The Bad Kids

Synopsis

Three children in a small coastal town accidentally film a murder and are drawn into a dangerous web of deception. Adapted from Zijin Chen's novel, this 2020 suspense drama earned a Douban rating of 8.8.

Overview

"The Bad Kids" (Chinese: 隐秘的角落) is a 2020 Chinese suspense web drama directed by Xin Shuang, written by Pan Yiran, Sun Haoyang, and others, and adapted from Zijin Chen's mystery novel "Bad Kids" (坏小孩). The series premiered on iQiyi on June 16, 2020, with 12 episodes of approximately 50 minutes each. Set in a small coastal town, the story follows three children who accidentally film a murder while playing at a scenic spot, and are drawn into a complex web of intrigue that entangles multiple families.

Produced by Han Sanping, the series stars Qin Hao and Wang Jingchun in leading roles, with Zhang Songwen, Liu Lin, and young actors Rong Zishan, Shi Pengyuan, and Wang Shengdi in prominent roles. Upon release, the drama achieved a peak Douban rating of 9.2, eventually stabilizing at 8.8 with over 990,000 user ratings, making it the most talked-about Chinese drama of 2020. The series also garnered international recognition, praised by overseas communities such as Reddit as "a benchmark for Chinese suspense drama."

The success of "The Bad Kids" marked a qualitative leap in Chinese web series production. Telling a layered, suspenseful story in just 12 concise episodes, it broke away from the bloated 40-50 episode format common in Chinese television, pioneering a new paradigm for Chinese suspense mini-series.

Plot Synopsis

The story takes place in Ningzhou, a small coastal city in southern China. Zhu Chaoyang (Rong Zishan) is an academically gifted but introverted middle school student living with his father and stepmother after his parents' divorce, harboring loneliness and sensitivity beneath a quiet exterior. During summer vacation, his father arranges for him to spend time with two friends from the local welfare home — Yan Liang (Shi Pengyuan) and Pupu (Wang Shengdi). While playing at Liufeng Mountain scenic area, the three children accidentally capture a murder on camera: Zhang Dongsheng (Qin Hao), a math teacher at the children's palace, pushes his parents-in-law off a cliff.

To raise money for Pupu's seriously ill younger brother, the three children decide to blackmail Zhang Dongsheng for 300,000 yuan using the video evidence. However, Zhang Dongsheng is far from a simple murderer — he is a calculating, manipulative criminal, and his cat-and-mouse game with the children evolves into a nerve-wracking psychological battle. Meanwhile, female detective Ye (Liu Lin) investigates the murder case, sensing multiple layers of deception beneath the surface.

As the story unfolds, every character reveals complex dimensions of human nature — kindness and darkness, protection and manipulation, trust and betrayal. Through layers of twists and revelations, the story uncovers a chilling truth about childhood trauma, family relationships, and the hidden corners of human nature.

Cast

Production Features

"The Bad Kids" demonstrates exceptional production quality, setting a new standard for Chinese mini-series:

Cinematography and Visual Style: The series employs cinematic camera techniques with a distinctive color palette that contrasts the warm, bright coastal scenery against dark, oppressive indoor scenes, creating an atmosphere of unease and dread.

Music and Soundtrack: The series makes extensive use of classic Cantonese pop songs and original score. The ending theme "Little White Boat" (小白船), originally a cheerful children's lullaby, is recontextualized in the show to create an eerie, spine-chilling effect, becoming the series' most iconic audio element.

Narrative Structure: Employing multi-perspective storytelling and flashbacks, the series shifts between different characters' viewpoints, gradually peeling back layers of truth with each unexpected twist.

Child Actors' Performances: The three young actors received widespread acclaim, particularly Rong Zishan's portrayal of Zhu Chaoyang's complex psychology, which is considered one of the finest child performances in Chinese television history.

Cultural Impact

"The Bad Kids" has had a profound and wide-ranging cultural influence:

"Let's Go Hiking" National Meme: The scene where Zhang Dongsheng pushes his in-laws off a cliff spawned the catchphrase "一起爬山吗" (Want to go hiking together?), which became one of the most viral internet memes of summer 2020, permeating social media, short video platforms, and everyday conversation across China.

Revival of "Little White Boat": The classic children's song "Little White Boat" experienced a massive revival due to its ingenious use in the series, its transformation from a gentle lullaby to an ominous motif becoming a cultural phenomenon in its own right.

Benchmark for Chinese Suspense Drama: The series' success directly catalyzed a wave of high-quality suspense productions, leading to the creation of iQiyi's "Light On" theater brand, which subsequently produced acclaimed series like "The Long Night" and "Who Is the Murderer."

International Recognition: Licensed by Netflix for international distribution, the series received enthusiastic reviews from overseas audiences and critics. It was nominated for Best Mini-Series at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

Academic and Cultural Discourse: The series' multi-layered narrative, exploration of human nature, and social commentary sparked extensive academic discussion, becoming an important case study in the study of Chinese web drama development and cultural production.

References

1. Douban - The Bad Kids https://movie.douban.com/subject/33404425/
2. Baidu Baike - The Bad Kids https://baike.baidu.com/item/隐秘的角落/49921901
3. IMDb - The Bad Kids https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12477942/
4. IMDb Awards https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12477942/awards/