Detention

Set in a repressive 1960s school, two students sneak into the corridors to locate their vanished peers and mentors who were part of a forbidden book club. As they peel back layers of rumor and fear, the building reveals that the disappearances are tied to a lingering curse and a school haunted by the memories of those swept up in the era's censorship. Ghosts drift through dusty classrooms while grotesque shapes stalk the hallways, preying on the living who dare to uncover the truth. The pursuit quickly becomes perilous as trusted spaces turn into traps and the past bites back. The tension comes from a careful blend of political subtext and folklore as the film nudges the audience to question what counts as truth in a place where adults keep secrets. Yet the film also treats friendship as a beacon in the grip of fear.

Directed by John Hsu, Detention arrives in 2019 with an original screenplay by Chien Shih-Keng and Lyra Fu. The film premiered at film festivals in Asia and later secured a wide Taiwanese release, showcasing a moody, period atmosphere.

Box office figures for Detention are not widely publicized, reflecting a modest release strategy. The film attracted genre fans and critics in selective markets, earning attention through word of mouth and persistent festival interest.

Detention sits among Taiwan's growing slate of period horror that uses historical tension to heighten fear. Gingle Wang and Tseng Jing-Hua deliver grounded performances that anchor the film, while the unsettling visuals and claustrophobic set pieces linger long after the screen goes dark.

Critics highlight themes of censorship and memory, showing how a rigid regime shapes youth and pushes people toward dangerous choices. The film emphasizes resilience and solidarity in the face of unseen forces, and ends with a firm call that memory and truth must be defended.