Gong tau

I'm gonna comment on this one for the same reason someone else here did. It's odd that the majority of the small number of comments are negative, and they always show up on the main page whenever I check this film. So the first user comment is usually "terrible" or along those lines, and this movie is certainly far from terrible. As a fan of the Black Magic movies of the seventies and eighties, and I'd include "The Devil" in there too, Gong Tau is a great film in the franchise. Gory and shocking, with interesting characters and a good plot that puts the black magic curse in a modern police setting. Without giving away too much, there are a lot of interesting and gruesome scenes and images for the adventurous viewer and it is a nice return to Cat III film-making for the awesome Herman Yau. Every frame of this film bleeds atmosphere, it comes as no surprise that Yau was a cinematographer before becoming a director. A must watch for horror fans and fans of the bizarre and it's no small wonder that extreme horror novelist Edward Lee cites this as being his favourite horror film of 2007.

Could it be the return of genuine Cat III madness? When I first heard about this film it certainly sounded like it, considering the involvement of director Herman Yau ("Ebola Syndrome", "The Untold Story") and the listing of several themes & keywords that are customary for this sub genre's certification. After seeing the film at the Fantasy and Horror Festival in Belgium, I must admit it's not a total throwback to the outrageous films of the early nineties, but a successful mixture between Cat III nastiness and a far more sophisticated kind of film-making. "Gong Tau" isn't as sickeningly gore and doesn't contain any absurd humor, but to compensate for all this, the script is actually coherent for once and even introduces some effective and plausible dramatic story lines. Next to the voodoo horror plot, there's a very engaging domestic drama sub plot, which honestly makes the horror far more intense, grim and disturbing. The titular term refers to the most nightmarish type of oriental voodoo that black magic artists inflict onto people for reasons of either love or revenge. The harsh Hong Kong copper Rockman Cheung loses his baby son and almost his wife when someone targets him for Gong Tau terror. The main and only suspect is a criminal Lam Chiu, who Rockman shot in the head ten years ago, but he survived and mysteriously vanished. But when the real culprit and motives come to the surface, Rockman actually depends on Lam Chiu's knowledge of the occult for survival. "Gong Tau" is reasonably nauseating and surely doesn't bother to avoid the most shocking taboo subjects (dead babies, bug vomiting, mutilation…) but the violence is never fully gratuitous and Herman Yau largely remains focused on story building and atmosphere instead of sickness. The Gong Tau characteristics may sound a little over the top, as it involves heads separating from the body and antidotes that require a hodgepodge of insect venom, sperm and grease of a human corpse. The special effects and make-up are fabulous and the set pieces are marvelously sinister. Yau's direction is still as stable and reliable as it was over ten years ago, but his cast members definitely improve. Especially Mark Cheng as Rockman and Maggie Siu as his emotionally wrecked wife deliver stellar performances. The climax is insanely gory and even provides a neat (albeit illogical) twist. See this thing if you crave for the good old days of horror cinema to return. After "Dog Bite Dog" last year, this is another modest triumph in the Asian horror industry!

Normally I don't write reviews, since I think that not many people will read it anyway. However, with the few or one review out there I might give a try. Now the other guy has given a two, but that's too rash. This movie deserves better.

The theme itself is something quite extraordinary among the nowadays Hong Kong movies. So that's extra point and especially when the subject is quite appealing too. Gong Tau, to curse someone, is a subject we need to see more of. Unfortunately many of the movie aspects are poorly executed. The drama was bit annoying and drags on as the story continues. The only motive, which keeps you watching is too see how ridiculous funny it is to see the Gong Tau moves and motives. Exaggerated in some ways, but yet hilarious to see the dark and humorous computer effects.

You have been Gong Tau-ed and I rate this one a 7 for those who're interested in Black Magic and want a break of the current Hong Kong movies.

Even though it says horror for this film the drama and crime part of the film outweighs a little. There are some gory scenes which are not really that disturbing. The story was going fine until the very end. The weirdness at the last scene and unnecessary twist at the end -which it was so illogical- made the movie bad all of a sudden. But overall i think this movie is interesting and worth seeing.

Nasty category three (adults only) horror film about a cop who's life is complicated by some killings that have ties to black magic and which are very much directed at ruining his life. Bloody, unpleasant and creepy this is one of the better Hong Kong horror films I've seen in the last few months. Give it a couple of extra points for not being about a ghost with long dark hair.It also feels more like a police procedural rather than a horror film for a good portion of it. This is a film that takes the Black Magic films of the 1970's and 80's with centipedes and floating heads and updates them for the current sensibilities. Then again many of the black magic films were often good and gross, so why mess with them? It doesn't. I was on edge for a good portion of the film, how can you not be with the nastiness that befalls an infant? Clearly anything is possible. I won't over sell the film by insinuating that its perfect, its not, some of the talking scenes are a bit draggy and the final sequence, which at times is gruesome, maybe goes on a bit too long. Still there is something about the film that makes you sit bolt upright and watch dreading the next nasty turn. If you like your horror bloody and full of bugs give this film a shot.