Mr. Vampire (1985) - A Quick Review

 

Classic Hong Kong movie!

Mr. Vampire is comedy/horror/martial arts movie released in Hong Kong in 1985 starring Lam Ching-Ying, Ricky Hui Koon-Ying, Chin Siu-Ho, Moon Lee Choi-Fung, Billy Lau Nam-Kwong, Pauline Wong Siu-Fung, Huang Ha, and Yuen Wah. Mr. Vampire was directed by Ricky Lau Koon-Wai, with martial arts directed by  Lam Ching-Ying and Yuen Wah. Sammo Hung was the producer of this movie.

Our heroes. From left: Ricky Hui, Lam Ching-Ying, and Chin Siu-Ho.

In Mr. Vampire, Lam Ching-Ying plays Master Kau, a Taoist priest who is an expert in the supernatural arts. He has two assistants, Man-choi (played by Ricky Hui) and Chow Chun (played by Chin Siu-Ho), who are both a bit immature. They get a case from rich businessman Yam Fat (played by Huang Ha), who arrives with his daughter, Yam Ting Ting (played by Moon Lee Choi-Fung); Mr. Yam wants to remove his dead father from his grave and rebury him to bring prosperity to the Yam family. When they unearth the body, they find that the corpse has barely decomposed, and the place where he was buried has bad feng shui. They bring the corpse back to their house, and the two assistants fail to properly seal it in its coffin. It escapes, eventually claiming several victims.

Though the victims bear the wounds of a vampire attack, the idiotic police inspector (played by Billy Lau) arrests Master Kau for their murders. While jailed, Master Kau sees one of the victims come back to life and attack the police chief! Chow Chun breaks him out and they battle the vampire until they subdue it. Meanwhile, the original vampire grows stronger every day it stays loose. Man-choi gets attacked by the vampire, and Master Kau has to give him a remedy to stave off becoming a vampire (as you can guess, things don't go according to plan). Throughout all of this, Chow Chun is seduced by a ghost (played by Pauline Wong Siu-Fung), who is taking his life force every time they "get it on". Master Kau has a lot to deal with in this movie!

One of the all-time classic scenes in Hong Kong cinema.

Mr. Vampire is one of the all-time classic Hong Kong movies. The success of this movie started the jiangshi trend in Hong Kong films, and many sequels and spin-offs came from this movie. This is the role Lam Ching-Ying is most remembered for, and he played it (and roles very similar to it) in many films after Mr. Vampire. Sammo Hung produced this movie, once again showing how influential he was in the history of Hong Kong film.

So, what do I think about the movie? I love it! It's definitely a classic! Lam Ching-Ying is great in this. He plays Master Kau with sternness, intelligence, strength, and a bit of empathy. He is always on top of the situation, and you can tell he cares about his assistants (and those he is hired to help). The story is interesting as well; they explain why the grandfather's corpse became a vampire, how they can stop it, and how to cure vampirism if you contract it. The comedy is good, too (though, humor is subjective). Billy Lau is so good as the idiotic police inspector. This is one of the best roles I've seen him in, actually. He is such a pompous jerk in this movie. The scene where he loses control of his body and the scene where he tries to fight off a vampire are great. There is a bit of tragedy in this as well (though it's not depressing or anything). Pauline Wong Siu-Fung as the ghost seducing Chow Chun is incredible. You end up feeling bad for her by the end. The way her character is introduced is so awesome and eerie. One of the best creepy introductory scenes ever filmed, in my opinion.

The action is wild and crazy in Mr. Vampire!

The action in Mr. Vampire is fun and crazy. There is not actually a lot of martial arts fighting in it. Chin Siu-Ho is the main fighter of the movie, and he does some awesome moves. Lam Ching-Ying gets to show off a brutal kick or two, as well. The incredible Moon Lee is in this movie, who is an awesome fighter in other movies, but she does not fight at all in Mr. Vampire. Kind of disappointing if you're a Moon Lee fan, but she is still great in this. She even helps out at the end! Otherwise, all the action mainly consists of crazy stunts. Lots of brutal falls, crashing through furniture, explosions, and magical mayhem. It's just a fun time!

