The Soul () is a Chinese-Taiwanese neo-noir sci-fi mystery crime film based on Jiang Bo's (江波) novel Yihun Youshu (移魂有术). It is directed by Cheng Wei-hao and stars Chang Chen, Janine Chang, Sun Anke, and Christopher Lee.
Plot
The film opens to a crime scene at a luxurious house. The police discovers that CEO Wang Shi-Cong, founder of a corporation developing futuristic cancer treatments, has been brutally murdered. His wife, Li Yan, was holding the murder weapon. We cut to a hospital where Ah-Bao, a detective, is having an ultrasound, and her baby is 7 weeks old. She is accompanied by her husband Liang Wen-Chao, who is a prosecutor. In the next scene, we learn Liang has cancer, which is spreading and resisting treatment. The doctor advises them to consider RNA restoration technology.
Ah-Bao is assigned to the case of CEO Wang while Liang becomes the prosecutor. During interrogation, Li Yan reveals that she witnessed the murder and it was actually Wang Tian-You, the son, who did it. Doctor Wan also believes that the son murdered his father because he had been disinherited. The maid reveals that Wang's first wife, Tang Su-Zhen, was diagnosed with depression, due to Wang's indifference after the birth of their son and his infidelity. Tang eventually commits suicide. Before she died, she put a curse on her husband.
They discover that there is a security camera inside Li Yan's room. While sifting through the clips, they find that Li Yan has been having epileptic fits while she sleeps. She has also been hallucinating and talking to Tang Su-Zhen. Liang goes through the clips and finds that Doctor Wan and Li Yan seem to be involved. While searching online, he finds paparazzi reports of Doctor Wan and Tang Su-Zhen's affair. Liang now believes that the epileptic fits are somewhat responsible. He notes that when Li Yan first arrived at the Wang residence, she was a right-hander. However, during the interrogation, she had signed her witness statements with her left hand. Her demeanor before and after the epileptic fits had also changed. Doctor Wan started treating her differently after the fits.
While visiting the company, they sit through Doctor Wan's TED talk. The RNA technology is revealed to be effective in curing degenerative brain cells. It is also possible to transfer brain cells from one entity to another. While questioning Doctor Wan, Liang shows the doctor printouts of his affair with Tang. The journalist who witnessed Tang's suicide had told the police that Doctor Wan had been at the scene. Liang accuses the doctor of copying Tang's brain cells into Li Yan, to bring his lover back. The doctor denies this.
The police eventually discover Wang Tian-You's whereabouts. They apprehend him and bring him in for questioning. When Li Yan and Tian-You are placed in a room together, Li Yan starts acting up. When she snaps out of it, it seems like she has been taken over by Tang. She thanks her son for killing his father and they both become emotional.
In the car, Liang has an epileptic episode and he awakens in the hospital. Ah-bao tells him that the cancer has reached his brain but Wang's company has agreed to provide free RNA technology to help them. Liang eventually finds out that his wife made a deal with Doctor Wan, by tampering with evidence, for free RNA treatment. He is furious that she would jeopardize her career just to buy him a little bit of time as every living moment is torture for him and he would rather die. However, Ah-bao begs to differ and they argue.
Meanwhile, Li Yan is released and she goes home with Doctor Wan. Not long after, Li Yan is seen running from her home screaming for help while Doctor Wan chases her. She goes to the police and tells them that the doctor had tried to force her to sign the company over to him. When she refused, he tried to murder her. Li Yan eventually takes over the company and becomes the CEO.