Detention (2021)
Director: John Hsu Run Time: 102 min. Rating: NR Release Year: 2019
Starring: Cecilia Choi, Fu Meng Bo, Gingle Wang, Hung Chang Chu, Jing-Hua Tseng
Country: Taiwan
Language: Mandarin
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“A lush, fantastical nightmare”
—Samuel Zimmerman for Fangoria
About the film:
Official Selection of the 2020 International Film Festival Rotterdam and Fantasia International Film Festival. Set in Taiwan during the “White Terror” period of military suppression and censorship, a high school girl awakens in an empty school only to find that her entire community has been abandoned except for one other student. Soon they realize that they have entered a realm filled with vengeful spirits and hungry ghosts.
Adapted from the horror adventure video game from Red Candle Games and inspired by true events, Detention won five Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan’s Academy Awards) including Best New Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Visual Effects.
About the filmmaker:
John Hsu is Taiwanese filmmaker with a special interest in digital culture, video games, comedy and science fiction. He co-founded the production group AFK PL@YERS, which uses computer graphics engines to create cinematic productions. He obtained his master’s degree from Shih Hsin University with his graduation project Server #15, an experimental short film integrating video game attributes. He expanded on the idea in his first TV film, Real Online, which earned him the Best Director Award at the 2005 Golden Bell Awards, the biggest television award in Taiwan.
Mixing supernatural and political horror, the story in his debut feature film Detention was inspired by true events. Read more here.
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