SINGAPORE – Known for delivering laughs and heartfelt moments, Taiwanese actors Austin Lin and Vivian Sung are switching gears to bring a pulse-pounding thriller with their latest film, 96 Minutes.

The pair, celebrated for hit romance and comedy films like Marry My Dead Body (2022), Till We Meet Again (2021), and Our Times (2015), now star in a suspenseful disaster action movie opening in Singapore on September 25.

96 Minutes centers on a high-speed train journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung—the trip taking exactly 96 minutes—with a bomb threatening the passengers’ safety. Lin plays a bomb disposal expert, while Sung takes on the role of his wife, who is also a police officer.

In a Zoom interview from Taipei with The Straits Times, the actors shared insights about diving into an unfamiliar genre. This film marks their first disaster action movie.

Lin, 37, revealed that during filming, they balanced the tense atmosphere by relaxing during breaks. “The movie is very intense, so eating snacks and chatting helps us reset and then get back into character.”

The production took place on an elaborate sound stage designed to mimic the interior of a high-speed train, surrounded by over 700 LED screens showing realistic cityscapes rushing by.

“It was so realistic, I felt like I was actually on the train,” Lin said. He recalled his challenging three-minute fight scene as one of the toughest action sequences he has ever filmed. “I trained for three months beforehand, and I really enjoyed the final outcome.”

Playing a police officer for the first time also excited Lin. Unlike the typical flawless hero, his character is layered with secrets, fears, and insecurities, which drew him to the role.

Previously, Lin was known for softer or comedic roles, such as playing a caring younger brother in Salli (2023) and an effeminate ghost in Marry My Dead Body, which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2023 Golden Horse Awards. This new tough-guy image is a fresh challenge and a dream role for him.

Vivian Sung, 32, is also stepping into new territory with her first role as a married woman. Known for roles like a devoted lover in Till We Meet Again and an awkward schoolgirl in Our Times, Sung noted that her character in 96 Minutes represents a mature bond beyond the fiery beginnings of romance.

To prepare, Sung interviewed female police officers to capture the realities of their daily lives, discovering that despite the tough exterior, they also have a tender side. “They might act like ‘little women’ at home,” she said, and Sung incorporated these nuances to make her character feel more human.

96 Minutes promises a gripping mix of suspense, action, and emotional depth, and opens in Singapore cinemas on September 25.