What initially introduces itself as a classic Shaw Brothers revenge style film quickly deviates from that to become something altogether different in a way that's unexpectedly good.
I'll start by saying that this movie is wuxia through and through and though, so if you don't know the genre, it's extremely confusing. However, that's not to say most people who do know the genre would be able to call it all the way through, as even though the broad strokes are familiar, the execution is unique; and while it initially feels like a film made after they had everyone together for another film to reuse actors and sets and costumes, there's enough to keep it interesting all the way through.
The overall tone of the film is pulpy and comedic in a way that's just short of being actually funny without being so committed that it offends you when it fails and so it's instead charming, like someone giving you a badly made gift that obviously somehow shows more obvious skill and effort than if it were "well made."
Great things about it:
-Predictable but in a comforting way
-Most powerful martial artist in the film's world is a woman (very forward!)
-Passes the Bechdel test (kinda)
-Bright colors and weird, characters
-Doesn't take itself seriously
-Despite being filmed in shots that are obviously constrained to specific sets and lighting, this ends up adding excellent variety with distinct feel in each spot.
Bad things about it:
-Story dead ends some characters yet they still stick around
-Some of the characters don't have clear motivations as to why they do anything
-Features a wide variety of martial arts sects but they all act and fight the same way
-Special effects budget is essentially the whole budget
-Abuse of wires
Weird things about it that are so bad it's good:
-They spent way too much money on exactly 2 skeletons and so they reuse them again and again, even to the point where one of the bad guys goes, "HAHAHA, GRAB THE BONES!" as an obvious inside joke.
-The director and writer knew their tropes well enough that they openly and hilariously subvert tropes regarding "magic" and "vampires" and "dual cultivation," etc.
-The tone of the film shifts wildly from the open all the way to the close.
-Certain characters show up and are introduced as if they'd fill certain roles only for those roles to be completely changed in hilarious ways.
Overall, the film feels almost like you suddenly landed half way in a series with no formal prequel or sequel but is rich enough that it's still enjoyable, like being handed a slice of cake with something written on it and being unsure if it's for a birthday, holiday, retirement, or professional event but still enjoying it because it's surprisingly good cake. Just like that cake, I'd recommend this as a fun watch, especially if you have friends to riff on the film with at home.
