Xuan Lan attended the premiere of Tham My Vien Hanh Phuc, a horror film where she plays a supporting role, on 5/5 in Ho Chi Minh City. When asked about box office revenue concerns, the actress expressed empathy for other filmmakers, as both of her and her husband's projects failed at the box office. Cai Gia Cua Hanh Phuc, her debut as a producer starring Thai Hoa, earned 23 billion VND, making it one of the biggest financial losses of 2024.

In 2025, she shifted to producing a romantic comedy titled Cuoi Vo Cho Cha but again suffered losses, with revenue barely reaching 10 billion VND. "After two films, my husband and I lost 30 billion VND—a substantial amount for people like us who are not business professionals or come from wealthy families," she stated.

In recent days, Xuan Lan has been following the 30/4 - 1/5 holiday box office race involving five Vietnamese films. She shares the concerns of directors like Trum So and Anh Hung as their revenues fell short of expectations. She notes that audiences span various age groups and segments, leading to constantly changing and unpredictable film preferences. For instance, after watching Anh Hung, she was moved by its story and predicted it would be the holiday season's biggest hit, yet its sales did not match other films. Similarly, within the popular horror genre, some films succeed while others suffer losses.

Following these setbacks, she and her husband, director Ngoc Lam, decided to halt filmmaking to restart their learning process and observe market tastes more closely. This year marks a record number of Vietnamese films released, and she plans to dedicate a year to understanding public cinematic preferences, especially among young people, who represent the primary audience for theatrical releases.

For Tham My Vien Am Phu, Xuan Lan returned to the screen as an actress to gain more on-set experience. She portrays Xuan, the owner of a beauty clinic in Da Lat, who possesses the dark art of "di thiep" (soul projection). When Doctor Thanh (Ngoc Trinh) arrives to work there, Xuan performs rituals, drawing Thanh into the underworld and awakening spiritual forces.

Xuan Lan at a new project launch on 5/5. Photo: Thu Huong

Xuan Lan, 48 years old, belongs to an early generation of models, later transitioning to a catwalk director. She served as a judge for Vietnam's Next Top Model in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Additionally, Xuan Lan has appeared in several films and television series, including Nhung Co Gai Chan Dai, Toc Roi, Nguoi Mau, Vua San Co, Bep Cua Me Tiem Banh Hoang Tu Be, and has performed in plays at the Idecaf stage for many years.

She was divorced once and married director Ngoc Lam in early 2020. She has a daughter, Tho. Ngoc Lam has produced many overseas music programs and later ventured into filmmaking, collaborating with director Ham Tran.

Tham My Vien Am Phu is a project Nguyen Huu Hoang nurtured for many years; he was previously known for Ma Da, a successful horror film in 2024. The producer invested significantly in set design, renovating an old villa in Da Lat for the filming location. Beyond the makeup for spiritual entities, the team collaborated with a visual effects crew from South Korea throughout filming and post-production.

The film is being released amidst signs of saturation in the horror genre. The director acknowledged the pressure, noting that audiences are increasingly demanding, requiring filmmakers to constantly innovate in both ideas and storytelling. "I hope, along with the team, we can create novel imagery and an unpredictable script to provide entertainment for the audience," Huu Hoang said.

Mai Nhat