The Tag-Along: Devil Fish 2018

Horror

Rank

#25,869

Box Office

$154K

Runtime

115 mins

Language

Chinese

Directed by

David Chuang

Made by

Greener Grass Production

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The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Rooted in Taiwan’s decades-old urban legend about a fish that bears a human face, this prequel revisits the old tale from a new angle. It starts with the famous moment when three men in central Taiwan catch a fish and, as they begin to eat, notice a face emerge from within. The memory of that eerie encounter lingers, and the film captures the chilling line that follows: > 「魚肉好吃嗎？」.

Expanding beyond the legend, the story shifts to the present tension surrounding a group of people—a temple priest, a young boy, and the boy’s mother—who find themselves haunted by malicious spirits released by the caught fish. At the center of the drama is Lin Meihua and her daughter, around whom the supernatural harassment intensifies. The narrative treats the fish’s power as more than a single scare; it becomes a catalyst that unsettles a community and exposes how fear can travel through families and temples alike.

The film also threads connections to The Tag Along universe, hinting at events that precede The Tag Along 2. It situates itself before those later appearances, with nods to characters like the Tiger Temple priest’s son and his grandfather who will show up in the later installments. This setup suggests a larger tapestry of Taiwanese urban legends, where each tale feeds into the next and where motifs of lineage, ritual power, and possession recur across generations.

At the heart of the prequel’s backstory is a descent into origin myth. The demon that possesses Mei-Hua’s daughter is born from the vengeful spirit of a disfigured son of a wealthy man, Mr Chung. His father’s harsh treatment and the boy’s untimely death seed a haunting force that malevolently awakens itself. A master shaman—the father of Lin Chun-Kai’s line—fights the demon and the Tiger Lord’s spirit to protect the living, but the price is grave: the father dies, leaving a legacy of ritual mastery to be carried on by his grandson. That grandson is raised by his grandfather, a master shaman, who trains him to become his successor, setting the stage for the events that will unfold in Tag-Along 2.

The tale remains grounded in its folkloric roots while weaving a modern ensemble story about belief, fear, and the ways in which legends shape lives across generations. Through the threads of possession, prophecy, and ritual, the prequel paints a broader picture of Taiwan’s rich tapestry of folk tales, hinting at how the past echoes into the present and propels the next chapter in the saga.

The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Legend of the human-faced fish begins

An old Taiwanese legend introduces a fish with a human face. Three men catch the strange fish in central Taiwan and hear a chilling question from it: Is the fish meat tasty? The moment marks the beginning of a haunting that threads through the film.

Legendary past Central Taiwan

The haunting follows the legend

Following the catch, malicious spirits descend upon the community and begin to torment nearby people. A temple priest, a young boy, and the boy's mother become targets as they struggle to understand the apparition and protect their home. The encounters set the tone for the gathering danger throughout the story.

Shortly after the fish catch Central Taiwan (temple area)

Origin of the demon from a disfigured son

The demon's origin is tied to a disfigured son of a wealthy man, Mr Chung. The father abuses the boy because of his rare skin condition, and the boy dies as a consequence. His vengeful spirit is then seized by a malevolent demon, unleashing a dangerous force.

Historical past Chung family estate

The demon possesses Mei-Hua's daughter

The demon, amplified by the possession, begins to haunt Mei-Hua's daughter. This arc traces how the girl grows increasingly troubled until she transforms into the girl in red that anchors the original film's lore. The possession marks a turning point linking the backstory to the events beyond.

Present day within the film Mei-Hua's home

A master shaman fights the demon

Lin Chun-Kai's father, a master shaman, confronts the demon with aid from the Tiger Lord's spirit. He fights bravely but pays with his life, ensuring the demon's threat remains unresolved for the time being. The sacrifice underscores the gravity of the haunting faced by the families involved.

Historical backstory Tiger Temple

Lin Chun-Kai is adopted by his grandfather

After his father's death, Lin Chun-Kai is taken in by his grandfather, a seasoned master shaman who trains him. The old mentor teaches him to carry on the family legacy and protect people from restless spirits. This lineage becomes the foundation for the upcoming Tag-Along storylines.

After father's death Grandfather's temple

Grandfather trains the heir to succeed the lineage

The grandfather imparts shamanic knowledge and ritual skills, preparing Lin Chun-Kai to become his father's successor. The training deepens his resolve to confront the demon's ongoing menace. He learns to balance healing, ritual power, and protection.

Years of training Grandfather's temple

The demon's influence continues to spread

The demon's power ripples through the community, affecting more people beyond Mei-Hua's daughter. Lin Chun-Kai and his allies piece together the source of the unrest and brace for a long fight ahead. The haunting tests their faith and ritual craft.

Present era within the film Temple vicinity and community

Connections to Tag-Along legends emerge

The Tiger Temple's younger generation, including the temple's priest's son and his grandfather, appear within the backstory, hinting at their future roles in The Tag Along 2. Their presence ties the prequel to the ongoing series. The shared mythos strengthens the links between films.

