Highly Overrated But Still Good

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This is the unofficial "Part 4" of the "Mr. Vampire" film series. Vampire Buster actor Lam Ching Ying does not appear in this film; however, two veteran actors, Anthony Chan and Wu Ma, appear and star as the dueling Taoist and Buddhist priests. The first half of the film start off with them feuding with each other and tricking one another with magic spells, with their disciples played by Chin Kar Lok and Loletta Lee caught in the crossfires. I find the dueling scenes pretty funny and, while it does not involve any Kung-Fu or horror action, it does provide you with some great entertainment. Vampire action does not begin until the middle of the film, where you see the protagonists putting their differences aside and do battle with the menacing creatures.The horror in this film is sometimes dwarfed by some kiddie-like jokes and the overly light-hearted and whimsical music score, which, in addition with Lam Ching Ying's absence, distances this film somewhat from the other "Mr. Vampire movies." However, the saving grace of this film are the Kung-Fu action and that the main Vampire was executive very well - very creepy and menacing looking.If you are a fan of Hong Kong horror/fantasy movies, give this film a watch by all means.Grade B

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.

It started with two rival priests (One Taoist and the other Buddhist)having a war with each other including food fighting and a voodoo doll-style control of each others' body movement. My favorite is when the Taoist priest took control of the Buddhist priest using a straw doll and made him do hilarious things including tossing away his praying items, making him dance with his female disciple and even made him pull out his own tooth while laughing! The Buddhist priest eventually retaliated by taking control of the Taoist priest as well! Both of them are forced to put their differences aside to face a super indestructible vampire that seems to be immune to all their weapons. When the Taoist priest's sword broke when fighting the vampire, he used bigger and even bigger swords! As a last resort, the Taoist priest used magic to transform into a Hulk-like fighter which proved effective against the vampire! However, as he was about to finish the vampire, he accidentally stepped on a piece of a broken plate and all his superhuman strength vanished just like how air escapes from a leaking balloon. They finally managed to destroy the vampire by pinning it down with a net and forced a variety poisons including a snake into its mouth.

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!