Human lanterns

In a quiet town nestled amidst mist-shrouded hills, two Kung-Fu masters vie for supremacy. Their battleground? Not the martial arts arena, but the eerie world of lantern craftsmanship. Directed by the enigmatic Chung Sun, Human Lanterns weaves a tale of obsession, betrayal, and gruesome artistry.

Master Lung (played by Tony Liu Yong) and Master Tan (Chen Kuan Tai) are town braggarts, each scheming to outshine the other. Tan unveils a human-sized lantern that captivates the simple folk, while Lung seeks an even grander creation. His quest leads him to Chun Fang (Lo Lieh), a former love rival turned master lantern maker. But Chun Fang's conditions are ominous: Lung must never visit his workshop.

The film's opening credits reveal a warehouse adorned with human remains atop a blood-soaked grinder. The macabre truth emerges: these gruesome trophies become the lanterns that illuminate the town. Skin peeled from victims' bodies, bones sculpted into delicate frames-the lanterns cast an otherworldly glow, fueled by suffering.

As more women vanish, the town trembles. The mysterious hermit hired by Tan adds to the intrigue. His lanterns, infused with secrets and darkness, lure unsuspecting souls. The brothel's madam, the prostitute, and the townsfolk-all are drawn into this dance of shadows and blades.

Human Lanterns teeters between horror and martial arts, its brutality tempered by censorship. The missing scenes-where skin meets blade-leave us craving the uncut version. Yet, the film's eerie ambiance and twisted creativity linger. It's a flawed gem, like a tarnished lantern casting both light and shadow.

Chung Sun's vision is a chiaroscuro nightmare, where beauty and horror entwine. Watch it for the unsettling visuals, the clash of egos, and the haunting lanterns. But beware: once you glimpse their glow, you'll forever question what lies beneath the surface.🌓 🔪🌟🌕🌺🔮🌓

Do we have the nameless individual that tricks two others to fight each other? Does that sound like a famous western with Clint Eastwood? Which also was copied ... well let's not go down that road. Especially because while there may be parallels, there also quite a few differences here too.

I've seen my share of Shaw Brothers movies, but I can't remember seeing this one. This is quite out there, with a character being a mixture of monkey and demon, with the evil mindset of a ... human (a bad human that is of course). Add to that horror some good old fashioned stunts and flying lessons ... and voila you got yourself a movie that might not be everyones cup of tea (if you're easily offended, don't even bother, there are quite a few scenes that are far from political correct), but works for those who love these movies ... and if you're one of them, you won't mind certain flaws as much as others do

"Ren pi deng long," translated as "Human Lanterns," is a 1982 Shaw Brothers production that throws martial arts action into a blender with disturbing horror elements. The result is a bizarre concoction - a campy, uneven film that will leave you scratching your head while occasionally offering bursts of entertainment.

The plot revolves around a wealthy man, Lung Shu Ai, who desires a unique lantern for a festival. He hires the skilled craftsman Chao Fang, unaware of the simmering resentment Chao holds for Lung. This resentment stems from a past betrayal, and Chao decides to craft his revenge in a particularly gruesome way - by using human skin for the lanterns.

The fight choreography is decent for the era, featuring Shaw Brothers staples like lightning-fast kicks and acrobatic displays. However, the special effects haven't aged well, with the "human skin" looking more like cheap plastic. The real draw (or turn-off, depending on your taste) is the horror element. The film doesn't shy away from showing the skinning process, albeit with a level of camp that lessens the impact.

The acting is a mixed bag. The lead villain, Chao Fang, chews the scenery with gusto, bordering on parody at times. The hero, played with stoicism by Lieh Lo, provides a more grounded counterpoint. The narrative unfolds in a predictable manner, with the mystery of the lantern maker's identity revealed fairly early.