I highly recommend Mr. Vampire. It's a classic that you need to see if you are into Hong Kong cinema or Asian cinema in general. Admittedly, Mr. Vampire is not that scary, and there are two scenes of animal cruelty (one involving a snake, the other one a chicken), but don't let that stop you from watching this great movie. Watch the movie that started the vampire craze in Hong Kong (and Japan) and gave Lam Ching-Ying his most beloved role. Maybe you'll get the bug and look for more jiangshi movies. It could happen!

The DVD I watched for this review. It's great, though the English dub calls the jiangshi/vampires "zombies". I need this on Blu-ray!

Back cover of the DVD case.

The DVD disc. Master Kau looks on with determination.

Reviewed by David Williams

Hansel and Gretel (2007) - A Quick Review

 

I heard Hansel and Gretel was really good. Let's just say it lived up to the hype!

Hansel and Gretel is a fantasy horror movie released in South Korea in 2007. It stars Chun Jung-myung, Shim Eun-kyung, Eun Won-jae, Jin Ji-hee, Park Hee-soon, Lydia Park, Jang Young-nam, and Kim Kyung-ik. Hansel and Gretel was directed and co-written by Yim Pil-sung.

Lee Eun-soo is not prepared for the family he meets...

In Hansel and Gretel, Chun Jung-myung plays Lee Eun-soo, a young man who is dealing with a lot concerning his girlfriend and his family. He argues on the phone with his girlfriend while driving, causing him to not pay attention to the road. At the last minute he swerves to avoid running over something laying in the road, causing him to crash his car. He safely gets out of the car, but is in a daze. A young girl named Kim Young-hee (played by Shim Eun-kyung) finds Eun-soo and brings him to her house. There, he meets Young-hee's older brother Kim Man-bok (played by Eun Won-jae) and their little sister Kim Jung-soon (played by Jin Ji-hee), and their parents (Kim Kyung-ik plays the father, Jang Young-nam plays the mother). He sleeps over night to recover from the car crash...

When Eun-soo wakes up, the family treat him to a huge breakfast of candy and cupcakes. Weird. He insists that he needs to call his girlfriend and family, but the family says their telephone line is not working. Double weird. Eun-soo decides to leave the house to look for his way back to town. The family warns him he might get lost in the forest (where the house is located). He leaves, and what do you know, he gets lost and comes back to the house. Eun-soo needs to leave, but the children (who now call him 'Uncle') are insistent that he stays. Man-bok starts showing threatening behavior towards Eun-soo and his parents...

The perfect, beautiful family... or so it seems.

Eventually the parents ditch the house, leaving Eun-soo in charge of the children. Eun-soo is baffled by the situation. He goes exploring around the house and the surrounding forest. He finds some very unsettling things that begin to explain what is going on. Things get weirder when two new guests come to the house, a deacon (played by Park Hee-soon) and his wife (played by Lydia Park). A snow storm occurs, trapping the new guests as well. The deacon doesn't mind, as he feels he was sent to the house by a 'higher power' to 'help' the children... Will Eun-soo escape the house, and will the deacon cleanse the house of 'evil'?

Hansel and Gretel is an amazing movie. There, I said it; upfront, too. This movie is weird, unsettling, and tragic. It is shot beautifully, and all of the actors and actresses portray their characters excellently. Until the reveal happens, you are always wondering what is going on with the children, their house, and the forest surrounding the area. Much like the classic fairy tales (not the Disney versions, I'm talking about the original stories), there is an underlying darkness to everything. As said before, the actors are great in this. Chun Jung-myung plays Lee Eun-soo as a sort of aloof young man who just wants to get home to see his family. He shows that he does care for the children, but he is also wary of them. Shim Eun-kyung plays Kim Young-hee as the most trustworthy of the kids (at least to Eun-soo), and she keeps Man-bok from getting too angry. Great performance from her in this. Eun Won-jae as Kim Man-bok is very angry and probably the most untrustworthy of the kids. That kid is scary, and his anger causes him to do... things (when you find out why he is the way he is, along with the other children... let's just say feelings will change). Finally, Park Hee-soon as the deacon is... unsettling. His attitude is totally different from his wife's and Eun-soo. To say more would be spoiling the movie, but the director cast perfect guy for this role.

