Hong Kong student directs dark comedy-thriller Stranger Danger, aimed at dialogue on rape, sexuality and nihilism

Sporting a baseball cap and plaid shirt, 19-year-old student director Argie Seth cuts a relaxed figure that contrasts with the dark theme of his film Stranger Danger – a Hong Kong-based thriller exploring issues such as rape, sexuality and nihilism.

“The film is primarily a mystery, but it has many twists and turns and I believe it is extremely unpredictable,” he says, referring to his English-language project as a “dark comedy-thriller”.

“Viewers will laugh, cry and be in shock.”

Centred on two strangers who cross paths, it is a story about the lives of lead characters Miranda and Lago, who are emotionally drained and broken down by society. They then eventually chance upon each other in an alleyway.

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The 30-minute flick is a collaborative work by Seth, who is an Indian sophomore student at the local Savannah College of Art and Design, and his 10-member student crew from universities in the city and overseas.

In the story, Miranda is a childhood victim of abuse by her father, a drug user, and has been raped by a construction worker. Her life experiences have made her bitter and vengeful.

Lago, on the hand, has his own struggles. As a gay man, he has experienced social discrimination and self-conflict over his sexuality. Things take a turn for the worse after his partner’s family learns about their affair and his boyfriend attempts suicide.

Seth says the characters go through an existential crisis, in which one questions the meaning and purpose of life.

Film producer Janice Ng Wing-yee says the aim is to spark dialogue about sensitive issues and content rarely explored in Hong Kong cinema and on television.

“We made this short film for people to relate to and provide a way for them to connect,” Ng, 21, an Education University student, says.

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Audiences can expect a plot turn when Miranda and Lago finally meet and their fates intertwine, leading to an intriguing end.

Seth says viewers are free to interpret the film on their own.

The aspiring auteur started working on his script last June and it took him half a year to complete. He says he drew inspiration from his own experiences.

Born in India and raised in the Philippines, Seth says he was abused in kindergarten and became suicidal. But fortunately, with love and support from family and friends, he got back on his feet.

He says this is also why love is an integral part of his short film, despite the dark themes.

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His journey into film started when he came to Hong Kong two years ago to study the subject. Influenced by local culture and movies such as Infernal Affairs, the young man decided this was the place for his films.

“I wanted to set it in Asia, and Hong Kong is the heart of Asia,” he says.

“Hong Kong films are stylistic and meticulously crafted. Here we don’t take the easy way of filmmaking. We put thought into each shot.”

Scenes in Stranger Danger are set in Sham Shui Po and Tuen Mun which he calls the raw, worldly side of Hong Kong, compared to places such as Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.

“In a bustling city, people forget to look in the alleyways,” Seth adds.

Production took two months and the team faced many difficulties, among which was a tight budget.

With little funds as students to finance their project, Seth pumped in at least HK$15,000 from his own savings to cover expenses, including equipment rent.

“I was able to gather funds from doing an internship in a company in Hong Kong, and I even started vacuuming the office to get extra pay,” he recalls.

Currently the team is raising more money to premiere their film.

Despite being set in Hong Kong, Seth says the film’s plots and themes are universal and will resonate with viewers around the world.

“It’s a film for the world.”