Secrets in the Hot Spring is a 2018 Taiwanese film. Written and Directed by Kuan-Hui Lin (Time Lapse). The movie stars Zhang Ting-Hu (Age of Rebellion, The New World), He-Hsuan Lin (The Teenage Psychic, I, Myself), Sing Hom (Triad Princess, Love Cuisine).
**MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD**
Qie Xiaogin has transferred to his third school and is in his fifth year of high school. He has no friends, with a quick temper that chooses to fight instead of study.
While at school, he notices there is a group of bullies picking on a classmate called Little Princess.
While in the bathroom, Xiaongin comes across ANOTHER student being bullied by the same group. He steps in to protect Lu Qun and the bully accidentially slips and knocks himself out.
After getting blamed for the bathroom incident, Xiaogin hides on the rooftop of the high school. While on the roof, he gets a phone call that he needs to visit his grand parents at their hotel. Xiaogin doesn’t want to go but reluctantly decides to go. Pretty soon Xiaongin realizes that Lu Qun and Little Princess won’t leave him alone. They have attached themselves to their newfound friend after he saved them from the bullies.
While on the train ride, Xiaogin tells his friends not too get too comfortable in the hotel. It’s supposed to be a nice, luxurious hotel.
Well…you can guess their surprise when they arrive.
Yep. The hotel is totally RUNDOWN and SPOOKY looking. Also the hotel is aptly named OO Hotel. The boys are let down and disappointed.
Inside of the hotel, the boys realize something odd is happening inside. Little Princess and Lu Qun firmly believe there is a ghost haunting the hotel. Xiaogin doesn’t believe them until he has to go to the bathroom in a different part of the hotel and that’s when he sees a ghost.
Of course Xiaogin does what any rational person would do in that situation, he RUNS to his friends and tells him what he has just seen. He wants to warn his grandparents about the hotel.
After being unsuccessful in convincing his grandparents the hotel is haunted, Xiaogin and his friends decide to investigate the hotel closely to discover its secrets.
Without giving too much more away, Secrets in the Hot Spring is a horror-comedy movie. It has more comedic elements than horror. The grandparents have some of the funniest scenes, especially when they are giving the boys a tour of the hotel. Also, the unlikely friendship between the trio of outcasts blossoms into a tight knit group that will put a smile on your face. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and knows what kind of movie it wants to be. It is a touching film about family and actually following your dreams. Secrets in the Hot Spring is a cute little hidden gem worth watching.
Rating: 8/10
Secrets in the Hot Spring now streaming on Netflix.
Watch The Trailer Here:
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