Do not get Man-bok angry, or else...

I highly recommend Hansel and Gretel. It's not just a good horror movie, it's a good movie, period. This movie went places I wasn't expecting, and that made it all the more entertaining. This is one of the best movies I watched this year so far (not meaning to over-hype it, though). South Korea knows what it's doing when it comes to making movies, don't they? Hansel and Gretel is one fairy tale you won't forget any time soon! Check it out, if you can!

Reviewed by David Williams

[Fight Scene Friday] "A KUNG FU VAMPIRE STORY" | ACTION HORROR COMEDY

 It's the final Spooky Season© Fight Scene Friday™, and this week's scene is another great tribute to classic Hong Kong cinema by the Martial Club crew! This short film is an homage to the horror martial arts comedies of the 80s, like Encounter Of The Spooky Kind and Mr. Vampire. It is also a tribute to the jiangshi, which is the Chinese vampire (if you didn't know, the vampire myth originated in China; the gothic/European vampire came later). There are other references in there, like music from Drunken Master II, the classic zooming in and out from The Young Master, and I think Brian Le is dressed similar to Sammo Hung's character in Pedicab Driver, among many others. Anyways, check it out!

Check out the behind the scenes footage:

 

Howling Village (2019) - A Quick Review

 

Howling Village is directed by Takashi Shimizu, so you know it'll be an experience!

Howling Village (also known as Inunaki Village) is a Japanese horror movie released in 2019 that stars Ayaka Miyoshi, Ryota Bando, Hinata Kaizu, Masanobu Takashima, Reiko Takashima, and Rinka Otani. It was directed by Takashi Shimizu (director of Ju-On: The Curse, Marebito, and Tomie:Rebirth among many other movies) and is a part of his Village Trilogy.

Ayaka Miyoshi as Kanade Morita. She has special abilities...

In Howling Village, Ayaka Miyoshi plays Kanade Morita, a clinical psychologist who can see supernatural things that others cannot (and she has other abilities). She gets a new patient, a little boy, who is having bad dreams. He does not want to talk to her about his bad dreams, because his "other Mama" will get mad... Before all this happened, though, Kanade's brother Yuma (played by Ryota Bando) and his wife Akina (played by Rinka Otani) went exploring a mysterious village and after coming back, Akina's behavior has drastically changed. Yuma wants Kanade's help with dealing with her. Of course, something tragic occurs, and Yuma decides to go back to the village to find out what is happening.

Kanade and Yuma's little brother, Kota (played by Hinata Kaizu) is interested in an urban legend about a mysterious village, so he sneaks into Yuma's car when he goes back there. When Yuma and Kota don't come back after a while, Kanade has to find out what is going on, and find a way to get to that village. She soon finds out everything is connected, and is determined to get her brothers back.

The truth hurts.

Howling Village is a very interesting horror mystery film. Throughout the movie, you wonder what exactly is going on. There is a lot of spooky, supernatural events going on along with some family drama within the Morita family. I must say, the child actors in this movie are really good, especially Hinata Kaizu as Kota. Ayaka Miyoshi as Kanade is great as well. You really empathize with what she's going through in the movie. The ghost effects are cool (reminds me of how the ghosts disappear/fade away in Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water), and the makeup effects are good, too. The story is really engaging, and everything makes sense (for the most part, I mean it is a horror movie). Once again, you just have to pay attention, as the clues and information are given to you in the movie.  I would say the movie is more spooky than scary, though.

You see ghosts, you run!

Howling Village is a well made horror movie that is good, but it does not quite live up to the classic Japanese horror movies of the past. Still, it's an enjoyable movie that never gets boring. I do recommend it, or at least giving it a chance.

