped the mansion's hidden reach. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• Lan Trapped in Illusion — Lan Sizhui becomes trapped inside an illusion while the mansion continues to deceive them. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• Wen Recognizes the Deception — Wen Ning recognizes that Lan Sizhui's situation is part of the mansion's deception. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Abandoned Xiao Mansion
• The Pavilion Clue — A strangely placed pavilion appears to hold the final clue to the haunting and hidden manuscript. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Pavilion in the Lotus Pond
• Truth Near Discovery — The investigators approach the truth behind the haunting and the manuscript's concealment. Characters: Wen Ning, Lan Sizhui Location: Pavilion in the Lotus Pond

Story Breakdown

• Fufeng's Nightly Fear — The town's rules and unexplained deaths establish the supernatural threat.
  • Bell And Darkness — Residents must extinguish candles and lamps after the night bell rings.
  • Wounded Corpses — Another attack leaves bodies without visible wounds and deepens public terror.
• Mansion Investigation — Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui follow the case to the abandoned Xiao mansion.
  • Abandoned Xiao Mansion — The investigation reaches the mansion linked to the Xiao family.
  • Hidden Survivor — The investigators find Xiao Yi hiding inside the mansion.
• Xiao Yi's Testimony — The survivor describes the masked figure and identifies the supernatural objects behind the disaster.
  • Red Masked Figure — Xiao Yi claims a masked figure in red murdered his family and tortured him.
  • Yin Iron Manuscript — The testimony connects the murders to a manuscript and the Yin Iron.
• False Heir Revelation — The apparent family identity collapses as the hidden servant's motive emerges.
  • Concealed Servant — The supposed heir was actually a servant who hid his identity.
  • Secret Household Love — The servant secretly loved a woman from the Xiao household.
• Dark Magic Deception — Manipulation and illusion redirect blame while supporting a resurrection plan.
  • Manipulated Family Member — Dark magic makes a respected family member appear to be the murderer.
  • Resurrection Scheme — The manuscript and Yin Iron are sought to resurrect the loved woman.
• Enchanted Mansion — The mansion remains an active supernatural trap after the apparent culprit's scheme is exposed.
  • Persistent Enchantment — The active enchantment proves that the killer's influence has not disappeared.
  • Lan's Illusion — Lan Sizhui becomes trapped while Wen Ning recognizes the deception.
• Pavilion Final Clue — The investigation reaches a strange pavilion that may reveal the haunting's hidden manuscript.
  • Lotus Pond Pavilion — A strangely positioned pavilion appears inside the lotus pond.
  • Truth Near Discovery — The pavilion clue suggests that the haunting and manuscript are close to being explained.

Directed by

Qiu Zhongwei

Key Cast

• Yu Bin — Wen Ning
• Zheng Fanxing — Lan Sizhui
• Wang Yifei — Xiao Xing
• He Longlong — Zhou Zishu
• Gao Hanyu — Xiao Yi