Dead
Talents Society (Original title: Gui cai zhi dao) | 2024 | 1h 51m
Genre:
Supernatural Horror / Comedy / Horror / Thriller | Country: Taiwan
Director:
John Hsu | Writers: John Hsu, Tsai Kun-Lin
Cast:
Chen Bolin, Sandrine Pinna, Gingle Wang
IMDB:
7
My
Rate: 7/10
Dead Talents Society is a horror-comedy film that portrays the ghost world as a cruel stage: only those who can showcase their best “talent” are allowed to continue existing. Amid the slowly rising fear, The Rookie struggles not to fade away, while Catherine—the legendary ghost—desperately fights to maintain her popularity against waves of newly arrived ghosts.
Warning:
Violence, suicide, and strong languageSynopsis:
Dead
Talents Society follows Catherine, a legendary ghost whose name once shook
the ghost world thanks to her sensational achievements. However, her glory
collapses when Jessica, her own protégé, chooses a different path and turns
against her. A clash of perspectives transforms the teacher-student
relationship into a fierce rivalry—tradition versus technology.
Refusing
to adapt to the changing times, Catherine is slowly pushed aside. Her
popularity fades, while Jessica shines brighter by using technology to spread
terror.
Amid
the chaos appears The Rookie—a talentless ghost at risk of disappearing after her
family accidentally destroys the only object linking her to existence. With no
other option, she seeks help from a ghost agency to survive. Reluctantly,
Catherine accepts The Rookie as her student and helps her uncover her hidden
potential. This leads to an unexpected success that once again shakes the ghost
world.
Will
The Rookie become Catherine’s path to reclaiming her former glory?
Review:
Imagine
if the struggles of life didn’t end with death. The competition to be number
one, the demand for talent, and the obsession with success continue to haunt
you—even after becoming a ghost. Dead Talents Society brings this idea
to the screen through an unconventional approach.
Like
most horror films, the story opens with a chilling scene: a human being
terrorized by a ghostly presence. But slowly, the audience realizes that this
video isn’t just a recording of terror. Catherine emerges as the star behind
it—a legendary ghost celebrated for her achievements. From this point on,
comedy begins to take over, shifting fear into irony.
The
conflict then develops through generational differences in perspective and the
constant demand to be the best. Regeneration is natural in life, but not in the
ghost world. Being known and remembered is the only way to continue existing.
This is where principles are tested: survive using old methods, or let go of
ego to adapt to the times.
The
strongest inner conflict is felt through The Rookie. As a talentless ghost, she
lives under the pressure that only the “gifted” deserve to survive. This burden
is actually shared by many other ghosts, but they choose to ignore it—a bitter
reflection of a world that only makes room for those who stand out.
The
ending is presented neatly and leaves a strong impression. Each character’s
development feels clear: Jessica realizes her mistakes, Catherine learns to
lower her ego, and The Rookie begins to accept herself as she is. Even
supporting characters are given proper closure without feeling rushed.
As a
horror-comedy, Dead Talents Society succeeds in delivering a deep
message without relying on excessive scares. Its approach is light,
entertaining, and easy to digest, yet it still holds layers of reflection
beneath the humor.
Despite
having a solid story foundation and strong character backgrounds, the film
still leaves some questions unanswered: how did the society system form, who
exactly is Chair Ghost, and where do the disappearing ghosts go? This curiosity
doesn’t fully disrupt the experience; instead, it opens space for
imagination—though for some viewers, it may feel slightly unresolved.
Technically,
the performances are committed and convincing. Makeup, costumes, and effects
feel natural and support the film’s tone. Camera movement, transitions between
human and ghost POVs, color composition, and music selection work together to
build an absurd yet lively world.
In
the end, Dead Talents Society isn’t just about ghosts competing to scare
humans, but about fears that are much closer to us: the fear of being
forgotten, the fear of not being talented enough, and the fear of never meeting
expectations. The film wraps these anxieties in a playful horror-comedy
package, yet leaves behind a quiet question—if even after death we still have
to prove ourselves, when are we actually allowed to rest?
Memorable Scene:
The
Rookie returns to her home—now empty, abandoned by her family who chose to
leave. In that silent space, memories with her father resurface. An old piece
of advice echoes: the need to be successful, full of achievements, and
recognized by many. Advice that sounds simple, but slowly turns into a
burden—pressuring, demanding, and unknowingly eating away at her from within.
In
life, we are almost never truly free from other people’s expectations,
especially those of our parents. They set standards of success they believe are
normal, as if every child has the same wings. But not everyone is created to
fly high. You can’t force a fish to fly. Such a simple truth is often forgotten
by humans: that every individual has a different shape, direction, and
strength.
Memorable Dialogue:
“You really don’t have to be anyone special. It’s okay.”
Ending:
Happy Ending
Recommendation:
Worth to Watch
(Aluna)
 – A Horror Film That Mocks Humanity’s Obsession with Success){kind=link}
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