Jiang shi zhi zun

Two Asian exorcists (and their two apprentices) team up to battle various supernatual menaces. Lam Ching Yin Lam reprises his character from the Mr Vampire series (though this film drops the humor element from those movies.) This was director Andy Lau's first film and he crafts a very fast paced and entertaining horror effort. Made in 1990, this film was done old school way and no CGI in sight. This appears to be a very big budget for the time and visually delivers all the great stuff you would expect from China epics in the 1990s. The use of actual martials arts choreography in the movie used sparingly and is limited to Lam Ching Yin. Sometimes when his spells don't work, he is forced to use martial arts and other weapons to combat the ghosts, vampires, and zombies. I also really dug the color costuming and bright period color schemes which contrasted nicely with all the rotting flesh of the zombies and vampires. The ghosts in the film all appear human-like appearance. Lam Ching Yin's apprentices don't know any martial arts, so they spend a good deal of the film running from the vampire, ghosts, and the Hell Police. Sometimes they help out their leader who teaches them magic spells as the movie progresses. Had this movie come out in 2010 with a GCI sheen to it like all movies released these days, it would been terrible. If you love old school Asian horror, don't miss it!

"Vampire Buster" Lam Ching-Ying returns as Master Gao in this vampire-filled adventure. Here, he joins forces with his colleagues in ridding the world of restless ghosts, and he, himself, does battle with dozens of jumping Chinese vampires and creepy-looking zombies. Meanwhile, he must also deal with his corrupted senior colleague and a beautiful female ghost, who befriended his two pupils

An unofficial Mr Vampire film that feels uninspired and lacking any kind of excitement and energy of the official ones, and even the story isn't very inviting - however, the cast is good, especially Carrie Ng and Lam Ching Ying, and there's some good fights. The pacing is slow and it's an effort at times to keep watching. By 1991 the popularity of the Hopping Vampire films and all the associated supernatural films had begin to wane. Not that this was to be the last one; it is a genre that to some degree is embedded in Hong Kong's folklore and traditions. I find them unique normally, however this one is a weaker effort.

November 2021

I already reviewed all the other Mr Vampire type films awhile back, and completely missed this one.

Ultimate Vampire is crying out for a proper release and remains very difficult to get hold of.

It goes without saying it is very good, but it is not as strong as a lot of the others in the Mr Vampire category for me, Mr Vampire 4 remains my very favourite.

Check it out if you can find it.

8.5 to 9 hopping vampires for this one.

Vampire Buster Lam Ching-Ying does it again with another Mr. Vampire-inspired horror flick from Hong Kong, where he this time, as Master Gau, joins forces with his colleagues to capture their village of escaped ghosts and return them to the spirit world. He must also deal with his corrupted senior colleague and a female ghost who befriended his two disciples.

Filmed with much momentum, cool special effects, good acting, and haunting music, this is one entertaining movie that mixes in ghost action with slapstick (but not too much) humor. Gau's mission to capture all the escapes ghosts while his two disciples grapple with their crafty and sinister colleague counterpart, with a benevolent female ghost along for the ride, serves as an exciting plot element. The highlight of the film is when Gau and his disciples grapple with dozens of the famous hopping vampires under the full moon.

I would have liked to see Lam Ching-Ying perform some more martial arts action, but it's still a fun-filled movie and one of the better ghost/vampire flicks of the genre!

Grade B+