Gui da gui

Oh yeah, what a way cool movie! Samo Hung directed this very early effort in the HK horror/comedy genre, and what a doozie it is too.

Crazy martial arts, total disregard for bodily damage, lavish sets, marvelous photography, stock music from countless horror films and some great zombies too!!!

The zombies are what make this movie so fun. Just watch it and you'll see what I mean! The final showdown is also notable for being very funny. You need to see this in the original Cantonese language, just to take in the hilarious "conjured spirit" dialogue of the two fighting actors.

What can I say about a film that had me in tears of laughter. It's not really a horror though you will jump during certain scenes. Don't watch a dubbed version as the jokes are funnier when translated. The action is first rate and all the performances are... 'dead pan'. Just remember to never agree to a bet that might kill you!!!!

This film deals with the persecuted character of "Bold Cheung", played by Sammo Hung, as he simultaneously battles to find those who framed him for murder and also escaping a pursuing detective. It is a mostly kung-fu comedy film, and really defined the genre of kung-fu horror, (from which titles such as "Mr. Vampire" capitalised off greatly).

The brilliance of this film lies in it's great mix of excellent choreography, and interesting and exotic characters - the horror themes are like an extra background setting that improve the film even further. Not only is it a first in it's (sub)genre, but it happens to be one of the best - and this is due to Sammo's awesome talent.

The development of the plot really does centre around Cheung, as he uses his wits and savage kung-fu to overcome various set-pieces of action such as a resurrected corpse (Chinese vampire), a voodoo-doll, a band of policemen, yet another undead corpse, ghosts, specters, and men possessed with summoned Gods.

His slapstick style is present again, as well as his unique ability for weapon choreography. The ending sequence rivals "Odd Couple" as the best weapon skills caught on film - (watch those spear techniques closely!). Cinematography in this film is superb, and the restored version I own has not dated in the slightest. In fact, the film looks better than those brought out much later, (I did notice a wash of blue across the entire print, though).

Hang in there for the end - one of the most vindictive and vengeful endings I have ever seen. It has a strange satisfaction though!

After an official is nearly caught sleeping with a woman by her husband, he hires a greedy sorcerer to do away with the not-so-courageous man. Corpses hop, kung fu fighters are possessed, and all manner of spooky, supernatural action occurs.

Sammo Hung stars in his definitive homage to the tales of horror that he enjoyed in his youth. Encounter of the Spooky Kind is a cult classic filled with terrific kung fu action, vampires, zombies, sorcerer duels of magic, and one of the most memorable endings in kung fu genre history.

Sammo is Courageous Cheung, a pedicab driver in a rural community who is known around town as the man who fears nothing. Well, this is proved false before the opening credits finish when he endures a particularly frightening nightmare of flesh-eating zombies. But, that's just the beginning of his run-ins with the supernatural. His friends decide to pull a scary prank on him that results in a ghastly ghost joining in on the fun. The plot finally kicks in when Cheung comes home early one day to find his wife in bed with another man. It turns out to be Master Tam, a prominent citizen who is also a regular client of Cheung. He escapes before Cheung can identify him and decides Cheung must die to keep this activity a secret. Tam hires a greedy master of witchcraft named Chin Hoi (Peter Chan) to kill Cheung without arising suspicions. Chin Hoi's accomplice (Wu Ma) bets Cheung to stay locked in a broken down temple for one night where a corpse resides. With advice from Lau (Chang Ti Chiang), Chin Hoi's brother, Cheung survives two fierce nights in the temple. Later, a plot by Master Tam to frame Cheung for murder fails to succeed after he escapes by hiding out in a funeral home. Even an attempt to take control of Cheung's body using voodoo is foiled by Lau. Finally, both Master Tam and Cheung become pawns in a vicious battle of the sorcerers as the two brothers square off in a final, fiery confrontation.

I rented this movie after hearing a lot of good things about as far as action, comedy, and inventiveness was concerned. I must say I wasn't disappointed. This movie is off the wall; anyone who isn't used to Hong Kong cinema, their heads will explode by the finale. The movie has vampires, ghosts, possession, kung fu, comedy, monkey talk, random acts of violence against poultry, Lam Ching Ying, and then some. The martial arts choreography is good and the acrobatics are great, esp. for Sammo. Overall, a movie that needs to be seen to be believed.