The Tag-Along: The Devil Fish

Lore & Background

The film opens with the well-known folktale of three men catching and grilling a fish in central Taiwan, only to see a human face appear as they begin to eat it, followed by a voice asking in Taiwanese, 'Is the fish meat tasty?' The plot then follows a group including a temple priest, a young boy, and the boy's mother as they are harassed by malicious spirits brought on by the caught fish. The story is set before the events of The Tag-Along 2, featuring the young son of the Tiger Temple priest, who appears in that film.

Reader's Guide

The Tag-Along: The Devil Fish is significant as a continuation of the Tag-Along film series, expanding the universe by adapting another famous Taiwanese urban legend. The creators chose the Devil Fish story after completing the Tag-Along narrative, with the intention of potentially covering more Taiwanese folk tales in future films. The plot serves as a prequel that explores Lin Chun-Kai's past and the origin of the demon that possessed Mei-Hua's daughter, revealing that the demon was born from the vengeful spirit of a disfigured son of a wealthy man, Mr. Chung. Lin Chun-Kai's father, a master shaman, fights the demon with the help of the Tiger Lord's spirit but dies in the process, leading to Lin Chun-Kai's adoption and training by his grandfather, setting up events for The Tag Along 2.

Did You Know?

• The famous line 'Is the fish meat tasty?' is spoken in Taiwanese in the film.
• The film includes guest-starring appearances by Rainie Yang, Hsu Wei-ning, River Huang, and Ruby Chan.

Folklore Roots & Cultural Foundation

The film draws from a well-known Taiwanese folktale about a fish-like creature bearing a human face, a legend that has circulated across the island for decades and carries echoes of Japanese yokai mythology. The central narrative opens with the classic urban legend: three men in central Taiwan catch and grill a fish, only to see a face emerge as they begin eating. A voice then asks them, in the Taiwanese dialect, whether the fish meat is tasty. This haunting anecdote serves as both the opening image and the thematic spine of the story. The creators deliberately selected this particular legend after completing the original Tag-Along narrative, hoping to build a broader universe rooted in Taiwanese supernatural folklore. The Devil Fish tale, with its blend of body horror and vengeful spirits, provided a natural companion to the girl-in-red mythology, allowing the filmmakers to explore another layer of the island's rich ghost-story tradition while maintaining tonal continuity with the existing franchise.

Plot & The Origin of the Demon

The prequel's central mystery traces the true source of the demon that possessed Mei-Hua's daughter, ultimately creating the girl in red from the first Tag-Along film. The answer lies in the tragic story of Mr. Chung, a wealthy man whose son was born with a rare skin condition that gave his flesh the appearance of fish scales. Chung's cruelty toward his disfigured child culminated in the boy's death, and his vengeful spirit was subsequently seized by a malevolent demon to terrorize the surrounding community. The narrative follows a group — including a temple priest, a young boy named Chia-Hao, and his mother — as they are plagued by the malicious spirits unleashed by the caught fish. In the climax, Lin Chun-Kai's father, a master shaman, battles the demon with the aid of the Tiger Lord's spirit but sacrifices his own life. Chun-Kai is then taken in and trained by his grandfather, another master shaman, setting the stage for his role in The Tag-Along 2.

Cast & Production Details

Directed by David Chuang, the 2018 film assembles a notable ensemble. Vivian Hsu leads as Huang Ya-Hui, while Cheng Jen-shuo portrays Lin Chi-Cheng. The supporting cast includes Wu Zhi-xuan as the juvenile Chia-Hao, Joe Chang as the abusive Mr. Chung, Francesca Kao as Lin Mei-Hua, and Chen Shao-Hui as Lin Chun-Kai. The film also features guest appearances from well-known names such as Rainie Yang, Hsu Wei-ning, River Huang, and Ruby Chan. The production received its world premiere at the 55th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards before hitting theaters on November 3, 2018. The casting choices blend established Taiwanese stars with younger actors, reflecting the film's dual focus on both the supernatural horror elements and the intergenerational family drama at its core. The inclusion of multiple household names in guest roles suggests the filmmakers aimed to broaden the franchise's appeal beyond its core horror audience.

Series Context & Franchise Vision

Positioned as a prequel to both The Tag-Along (2015) and The Tag-Along 2 (2017), the Devil Fish film weaves its narrative into the existing timeline while expanding the mythological scope of the franchise. The story is set before the events of the second installment and introduces the young son of the Tiger Temple priest alongside his grandfather, both of whom appear in The Tag-Along 2 working at the temple. The son is also identified as the boyfriend of a missing girl in that later story, creating a tight web of interconnected characters. Beyond the immediate prequel function, the filmmakers expressed a broader ambition: after completing the original Tag-Along arc, they chose the Devil Fish legend as a potential springboard for a series covering additional Taiwanese urban legends. This vision positions the franchise not merely as a horror trilogy but as an ongoing anthology grounded in the island's folkloric heritage, with the Devil Fish serving as the second chapter in what could become a larger supernatural saga.