If the age-old question revolves around the meaning of life, coming a close second has to be what really happens to us when we die. Do we disappear into nothingness? Are we reincarnated? Many have explored this question, from philosophers to horror movies and literature. In the Taiwanese horror-comedy Dead Talents Society, we find out there is still a lot of work to do after you die so as not to blink out of existence for good.
We follow Newbie (Gingle Wang), a very awkward, very shy, and very dead teenager. She is floating around, not literally, with her friend Camila (Ching-i-Pai) but soon discovers she has to get a haunter’s license to stop her from disappearing altogether. To get this license, you must pull off a fantastic feat of fright, which could lead to bigger things, like becoming an urban legend. I found it both depressing and hilarious to think that even in the afterlife, you need to pull your weight to be successful, as your time as a ghost in this afterlife depended on it.
Thankfully, Makoto (Bo-Lin-Chen), a flop of a pop star, sees some potential in Newbie. He trains her with the reluctant help of Catherine (Sandrine Pinna), an aging actress at the haunted hotel where they all reside, The Lucky Hotel. It serves as the home for Makoto’s agency, which is also in trouble, as Catherine’s once stellar scares are now becoming few and far between. A cast of actors takes these characters to hilarious heights, showing no fear and jumping into the roles. They deliver an eclectic group that, while dead, still suffer the same traits of the living, like jealousy, pettiness, and pain.
Director John Hsu presents an impressive world here, complete with ghostly news reports and award shows, not to mention big YouTube stars. His biggest strength is creating a strong and important message throughout the film about the need to succeed, the drive for success, and the possibility of being happy and not successful or the best at what you do.
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Gingle Wang and Sandrine Pinna excel, bringing Newbie and Catherine alive in some surprisingly strong and emotional moments. Gingle Wang brings a combination of innocence, awkwardness, and strength to the role. While the supporting cast is solid, she embodies all the fears and doubts we, the living, have and makes them a part of her as she struggles in death. Catherine’s beef with Jessica (Yi Ti Yao), a younger and more successful version of Catherine, is great to watch. It shows off all the ugliness that exists in the drive to be successful and what you leave behind.
There are some instances where the story comes off the rails, as the wonderful sideshow attractions that Hsu created sometimes slow the story down to a crawl. However, those instances are few, and thankfully, he has a cast that seemed to gel perfectly, no matter what side they were on.
Some frantic and crazy scenes come off beautifully, adding a bit of creepiness and horror when needed. The awards show and hotel are great examples of horror. Still, at its core, Dead Talents Society is about challenging the idea of success and showing us that we can be content with ourselves and make some friends along the way.
Dead Talents Society had its North American premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