"Human Lanterns" is a film that thrives on its outrageous premise. It's undeniably exploitation cinema, pushing boundaries for the sake of shock value. If you're looking for a well-crafted horror film or a top-tier martial arts flick, you'll likely be disappointed. But for those seeking a cheesy, bizarre cinematic experience, "Human Lanterns" offers a campy thrill ride with some impressive fight sequences sprinkled in.

Human Lanterns goes for broke and mostly works. It's gonzo stuff, being a cross between a martial arts movie and a murder-mystery about a deranged serial killer, all taking place hundreds of years ago (possibly longer).

I like it when a Shaw Brothers movie does something out of left field. This isn't my favorite example of the studio doing that, but it certainly has its moments - enough of them for this to end up being pretty decent. There's enough here that's fun to make it worth a watch for martial arts fans after something different.

It was let down a little, I felt, by being uneven. It committed to different levels of crazy at different points, and feels all-over-the-place as a result. That sense of chaos can work when it's pushed far enough often enough in a movie like this, but I don't feel like Human Lanterns always did the best job at this.

Still, for having some silly horror mixed in with some violent fight scenes, there was a good amount here that proved enjoyable. The kind of thing that gets a caution recommendation, for fans of this style of odd film, at least.

Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Human Lanterns; here's the breakdown of my ratings:

Story: 1.75 Direction: 1.50 Pace: 1.50 Acting: 1.75 Enjoyment: 1.75

TOTAL: 8.25 out of 10.00

The surprising element of this movie is the complex and stimulating unfolding drama. And, the bonus is the martial arts sequences, which are superb.

The writers, Kuang Ni and Chung Sun begin the story with a party. Master Tan Fu is showing off his latest conquest, Yen Chu, who was Master Lung Shu Ai's concubine. The Masters have been in a state of rivalry for many years, and this peacocking is merely another one-up-manship by Master Tan to embarrass Master Lung. But Lung has other ideas and proclaims that Tan will again be the loser in the township's lantern festival. Lung rushes to his customary lantern artist, only to find that the old man doesn't craft the beautiful beacons; he purely sells them. Once Lung's heard the seller's secret, he enquires about the artist's identity. From that moment forward, life takes a darker and more deadly path for the two masters, especially for Master Lung. The writers weave a dark, crooked road for our victims to walk down. The devious twists along the way will keep you engrossed. And the police's and victims' logical decisions and consequences towards each deviation create a powerful revenge story. Though you know the villain of the piece right from the beginning, it's a pleasure to watch the intricate plot unravel. I usually prefer whodunnits of this style. However, I profess that I loved the way the narrative's structured. It is a clever piece of writing.

Chung Sun is a man of many talents; he's as skilled behind the camera as he is pushing a pen. Human Lanterns is a beautifully lit and filmed slice of Chinese cinematography. I especially liked how the lights in the lantern makers workshop are not as bright as elsewhere - though the guy has more illumination than Blackpool and Las Vegas combined. There are lots of dark shadows, which emphasise the crafter's evil craftiness. Chung Sun is also an expert when capturing the fight sequences. Most of the time, he keeps the combatants in full frame and only uses close-ups to show off special moves, for example, Master Tan's Fan Steps at the party at the start of the movie. It is always best to see the action in full. But he also realises it's better to show certain details to add to the spectacular fight's credibility. And when the action takes place over different levels and locations, he gets imaginative with his shots.

The cast is excellent, both in their performance and fighting skills. Their talent adds to the strength of the story and your enjoyment of the picture.

If you like your Dark Thrillers with more than a dash of martial arts, or you like your Kung-Fu with a side order of an intriguing storyline, then Human Lanterns is the film for you. I would happily recommend this picture to all movie lovers worldwide - it is more than worthy of your time. I will be checking in on this beacon of illuminating excellent moviemaking again.

Blow out those candles and pop over to check out my Killer Thriller Chillers and The Game Is A Foot lists to see where I ranked Human Lanterns.

Take Care & Stay Well.