This is the story about a tax collector, Ling, who was a little down on his luck. He was caught in the rain and scared off by bandits and as such lost all of his records. So he was caught in a town and could not get the revenue because he did not have the records. As such he was broke and had no place to spend the night so he was sent up to the monastery.
This monastery was haunted though. Not only did a ghost haunt the monastery, but a whole heap of ghoulish creatures did as well. The ghouls were quickly disposed of by accident, but the ghost posed a different problem. She was being controlled by a tree demon to bring her men every night. The demon is also forcing her to marry another demon prince, who she does not particularly want to marry.
I enjoyed this movie for two reasons: the romance and the fantasy. The one thing I enjoy about Hong Kong horror films is that they are far more fantastic that their western counterparts. This film is set in medieval times and there is lots of monsters and magic around. The eastern fantasy is focused more on spirits and the undead rather than monsters like dragons. There are also Taoist monks who are both warriors and wizards.
Wizards in Hong Kong movies are far better than their western counterparts. The spells are much more organised and not composed of fancy wavings of the western ones. As such they suspend my disbelief much more. The magic is far more pronounce, with explosions and flashy effects flying everywhere. A demons die very well: usually in a huge explosion.
There is also a romantic element here. Sui Sin, the ghost, is compelled to lure men to their deaths, but these men generally are very lustful and treat women like objects. As such they land up with what they deserve. Ling is a medieval SNAG: he respects Sui Sin and as such Sui Sin respects him and seeks to protect him. As he does not want to force himself upon her, she finds herself attracted to him, and as such is able to plead to help her. It is such relationships that I find enjoyable. It is one that there is a deep love, but one that cannot happen because one is dead. Even so, Ling puts his life in danger, which is a big step for his cowardly character, to prevent her from marrying the demon prince.
Just a thought on Chinese ghosts. They seem solid, unlike western ghosts that are non-corporeal. As such it is very easy to mistake them for the living, which Ling does. Anyway, enough of writing this as I want to go and watch the second movie.
This monastery was haunted though. Not only did a ghost haunt the monastery, but a whole heap of ghoulish creatures did as well. The ghouls were quickly disposed of by accident, but the ghost posed a different problem. She was being controlled by a tree demon to bring her men every night. The demon is also forcing her to marry another demon prince, who she does not particularly want to marry.
I enjoyed this movie for two reasons: the romance and the fantasy. The one thing I enjoy about Hong Kong horror films is that they are far more fantastic that their western counterparts. This film is set in medieval times and there is lots of monsters and magic around. The eastern fantasy is focused more on spirits and the undead rather than monsters like dragons. There are also Taoist monks who are both warriors and wizards.
Wizards in Hong Kong movies are far better than their western counterparts. The spells are much more organised and not composed of fancy wavings of the western ones. As such they suspend my disbelief much more. The magic is far more pronounce, with explosions and flashy effects flying everywhere. A demons die very well: usually in a huge explosion.
There is also a romantic element here. Sui Sin, the ghost, is compelled to lure men to their deaths, but these men generally are very lustful and treat women like objects. As such they land up with what they deserve. Ling is a medieval SNAG: he respects Sui Sin and as such Sui Sin respects him and seeks to protect him. As he does not want to force himself upon her, she finds herself attracted to him, and as such is able to plead to help her. It is such relationships that I find enjoyable. It is one that there is a deep love, but one that cannot happen because one is dead. Even so, Ling puts his life in danger, which is a big step for his cowardly character, to prevent her from marrying the demon prince.
Just a thought on Chinese ghosts. They seem solid, unlike western ghosts that are non-corporeal. As such it is very easy to mistake them for the living, which Ling does. Anyway, enough of writing this as I want to go and watch the second movie.