Chapter Sixty-Three: Gleaming with Darkness

Chapter Sixty-Three: Shining Black

The success of a film depends on countless factors, but the true key to triumph is the excellence of the work itself.

There had never been a movie like this in the world before. The madness that "Crazy Stone" displayed was even fiercer than the original version in another world.

Multiple narrative threads advanced side by side, yet were cleverly intertwined to create dramatic tension. The abundance of witty gags, seamlessly linked, left the audience in fits of laughter. It was no exaggeration to say this film offered a small laugh every three minutes and a hearty laugh every ten.

At least, in the theater where Zhang Le and Yang Xiner sat, the hall was filled with laughter. Many laughed so hard they lost all sense of composure, Yang Xiner among them.

Though Yang Xiner had already seen the finished film, she laughed no less than anyone else. Perhaps it was the influence of the theater's atmosphere. After all, watching a film alone and watching it with a crowd are vastly different experiences.

Even Zhang Le found himself chuckling from time to time, a testament to the film's charm.

"This film is incredible!"

As Zhang Le stood and led Yang Xiner out of the theater, they overheard a member of the audience say this to his friend.

"Shall we watch it again?" his friend suggested.

"I feel the same! It's strange—I've just watched it, but I still want to see it again," the first replied with a smile.

Many shared this sentiment. As Zhang Le and Yang Xiner reached the ticket counter outside, they saw people who had just left the theater lining up once more. Their conversations made it clear they were planning to watch the next screening.

They enthusiastically recommended the film to others buying tickets, eager to share their delight. At first, some suspected these were shills, but as more people voiced sincere praise and immediately bought tickets for another round, skepticism faded.

Many changed their plans on the spot, drawn in by the allure of this movie.

To watch, and then to watch again—a rare occurrence for any film, almost negligible in number. For a new director like Zhang Le to achieve this was beyond anyone's imagination.

"You can stop worrying now, can't you?" Yang Xiner said to Zhang Le with a smile.

"Mm!" Zhang Le grinned and nodded. Anyone could see that this film had found a wide audience.

"Zhang Le! Our movie is a hit—and so are you!"

Just as Zhang Le and Yang Xiner stepped out of the cinema, Feng Lei called, his excitement palpable from the very first words.

"How do you know?" Zhang Le asked, smiling.

"Are you kidding me? I just left the cinema. The situation inside was unbelievable—do you realize, a lot of people watched it and immediately bought tickets for a second viewing? Immediately—not after a long break, but right after the credits. Do you know what that means?"

"I know—it means it's a hit! Didn't you just say that?" Zhang Le replied, laughing.

"Why do I feel like you're not even excited? Is this news not enough to get your blood pumping?" Feng Lei asked, curiosity now tinged with calm.

"I've already been excited," Zhang Le said. "I just left the theater myself."

"Damn!" Feng Lei was briefly speechless, then added, "You know what my old man said after watching the film?"

"Oh? You dragged Mr. Feng to see it too? What did he think?" Zhang Le asked, genuinely curious.

Feng Lei's father, Feng Yuan, held significant sway in the industry. His opinion would reflect the insiders' view of the film.

"He said our movie just might be the dark horse of the Spring Festival release," Feng Lei declared.

A dark horse at the box office? Zhang Le didn't know if Feng Yuan's prediction would come true, but judging by what had happened at the cinema earlier, it seemed highly likely.

"And what else?" Zhang Le pressed.

"What else? What do you mean?" Feng Lei sounded puzzled.

"All he said was his box office prediction? Didn't he comment on the film itself?" Zhang Le asked.

"He said my acting was pretty good," Feng Lei replied with a laugh. "He even recommended the film on his microblog, though he doesn't have as many followers as you."

Feng Yuan had indeed recommended "Crazy Stone" online, giving it high praise.

Though Feng Yuan's follower count was less than Zhang Le's, his influence was far greater. As a veteran of both film and television, Feng Yuan's authority in the industry far surpassed Zhang Le's. His glowing recommendation on social media did more than draw in fans—it was a powerful endorsement.

Feng Yuan's praise was only the beginning. Soon after, Zhou Run also promoted the film, both online and in media interviews, offering it the highest commendation.

Both Feng Yuan and Zhou Run had some connection to the film, so their recommendations were not surprising. But what shocked everyone was when the renowned director Chen Ke, whose films topped the domestic box office, also showered the movie with praise and published a lengthy review.

Though Chen Ke and Zhang Le were acquainted—rumor had it Zhang Le was to play the second male lead in Chen’s new film—his support was understandable. What truly astonished people was that many directors, actors, and producers with no ties to Zhang Le at all, some not even acquainted with him, all gave the film glowing reviews.

The media echoed with praise, and numerous critics lauded Zhang Le’s film, especially his work as director, which drew the highest accolades.

This was a film marked by a powerful directorial style. The same story, told by another filmmaker, would have been utterly different.

This was a rare film in which the director outshone every star. Such works were few and far between.

The plot of "Crazy Stone" was simple: a tale of several groups of thieves and a chief of security. Yet beneath that simplicity lay a web of intricately interwoven threads, layers upon layers, tangled and profound—impossible to describe fully in words.

Filmmakers and critics view movies differently from regular audiences. Yet Zhang Le’s film was met with near-unanimous praise. The handling of details, the editing, and the use of Peking Opera elements in the soundtrack all offered delightful surprises.

Of course, the film was not without criticism. The use of dialect and crude language drew complaints of vulgarity, but such gripes were drowned out by the overwhelming tide of positive reviews.

Word of mouth soared, and so did the box office.

On its first day, despite limited screenings, it brought in nearly twenty million at the box office, with many theaters sold out.

The first day’s numbers shocked many, and the media rushed to report it.

In an era where blockbusters grew ever larger and small films shrank into obscurity, "Crazy Stone" created a box office legend from day one. It had already recouped its costs and even turned a profit.

With a four-million investment and less than half a million spent on promotion, the film grossed two million on its first day. After deducting the theaters' and production companies’ shares, Xinle Film Company still pocketed over four million.

The first day’s results meant the film was already a success.

With stellar word of mouth and a box office that defied the odds, this dark horse of the Spring Festival season might just shine brighter than any before.