raul-pekander

This film is quite something, it has basically three scenarios: Heaven, Earth and Hell.Mostly the film is set up in Hell. The execution might be little off for some viewers but I can see it as more of an anthology or tree films put together. At first, you get some fighting that is choreographed like dance, it is quite fascinating to see how well it plays out with many actors fighting each other. As the story progresses, the style shifts to more surreal. In the Hell part, it is already fantasy and it gets quite imaginative for its depiction of Hell: demons, torture, dark humor, magic,...all the good stuff but different from our view on Hell in the West. The effects are a bit cheezy but I like that style, personally I like it. It looks like we are looking a theather play so those of you wish realistic sets might not like this film. Then again, how many Shaw Brothers fantasy films do have the most realistic sets? It is a part of the appeal.

To conclude: If you are a fan of Shaw Brothers that have strong fantasy presence like I am, you would propably like this film. It is so weird that it makes it entertaining. You get little of drama, romance, fantasy, action and an added psychedelic atmosphere: all in one, what not to like? Bon voyage!