Gui cai zhi dao

In the whimsical realm of the afterlife depicted in "Dead Talents Society," deceased individuals must prove their worthiness of becoming bona fide ghosts by mastering the art of scaring the living. Our protagonist, a timid and recently departed young woman, navigates this peculiar underworld, initially struggling to find her footing in the competitive ghost scene.

Through unexpected friendships with fellow misfit haunters, she discovers the power of camaraderie and unconventional talent. Guided by a charismatic ghost agent and an aging diva with a penchant for the dramatic, our protagonist learns to embrace her unique abilities, transforming from a mere spectator to a formidable performer in the afterlife.

As the stakes rise in a series of ghostly auditions and competitions, the film explores themes of self-discovery, the importance of embracing one's individuality, and the enduring power of friendship. With a healthy dose of humor and heartwarming moments, "Dead Talents Society" offers a refreshing perspective on the afterlife, where even in death, the pursuit of talent and recognition remains a driving force.

A recently deceased, shy, and reclusive girl discovers that even in the afterlife it is necessary to be popular, influential, and talented. Since she lacked such attributes while living, it is like a second death sentence to try to prove herself again. Fortunately, there are other misfit ghosts who sympathize with the girl and are willing to help. The girl needs a license to scare people and her new friends vow to get her one. But there is competition. A gang of rising stars in the underworld challenges the girl. Shock and mayhem ensue as the ghost gangs battle to see who is the scariest.

This thoughtful and insightful film surprised me with depth, warmth, and genuine humor that I did not expect from this midnight madness genre. There is sympathy for a gentle, kind, and good girl who just wishes to be seen and known.

The director and leading actors were present for this world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. Hsu's own father encouraged him to be well known, as the main character in the film struggles to accomplish. The film is based on actual urban legends from Taiwan. While the rapid-fire Mandarin is difficult to keep up with at times, it is still preferable to listening to a dubbed version.

No pun intended - the movie is really funny. If you believe that there might be something after we die ... well the movie might be a ray of sunshine ... of sorts! Because of course it is not all roses and fun stuff. Actually it looks like even after death one has to prove oneself to say the least ... while it seems like fun stuff to do, I am not sure how many would want to be working so long after they are gone.

Many funny ideas, but also as crazy and out there as it is: predictable! If you have a weird mind perhaps, but still, I was able to guess where this was going to go. That said, it still is a lot of fun to watch. Acting is good all things considered - which includes a lot of silliness.

It's been awhile since I watched such a fun horror comedy movie.

The movie is so good and funny. It reminded me of the old school hong kong horror movies.

The premise is interesting, the acting is good, and it is shot beautifully too. The cinematography, lighting, editing, all made it enjoyable.

I enjoyed all of the characters too. None of the characters are annoying or made useless. They all served their importance and part of the family.

I like the idea of the urban legend and how ghosts can still touch objects and need to ride a bus (lmao) to get into places.

Overall, such a fun movie and definitely worth a rewatch.

Let me start off this review by saying that this movie was really likable. The cast was great, the characters were unique and enjoyable, and the overall narrative was pretty original. We follow a young ghost woman who tries to create her own urban legend after her death. In this world, it's completely normal to exist in the afterlife, and many ghosts spend their time scaring the living with their coolest scare ideas, hoping to go viral in the afterlife.

Our protagonist isn't really interested in that, but soon she realizes she has no choice, otherwise, she will simply be erased. With the help of her friend and numerous other characters, she must try to create the perfect scare. However, it's not as easy as it sounds, since you need both talent and even a license.

As I mentioned at the start, this movie has plenty of enjoyable aspects. From a technical standpoint, it's well-made and consistently entertaining. It heavily leans into comedy and supernatural elements, with some drama and horror mixed in. The film mirrors the world of the living, reflecting themes of fame, glamour, and the pursuit of being unforgettable. It's a unique take, showcasing a ghost world with its own TV shows and even awards for the best scares.

That being said, the movie isn't without flaws. The biggest issue for me was that it sometimes felt a little all over the place. The fast editing, combined with frequent close-ups on characters' faces and the added challenge of reading subtitles in time, made it feel overstimulating at times. Maybe this would smooth out on a rewatch, but during my first viewing, it was a bit much. Additionally, some of the comedic elements tried a little too hard for my taste, which made a few scenes fall flat instead of fully landing their humor.

Overall, it's an enjoyable movie with a lot of talent involved, even if it can feel overwhelming at times. If you don't mind that or are generally a fan of Asian comedy cinema, I would definitely recommend giving this a try, especially since it's easily available on Netflix. [5,6/10]