Present-day within the film Tiger Temple

Origin of the Girl in Red is traced

The possession that becomes the Girl in Red is linked to the demon's awakening during Mei-Hua's daughter's life. The haunting leaves a lasting mark on the family that resonates with the original film's tone. It clarifies how a familiar image from the later film originates.

Present Mei-Hua's home

Lin Chun-Kai rises as the family heir

Lin Chun-Kai is groomed to be the successor of the grandfather's shamanic line. He learns to combine ritual power, healing, and protection to guard against the demon. His development in this prequel sets the stage for his leadership in Tag-Along 2.

Years later, approaching Tag-Along 2 Grandfather's temple

Prequel closes, foreshadowing Tag-Along 2

The film closes by confirming Lin Chun-Kai's destiny to inherit the mantle and confront the demon's legacies. The origin story explains the shared mythos that threads into The Tag Along 2. The film ends with anticipation for what comes next in the series.

Before Tag-Along 2 Tiger Temple

The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Characters

Explore all characters from The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Lin Meihua

Meihua is the mother whose daughter becomes a vessel for the demon. She grapples with fear and seeks answers within Taiwan’s mythic traditions, driving the group toward temple rites and exorcism. Her resolve tests family bonds as the haunting intensifies.

🎭 Drama 🧬 Family 🕯️ Supernatural

Li Shu-fen

The young boy's mother who, along with others, faces harassment from malignant spirits unleashed by the fish. She acts as a stabilizing presence for the group, offering care and strength in the face of terror.

👪 Family 🧭 Fear 🗺️ Legends

Aron

The young boy central to the haunting; his experiences become a focal point for the investigation into the demon’s origins. His vulnerability highlights the human cost of the supernatural conflict.

🧒 Youth 🌀 Haunting 🏚️ Mystery

Shen Yi-Jun

A temple priest who confronts the demon with ritual knowledge. Yi-Jun acts as a bridge between traditional beliefs and the escalating supernatural threat, guiding the team through exorcism rites.

🙏 Priest 🧭 Ritual 🔮 Exorcism

Lin Zhicheng

The grandfather figure and master shaman who embodies the ancestral power passed down through generations. His presence anchors the family’s struggle and foreshadows the hero’s path in the lineage.

🧙‍♂️ Shaman 🧭 Ancestry 🗿 Power

The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Settings

Learn where and when The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Central Taiwan, Tiger Temple

The story is set in central Taiwan, grounding the legend in real-world locales tied to local myths. It intertwines everyday life with supernatural rites observed at temples. The Tiger Temple and its associated sites anchor the haunting, linking modern events to ancient beliefs.

🗺️ Central Taiwan 🧭 Legend & folklore 🏮 Temple setting

The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Themes

Discover the main themes in The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🗺️

Folklore

The film leans on a famous Taiwanese folktale to frame the events, showing how a local legend shapes fear and decisions. It ties a well-known ghost story to a broader supernatural world. The prequel aspect expands the origins of the fish-faced demon within Taiwan's oral traditions.

🔥

Possession & Vengeance

A disfigured, vengeful spirit emerges from a cursed encounter with the fish, attacking families and communities. The possession of Mei-Hua’s daughter serves as the core catalyst for escalating hauntings. The narrative explores how guilt and anger can fuel a malevolent force across generations.

🧭

Shamanic Tradition

The film foregrounds master shamans and temple rites as tools against a powerful demon. It shows lineage-based knowledge, ritual sacrifice, and spiritual guardians (like the Tiger Lord) as means to confront and slow the haunting. The coming-of-age arc for Lin Chun-Kai ties personal growth to ancestral power and responsibility.

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The Tag-Along: Devil Fish Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Tag-Along: Devil Fish (2018). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the mist‑shrouded streets of modern Taiwan, ancient whispers still drift from shrines and market stalls, weaving a world where the unseen feels almost palpable. Beneath the hum of everyday life, a centuries‑old legend about a fish with a human face lingers in taverns and temple corners, its eerie question—“Is the fish meat tasty?”—echoing like a forbidden lullaby. The film opens against this folkloric tapestry, inviting the audience to feel the subtle chill that rises whenever myth brushes against reality, setting a tone that balances subdued dread with a lingering, almost reverent curiosity.

When a desperate exorcism is staged to free a man from a dark possession, it becomes the unintentional stage for something far more unsettling. Two eager film students, Jun and Hao, arrive with cameras in hand, hoping to capture the supernatural on film, only to find their lenses opening a doorway to the feared devil fish demon. Their youthful enthusiasm and skeptical banter clash with the solemn gravity of the ritual, creating a dynamic tension that drives the story’s emotional core. As the unseen presence begins to ripple through the air, the pair are forced to confront a reality far beyond their academic aspirations.

Guided by a seasoned spirit medium, Mei‑Ling, who carries both the weight of ancestral knowledge and a calm, almost mystical composure, the trio forms an uneasy alliance. Mei‑Ling’s quiet authority and deep respect for the old ways contrast sharply with the students’ modern, technology‑driven perspective, highlighting a clash of generations and belief systems. Together, they stand at the threshold of a world where the line between the living and the otherworldly blurs, setting the stage for a tense, atmospheric pursuit that promises to test their resolve, ingenuity, and faith in the unseen forces that shape their heritage.

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