Dead Tide (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Dead Tide follows Zhong, a recently released prisoner returning to his fishing village after his father’s death. Burdened by a decade-old conviction, he searches for the victim’s family and finds an unexpected connection with Xue, a woman carrying wounds of her own.

Dead Tide is a 2026 Malaysian drama written and directed by Kethsvin Chee, with Angelica Lee Sin-jie also credited as a writer. The Mandarin-language film centers on a man returning home under the weight of guilt and unresolved responsibility.

Its story brings together two people seeking a way forward from painful pasts. As Zhong looks for the family of the young man whose death led to his imprisonment, he encounters Xue, whose own circumstances shape their shared search for redemption.

Dead Tide movie details

Story without spoilers

Zhong returns to his fishing village after being released from prison and learning of his father’s death. Ten years earlier, he was convicted of manslaughter after accidentally killing a young man from a neighboring village. Although the victim’s family has moved away, Zhong still hopes to find them and ask for forgiveness.

During his search, he meets Xue, a mentally ill woman confined to a stilt house. Their meeting connects two people carrying difficult histories, and they begin to help one another confront the wounds that have shaped their lives.

What to expect

Dead Tide is identified as a drama built around guilt, forgiveness and the possibility of personal redemption. Its premise places the emotional focus on Zhong’s return home, his attempt to face the consequences of the past and his evolving connection with Xue.

The fishing-village setting, the unresolved loss at the center of Zhong’s history and the characters’ shared need for healing suggest a serious, character-focused story. The film’s 1-hour-46-minute runtime gives it room to develop this premise without relying on genre elements beyond its dramatic foundation.

Cast and creative team

The cast includes Jack Tan, Moon Lee, Karena Teo, Hon Kahoe and Richie Koh. No character names are supplied for the performers in the available details.

Kethsvin Chee directs Dead Tide and shares writing credit with Angelica Lee Sin-jie. Chee is also credited as the film’s director.

• Jack Tan
• Moon Lee
• Karena Teo
• Hon Kahoe
• Richie Koh

Release and production context

Dead Tide is a Malaysian production from Fast Forward Films, presented in Mandarin. It has a listed release date of November 13, 2026, and a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. The film is classified as a drama and is marked as released in the supplied metadata.

Production companies: Fast Forward Films

Movies Dock view

With its focus on accountability, grief and two damaged people finding mutual support, Dead Tide presents a contained dramatic premise rooted in the consequences of the past. Viewers looking for a Mandarin-language Malaysian drama centered on character and reconciliation will find those elements at the heart of the film’s setup.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb