Kui moh do jeung (1993)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Ma Wu

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Horror

Plot Keywords:

Vampirism | Exorcism | Martial Arts

Cast

Collin Chou	...	Star (as Sing Ngai)
Chan Gai Gwan
Ching-Ying Lam	...	Master Chiou
Hung Ngok
Ma Wu	...	Priest Wu
Wing-Cho Yip	...	The Mayor

Also Known As:

Exorcist Master (Hong Kong: English title)
Qu mo dao zhang (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Goofs:

Continuity: Throughout the film, the three tiers of candles in the church are repeatedly rolled on, disrupted, smothered, kicked, and generally scattered about; however, every time they are shown again on screen, even when there have been only moments since they were last disturbed, all three rows of candles are upright and tidy. This is particularly visible during the final fight scene. When Uncle rolls over the candles to escape the vampire, they transform again to upright and orderly before the fight ends.

Exorcist Master

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

First off, understand that this kind of flick is not for everyone. Many people will be astounded I gave it 7 stars. This is because I enjoy this genre, kung fu action/supernatural horror/broad comedy, and this film does it well. If you don't get or enjoy this type of nonsense, and it can be pretty silly at times, then stay far away from this.

As usual with this type of Hong Kong actioner, the plot is secondary to the action set pieces and occasional slapstick. Coherent plot structure just doesn't count. Watch this instead for the atmosphere, great fight sequences, likable characters and wildly imaginative concepts.

The plot goes something like this. In a small village lives "Uncle", an exorcist/kung fu master, with his two disciples Star and Moon. The disciples are immature and get into lots of trouble throughout the film, sometimes humorous, other times just stupid. There is a Western church in the village that has been closed for years, after an evil destroyed the priest that oversaw it (which we see in a cool scene that opens the film and totally rips off a scene from The Omen). Naturally a priest has to come into the town and reopen the church unleashing all kinds of problems. In addition to battling evil spirits, Uncle and his disciples must fight the corrupt mayor of the town, the encroaching threat of Western religious principles, and a hoard of vampires. All this only begins to give you an idea of the zany goings-on in this picture.

The final battle in the church is great fun as Uncle and the priest must combine forces and use both Eastern and Western means to defeat the vampire. Very interesting indeed and well done.

The film could have benefited from a more serious tone and some better lighting in the final third, but it's never boring and held my attention for its 90 minute run time.