Mr. Vampire IV

April 2021

Wow wow wow.. Mr Vampire saga IV (Mr Vampire 4) , so despite the initial dissapointment of no Lam Ching Ying, this is still one of my 3 favourite Mr Vampire style films along with Mr Vampire 3 and Musical Vampire.

This one focuses heavy on the comedy, in fact you forget the fact that vampires don't really figure in the film until halfway through.

Some truly amazing stuff here.

Fantabulous

10 out of 10.

A Taoist Priest isn't too happy when his Buddhist Priest colleague moves in next door. They are subject to constant feuds, but soon must overcome their odds towards each other when a vampire breaks loose from his coffin in a nearby procession and threatens to wreak havoc to the countryside.

Absolutely fun horror comedy which has the usual elements - hopping vampires, ghosts etc - but that's in the second half. The first half is quite enjoyable, introducing the characters ( a Taoist priest rivalry with a monk, the lovelorn assistant setting his cap for the monk's niece). It's a cosy 45 minutes with some good humour, the "battle" between priest and Taoist is fun. Then of course, the scary looking vampire gets resurrected and the priest and the monk got to work together. What you gets is some energetic kungfu, dazzling special effects and humour.

It's actually a bit sad, even if it's the same director that did the first Mr Vampire, it just seems like he never got the magic back that did the first one such a good film. This film isn't as bad as the second one, but it's also not keeping a focused plot as the first one.

The film is pretty simple, two priests living next doors to each other can't get along and fight between each other over different things. 45 minutes into the film, the actual vampire plot kicks in and it's when the priests have to work together to fight the evil.

I liked Anthony Chan as the Taoist Priest in the first Mr Vampire, he was a tiny bit goofy and yet professional when it came to defend himself against vampires. We do see some of that professional vibe from him in this film again, especially in the beginning of the film when he encounters a fox spirit - that's probably my favorite bit of this film. But then there was also a lot of fighting between him and the Buddhist Priest that didn't have to be as long as it was. Im sure they could've made a tense and exciting film out of the second half of this film, about two Priests vs a very powerful vampire.

There are some scary bits in this film, the "Master Vampire" looks really scary and brings back memories to the final boss in the first Mr Vampire, but then there's also the corrupted sidekicks that our heroes fight before the final boss - their appearances is much more comedic and silly and makes it hard to take this film serious at all. And then there's also the recurring "Aye ya!" which is the cantonese way of Ouch, I presume. They say it throughout the whole film and it gets rather boring after what feels like the 100th time of another "Aye ya!".

For those that loved the first film, I'm sad to say that the rest of the Mr Vampire films isn't even close to that one. You might get some enjoyment out of this one, but I can't see myself watch this film again. Check clips on youtube of this film and seek out the better HK comedy/horrors out there instead that's worth watching. That's my recommendation.

I simply adore MR. VAMPIRE, as it's one of my favorite films --- the perfect blend of comedy, martial arts and horror. Part 2 was enjoyable, if whimsical and Part 3, a strong ensemble cast that it is almost on the same level as the original. So the odds must be promising for MR VAMPIRE 4? Must be? Sure, Ricky Lau is back and it sticks to the formula (Taoist and his clumsy pupil battling the paranormal), but after Part 3 favored horror atmospherics, this time around it was leaning heavily on lightweight slapstick comedy, like Part 2 did. But the missing link; a stoic Lam Ching-Ying with his graceful martial art talents and it really does show in the final product. Still, I got a kick out of this over-the-top, playful and downright likeable HK supernatural comedy, even if now the franchise is at its most silliest.

There's not a lot to the story with its loose arrangement, even the whole vampire/antagonist angle doesn't come into it play until over halfway through. Therefore it kind of feels tacked on when that side of the story commences. The introducing scene of Anthony Chan (who returns after being in the original) as the four-eyed Taoist, herding his hopping vampires through the nighttime forest, where he encounters Pauline Wong Yuk-Wan's seductive fox spirit (blowing bubbles and glowing red kisses) is probably the most effective moment in the film. Mainly how it balanced its laughs, and dazzling fantasy elements with its stylish use of imagery. Then it becomes grounded, spending more time on student Chai-Le (Chin Ka-lok) trying to woo pupil Ching-Ching (Rachel Lee), while four-eyed Taoist and his neighboring Buddha monk (series regular Wu Ma) constantly feud, or try to better each other in their craft like in a competing live-action cartoon. It's Chan and Ma's dynamics and psychical interplay early on, keeping the film's energy buoyant and moving. The two eventually must settle their differences when an ancient vampire (in ghastly make-up FX) is resurrected by an electrical storm in the nearby woods. From then onwards all the ingredients are there; non-stop kung-fu filtered with slow-mo, minor aerial acrobats, frenetic pacing, fluorescent visual effects, hopping vampires, magic spells, firecrackers and a huge dose of broad humor all within tight quarters.

Lam Ching Ying, the original Mr. Vampire, has left the building. The comedic duo in this movie are fellow veteran actors, Wu Ma and Anthony Chan, who play rivalling Buddhist and Taoist priests respectfully. That is, until a big ol' vampire shows up and they have to join forces to defeat it.

There is an unfortunate gay stereotype in the form of a sissy eunuch played by stuntman/actor Yuen Wah who pursues Chan's nubile (male) apprentice. I imagine it must've been pretty funny to the clueless audience back in the day but it's just cringey to me now. Otherwise, the humor and fighting in this movie aren't half bad.