Jiang shi shu shu (1988)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ricky Lau

Release Date:

21 December 1988 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Horror

Plot Keywords:

Chinese Vampire | Sequel

Cast

Anthony Chan	...	Four-eyed Taoist
Kar Lok Chin	...	Chia-Le
Fat Chung	...	Taoist Crane
Loletta Lee	...	Ching-Ching
Pauline Wang Yu-wan
Ma Wu	...	Buddhist Priest
Corey Yuen
Wah Yuen	...	Wu-Yuan

Also Known As:

Geung si suk suk (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Mr. Vampire 4 (Hong Kong: English title)
Mr. Vampire Saga (International: English title)
Mr. Vampire Saga Four (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Movie Connections:

Follows Jiang shi xian sheng xu ji (1986)

Fourth installment in the series does not disappoint!

The original MR. VAMPIRE is considered the best Chinese horror/comedy ever and it's no surprise that it inspired so many sequels and copycat imitations back in the 80s. The first sequel was gentler and more family-oriented while the second sequel really pumped up the horror elements. This third sequel is a return to the style of the original with a perfect balance of the scary and the silly. I've seen this movie four times now and it's still as entertaining as it was the first time. A real treat for HK action movie fans is seeing Yuen Wah (usually typecast as the ultra-tough bad guy) playing a VERY effeminate character. Another unique element to the movie is its comedic take on the differences between Taoism and Buddhism as the two masters try to outdo each other, especially funny during the "voodoo" doll sequence. Another profoundly silly moment has the two masters throwing food at each other which ends up with Wu Ma blowing beans out of his nose into the mouth of the Taoist. There's comedy, action and horror! Something for everybody!