This movie is one of the best horror kung fu films of this period and as achieved a cult following around the world. We had already seen Sammo Hung’s Encounters Of The Spooky Kind do really well at the box office a few years before, he was also back to produce this masterpiece.
This is probably Lam Ching Ying’s biggest role he ever played, as everyone knew him after this movie as the Van Heising of the east. The movie starts with a local man dying strangly (according to his son), and wanted his body dug up and examined to find the real reason he died. Lam and his two students Chin Siu Ho and Ricky Hui, decided to help out and uncover what really happend behind the death. This is when the movie picks up alittle.
The Vampire is held at a local police station,where Lam Ching Ying is being held, when siu ho comes to resue him he is stopped by the local policeman and the two fight. The Vampire suddenly comes back alive,attacks them and manages to get away. After a few encounters with the vampire, we see a ghost come into the movie who tries and make Chin Siu Ho fall in love with her but Lam soon takes care of the ghost. The other student is biten by the vampire and is slowly turning into one. All seems to be going wrong for them and then the Vampire turns up at the home and the final showdown arrives.
Chin Siu Ho shows how good his acrobatics are in this movie,from running up a door and backflipping over a vampire to performing great kicking techniques,where Lam Ching Ying just shows us what he’s best at, making devices and catching the vampire and killing it off.Moon Lee also stars in this movie where she bring us some funny comedy moments along with Ricky hui and chin siu ho.
I would Recommend this movie to anyone trying to cross kung fu with horror because this has it all, vampires, kung fu,comedy and a good storyline. Strong characters in this movie also.
[Rating:9/10]
*NOTE* This movie has spawned alot of sequels including 5 – Magic cop and Mr.Vampire 1992 just a few of them. Lam Ching ying died in 1997 from a long illness with cancer. He was buried with his Toast Priest Hat and Jacket.
