Mr. Vampire (1985)

Can I start off by saying that this movie is so fricking hilarious!~ If anyone is looking for a comedy, just watch this. Mr Vampire is an old trilogy classic revolving around a Taoist who fights 'hopping' vampires or the Chinese vampires along with his disciples encountering different supernatural phenomena leading to various mysteries and problems that they have to solve. However, I don't think it would be correct to watch this for the story alone, it would be more correct to watch it for the comedy and entertainment value that it brings.

The acting is very good and many of the comedy sketches are very original and incredibly funny. I don't think I can justify it he hilarity of this film by simply explaining it because it would spoil it and comedy is best experienced first hand. This film also features some very talented actors such as Chin Siu Ho who is notable for his work with Jet Li in Fist of legend and Tai chi master, and Lam Ching-yang - a very famous actor who unfortunately passed away in 1997 and this is one of his most notable works and is worth checking out.

As for the scarier side to this film, I would like to say that it has a very unique and traditional eeriness to it. This film is suppose to replicate many traditional myths that Chinese people held in earlier days when the dead was not understood well. Myths such as grudges or an unfulfilled goal can lead a spirit to not rest in peace after the person has died and can continue to haunt the living. Other things such as rituals used by Taoists believing that it can cleanse demonic presence. In this sense, if one is unfamiliar with such traditions then it would be very creepy to watch.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Mr Vampire for the entertainment value and comedy that it brings to its viewers. From personal experience, I have watched it many times and have laughed and found it entertaining each time without fail and have also introduced it to friends unfamiliar with this classic Hong Kong genre and they too have enjoyed it and laughed like crazy. ^ If you like this, watch all 3 and think of this one review as being for all 3. I hoped this I have enlightened you a bit on this old classic because it's sad sometimes seeing such awesome films without any reviews for new viewers so I hope this helped.

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Nailed it!

Kung fu, hopping vampires, silliness, and ghostly romance---what more could you ask from a movie called Mr. Vampire? It had typical 1980’s slapstick style humor. Some of the jokes haven’t aged well but many were still able to stick the landing.

Lam Ching Ying’s Master Ko is in charge of stopping a deadly vampire with only two incompetent disciples to help him. One disciple (Chin Siu Ho) becomes possessed by an amorous ghost (Pauline Wong) while the other one (Ricky Hui) begins to transform into a vampire after being bitten. Matters are not helped when a greedy rice dealer (Wu Ma!) adds regular white rice to the sticky rice needed to deter vampires. Did that suck! Master Ko uses every trick in the book to destroy the vampire. Buffy had it a lot easier. All she had to do was stake the fangers or decapitate them. Ko has to use chicken blood, ink, talismans, coated wire, sticky rice, and a host of other magical spells to try and stop the nearly indestructible homicidal hopper.

Mr. Vampire was aided by Lam Ching Ying and Chin Siu Ho having some martial arts abilities. Chin was particularly acro-bat-ic. Kung fu veteran Yuen Wah played the vampire which added to the martial arts fun. There was wire work which fit the magical atmosphere. There was a grave mistake, I spotted the wires in one scene.

What I learned from Mr. Vampire: Sticky rice slows down a vampire. A vampire can’t see you if you hold your breath. If a beautiful person of the opposite sex suddenly appears and wants to take you home on a dark night, best to make a date for coffee during daylight hours to see where it goes and whether they can appear because they may not be the ghoul of your dreams. If someone grows long blue nails overnight keep the sticky rice nearby. Hong Kong has gorillas? lol

Mr. Vampire was fun, especially if you like hopping vampires/Jiangshi combined with martial arts. As always with these older films there won’t be the high production values and CGI you see in modern films. Though you will be able to see guys hop in unison and others get set on fire. Props to Yuen Wah who was able to take the heat and his performance to the neck level!
(Trigger alerts below)

4 October 2024

TRIGGER ALERTS: A real chicken was killed as well as a snake (they made soup out of it later). There were also rats in one scene.

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