The film

Taiwan, 1962. In a time of oppressive martial law, two students wake up in their high school, alone and dumbfounded. They explore the building hoping to find answers. They suspect their worrying predicament has something to do with the illegal book club set up by two teachers and a few students. Soon, the terrible truth is revealed as mysterious forces prowl in the shadows…

Adapted from the eponymous video game, DETENTION is the most ambitious film Taiwan has produced in some time. John Hsu’s directorial debut – set during the White Terror, one of the longest running periods of martial law in history – explores the island state’s painful past to ponder on the atrocities of a neighbouring totalitarian regime and create a relevant parable with present times. With its fascinating use of Taiwanese folk imagery, its striking cinematography, and its anxiety-inducing sets, DETENTION was rewarded at the latest Golden Horse Awards, the Chinese-speaking Oscars.

The director

John Hsu, a big giraffe lover (you'll have to spot them in DETENTION!) is a graduate of the Shih Hsin University in Taipei. He is a cofounder of AFK PL@YERS, a production company that has made many short films, including several inspired by Warcraft. Fascinated with the digital world, John Hsu directed a series of creative short films that are as humorous as irreverent.

Selected filmography

2005 – REAL ONLINE (TV film)
2013 – THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM CAFÉ CITY (short)
2015 – WEATHER REPORT OF THE END (short)
2017 – YOUR SPIRITUAL TEMPLE SUCKS (VR)
2020 – GREAT HOAX: THE MOON LANDING (VR)