If in European cinema a masterpiece occupies a special place on the border between scary and funny Roman Polanski's "Ball of the Vampires", then in Asian cinema stands on a similar pedestal "Ghost Encounters 2"» director Ricky Lau (by the way, the creator of a whole series of wonderful films about vampires and ghosts with the constant hero - a Taoist priest, the so-called "Teacher" performed by the legendary Lam Ching Yi).
"Ghost Encounters 2" is a sparkling movie about the adventures of an exorcist priest (Lam Ching Yi) and two of his students, performed Sammo Hunga и Mana Hoya, the movie is absolutely original and unhackneyed, devoid of painful cliches and techniques of the horror genre, the stubborn meaninglessness of the characters’ actions. The genre is a mix of kung fu action, comedy and very subtle folk horror, since the film is filled with both virtuoso fights and masterful gags with completely modern humor, seasoned with elements of Chinese superstitions and traditions, showing us the archetypes of the heroes of traditional mystical stories of China. And most importantly - a unique atmosphere. The film is not intended to mindlessly shock you; it does not contain gallons of gore, heartbreaking female screams, mindless maniacs in masks, cutesy vampires from Twilight, and even more so, female nudity, which is obligatory for a thriller/horror film. An oriental flavor reigns here, an incomparable atmosphere, for which everything works: a brilliantly constructed sound accompaniment, bright artist’s work, scenery, light, tricks, unpredictability of the plot….
But let's get back to the atmosphere. Of course, I first watched this film in the 90s on VHS, and then it just knocked me over. Few films of this genre, or any other, are able to immerse the viewer in such an atmosphere and on-screen story. The opening sequences of the film, in my opinion, are some of the most brilliant in vampire cinema. Color, light, music, acting, emotional accents, the principle of organizing events, logic - everything is on point. And the suspense there is simply unreal.
Throughout the film, we are treated to a classic fighting game performed by Sammo Hung and his comrades. At the end of the film, one of the representatives of evil spirits is perfectly embodied by the one we know Ngai Sing (Aka Colin Chow).
In general, this movie is very difficult to write and analyze; it needs to be watched and re-watched.
Of course, this is not a movie for everyone, because for viewers unfamiliar with the Eastern style, the film may seem naive or illogical, even absurd, in places. But for fans of oriental cinema, this is an undoubted gift.
PS: Review from two years ago, written for KP, but revised specifically for fight-films.info.
Author: Ravenside
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Tags: Spooky Encounters 2, Colin Chow, Lam Chin-Ying, Sammo Hung
Tags: Spooky Encounters 2, Colin Chow, Lam Chin-Ying, Sammo Hung
Ravenside, THANK YOU so much for your review!
I watched the movie yesterday! But I only saw a couple of fragments, and even then from an old documentary. Great! I liked it very much!!! Truly atmospheric!
And the scene with the cockroaches...bbbrrrrrrr...well done Sammo!!!
Shot and edited beautifully.
The humor is quite decent. Especially in the scenes with Lam Ching Yee!
Anyway, THANK YOU for the tip.
Also rewatched with Sammo - NO RETURN, directed by Ringo Lamb. Good movie!
A little off topic of course, BUT...
I found the 1979 Japanese film GORO yesterday. About a dog that was hunted by the mafia. Still in circulation in the Soviet box office. I watched it with pleasure!!! Anyone who remembers will certainly understand what I'm talking about.
The first and second parts are very different
Mery,
Yes, one might say, radically.
The fight with the baby snakes there is of course incomparable, in the end =)