Reviewed by David Williams

Shadow Master (2022) - Movie Trailer

 Check out the trailer for Shadow Master, a martial arts horror film directed by Pearry Reginald Teo and starring D.Y. Sao, Brian Le, Layton Matthews, Anna Harr, and Craig Ng. The Martial Club crew does the choreography for this movie! Here is the synopsis:

 Slain during a ferocious fight and reborn with supernatural powers, one man stands between demonic forces bent on hastening the Apocalypse and a ragtag group of apartment dwellers protecting their children from certain peril.

Shadow Master comes out November 4, 2022 in select theaters and on November 8, 2022 for On Demand and digital services. This movie looks AMAZING, and I really want to see it!

 

[Fight Scene Friday] ANNABELLE COMES HOME PARODY - IF THE DOLL KNEW KUNG FU

We're still in Spooky Season©, so this week's Fight Scene Friday™ scene is an Annabelle parody from the Martial Club crew! This is what happens if Annabelle knows kung fu! Lots of homages in this one, from Jackie Chan to Donnie Yen to The Exorcist! Check it out!

La Nuit A Dévoré Le Monde AKA The Night Eats The World (2018) - A Quick Review

 

The Night Eats The World is an amazing zombie movie!

La Nuit A Dévoré Le Monde (also known as The Night Eats The World) is a French zombie movie released in 2018 starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Denis Lavant, Golshifteh Farahani, Sigrid Bouaziz, and David Kammenos. It was directed by Dominique Rocher.

Great performance by Anders Danielsen Lie as Sam.

In La Nuit A Dévoré Le Monde, Anders Danielsen Lie plays Sam, a musician who goes to a party in an apartment to get his cassette tapes back from his ex-girlfriend (played by Sigrid Bouaziz). Things are going bad at the party when he finally finds the case containing his cassette tapes. Dealing with a head injury (an accident that occurred on his way to the room containing the cassettes), he sits down and falls asleep. 

When Sam wakes up, the apartment is completely trashed, and there is no sign of any of the party goers. He opens the door to leave, and his girlfriend and others on the other side lunge at him...except now they are zombies! Sam looks outside, and the street is full of zombies! He seems to be the only survivor of a zombie apocalypse that has occurred in Paris, France!

There's some nice music in this movie!

Sam decides to stay in the apartment and set up base there. He goes through all the rooms looking for supplies. He plays a little music now and then. He listens to all the cassette tapes he can find. He lives a lonely life with no one to talk to...except a zombie (played by Denis Lavant) who is stuck behind an elevator door. Throughout the movie Sam does things intelligently, but it's when he messes up that things go very bad for him. Can Sam survive the zombie apocalypse by himself?

I've been interested in La Nuit A Dévoré Le Monde since I first found out about it, and I finally got to watch it this year. I enjoyed this movie very much. In fact, I loved it! It's a different kind of zombie movie, as there is not that much violence or gore (there is still plenty of that, but it's spread out and most of it is at the end). It's all about how one man is able to survive the apocalypse by himself, and how that solitude affects him. I like that Sam is a normal guy; he makes a lot of smart decisions, but he also makes some bad decisions based on his emotions. I also like that there is a musical element to the movie (as in, Sam plays music with what's around him, not that he's singing show tunes). I also like how the zombies are pretty quiet in this. If you couldn't smell them, you wouldn't know what's behind the next door! The special effects are good; there's some gross gory stuff in this. Really nice visuals in this, the Paris skyline is beautiful yet creepy, with no life around for miles (or kilometers).

A shot nightmares are made of!

I highly recommend watching La Nuit A Dévoré Le Monde! Really well made zombie movie. It may seem slow and even boring to some, but it all builds to something. I find the whole movie entertaining and fascinating. You really don't need a lot of words to tell a compelling story, and this movie is an example of that. If you were the last person left in a zombie apocalypse, how long do you think you could survive?

Reviewed by David Williams