Mr. Vampire Saga - 4
Director: Ricky Lau
Year: 1988
Rating: 7.0
Keeping the Mr. Vampire films straight is a little
complicated. When they hit big in 1985, as is traditional in Hong Kong film,
there were a bunch of Hopping Vampire copycats. The legit ones in my mind
are those produced by Sammo Hung's company Bo Ho films. And preferably starring
Lam Ching-ying as the Taoist Master. So that would be Mr. Vampire, 1, 2,
3,4. The first three had Lam Ching-ying in it but not this film. There is
also Magic Cop sometimes called Mr. Vampire 5 with Lam Ching-ying but not
produced by Bo Ho. In 1986 there is New Mr. Vampire, in 1992 Mr. Vampire
1992 which is directed by the same director as this film, Ricky Lau. Lau
also directed the first three Mr. Vampires. And there is a Taiwanese Mr.
Vampire in 1990 with Ben Lam and Angela Mao in it. Have never come across
that one. Angela Mao in a Hopping Vampire film?
To make up for the lack of Lam Ching-ying,
this film has two priests fighting vampires - one Taoist and the other Buddhist.
The earlier ones certainly had elements of comedy but this one goes full
on comedy. Surprisingly, it works. This is very funny in a Hopping Vampire
sort of way. Sure, a lot of silly comedy, corny, acrobatic and screwball
- but it is funny. I mean Yuen Wah as a gay vampire? In love with Chin Ka-lok.
There are two terrific set pieces fighting off Vampires and a few smaller
sequences that are quite clever. The martial arts and wire fu are excellent.
It was entertaining from the beginning of Chin Ka-lok catching fish in the
water with his bare hands and having no place to put them, stuck them down
his underwear. Without asking their permission. One did look a bit like Lauren
Boebert.
Sifu (Wu Man) has returned to his home in
the country after a long absence and he brings with him a disciple named
Ching-ching (Loletta Lee) who is as cute as a dimple in this film. He runs
into Chia-le (Chin Ka-lok) who is the student of the neighboring Taoist priest
(Anthony Chan). Chia-le mistakenly grabs Ching-ching by her breasts thinking
she is a he and we are off to the races as she tries to kill him. The Sifu
and the Taoist can’t stand each other and constantly attempt to outdo one
another with pranks or skill tests leading to a lovely comedic duel at breakfast
and a voodoo curse. Meanwhile after trying to kill him, Ching-ching and Chia-le
begin to fall for one another. Not surprising as they are the only young
people for miles.
That is the first half of the film – one
nitwit bit after another also with Pauline Wong as a seductive Fox Spirit
being a visual highlight. Then the real fun begins. Another Taoist priest
(Chung Fat) brings by a vampire in a coffin. The preening Yuen Wah is part
of the procession. This turns out to be a vampire on steroids and when it
breaks out of the coffin it goes on a killing spree. Like Western vampires,
when it bites someone, they turn into vamps. Only a type of rice can cure
you. The vampire attacks are great fun, well-choreographed action and acrobatics
always with a touch of comedy intended. Yuen Wah was the choreographer. Much
better than I was expecting.
