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The Unrestricted War

  • 2025
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
8.9/10
91
YOUR RATING
The Unrestricted War (2025)
Thriller

A Canadian virus expert and his Chinese spouse are arrested in Beijing by military agents. He's forced to steal his research from his old lab as a mysterious illness spreads.A Canadian virus expert and his Chinese spouse are arrested in Beijing by military agents. He's forced to steal his research from his old lab as a mysterious illness spreads.A Canadian virus expert and his Chinese spouse are arrested in Beijing by military agents. He's forced to steal his research from his old lab as a mysterious illness spreads.

  • Director
    • Yan Ma
  • Writers
    • Rob W. King
    • Yan Ma
  • Stars
    • Dylan Bruce
    • Nadia Hatta
    • Uni Park
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.9/10
    91
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yan Ma
    • Writers
      • Rob W. King
      • Yan Ma
    • Stars
      • Dylan Bruce
      • Nadia Hatta
      • Uni Park
    • 20User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Dylan Bruce
    Dylan Bruce
    • Jim
    Nadia Hatta
    Nadia Hatta
    • Sophie
    Uni Park
    Uni Park
    • General Chen
    Russell Yuen
    Russell Yuen
    • Director Han
    Jun Che
    Jun Che
    • Wen Ye
    • (as Daniel Jun)
    George Chiang
    George Chiang
    • Dr. Lin
    Terry Chen
    Terry Chen
    • Agent Feng
    Emma Ho
    Emma Ho
    • Angela
    Michael James Regan
    Michael James Regan
    • Tony
    Keanu Lee Nunes
    Keanu Lee Nunes
    • Andrew
    Kenny Wong
    • Secretary Liu
    Stephanie Gibson
    Stephanie Gibson
    • Song Yi
    Honoka Suda
    Honoka Suda
    • Feifei
    Kevin Bundy
    • Brad Liscar
    Larry Vang
    Larry Vang
    • Superior
    Ariel Alud-ud
    Ariel Alud-ud
    • Police Officer
    Kaia Bergeron-Kim
    Kaia Bergeron-Kim
    • Child
    • (credit only)
    Tristen Huang
    Tristen Huang
    • Monitoring Agent
    • Director
      • Yan Ma
    • Writers
      • Rob W. King
      • Yan Ma
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    8.991
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    Featured reviews

    9Zhexin-9

    Silence Has a Price

    I think this epic production is not only entertaining - but, more importantly, meaningful. We need more thought-provoking films like this, ones that dare to confront the real issues we face today!

    Isn't that what cinema is meant to do? Not just entertain, but challenge us, move us, and make us think.

    Has anyone truly asked what happened to the whistleblower at the start of the pandemic? Why was he arrested after warning the public, and then forced to confess on national television that he lied? We can't ignore all of this. This global catastrophe didn't happen overnight. It happened because of our silence and ignorance. And next time, we might not be so lucky!!!

    Respect to films like this-and the message they carry!
    8Kevin-69396

    More Than I Expected

    I heard about this film on the radio and decided to give it a shot. Honestly, I didn't expect much at first, but it really surprised me. It's not a big-budget movie, but it carries a lot more weight than I anticipated.

    What makes the film engaging isn't just the suspense or the plot twists, it's the way it encourages viewers to think about real-world issues. It's not loud or overdramatic, but it captures the quiet strength of those who take risks to speak out, people we rarely hear about, even though their actions can have a huge impact on the world.

    In a time when it's easy to feel powerless, stories like this matter. They remind us that one voice can still make a difference.
    10jamesy890562

    Thanks for such a wonderful film

    I watched the movie yesterday in Toronto. I can't tell my appreciations to the producers and directors. Many scenes in it, including the epidemic outbreak, the lockdown, and the national mourning of the doctor, are what we experienced in person when we were in China, and I am so deeply touched! We should never forget this history, the whole world should never forget this history! I want to tell every one: go to watch the movie! Every Chinese, everyone in the world should understand what evils had caused the epidemic that make so many people lost their loves, their friends and even their own lives. Should we let this happen again??!!
    9CarolG-87

    Highly recommended

    The Unrestricted War is a tense and timely thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It is a thoughtful, suspenseful movie that feels very relevant today. The Unrestricted War isn't just a gripping thriller-it's a bold, thought-provoking film that dives into the hidden tensions between science, power, and truth.

    Director Yan Ma walks a fine line between fiction and reality, offering clear nods to the real-world COVID-19 pandemic and the global debate over lab leaks, pandemic preparedness, and truth suppression. While not a documentary, The Unrestricted War courageously explores ideas many mainstream films avoid.

    Highly recommended!
    9egor-0

    Unveiled Truths: A Powerful Wake-Up Call

    This is one of the most eye-opening films I've ever seen about the Chinese Communist Party. It doesn't just tell a story-it shows how deeply the system controls everything, turning people into tools used for the Party's goals. The line from General Han really stuck with me: "No one is irreplaceable." That sums it all up. In this world, people are disposable, and that's terrifying.

    What hit me hardest is how so many still go along with it, even knowing the truth. The film doesn't give easy answers, but it pushes you to ask tough questions. It's a wake-up call for anyone still stuck in the system or blindly following it. Honest, intense, and deeply unsettling in all the right ways.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Actor Jourdan Chow, who was an extra as a police officer, was the only one on set who experienced China's zero-Covid policy. He was able to speak to some of the crew members on the set of the hospital to provide some details to make the scene more authentic.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 8, 2025 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Website
      • Production website
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Brilliant Media
      • Brilliant Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 20m(140 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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