The Ultimate Vampire

    
Director:  Andrew Lau
Year:  1991
Rating: 6.0
By the time of this film's release in 1991 the popularity of the Hopping Vampire film and all the associated supernatural films was beginning to ebb. Not that this was to be the last one; it is a genre that to some degree is embedded in Hong Kong's folklore and traditions. But beginning with Sammo Hung's Encounter of the Spooky Kind (1980) followed by his The Dead and the Deadly (1982) and then the series of Mr. Vampire films and its many imitators it filled the cinematic landscape with a unique Hong Kong only genre. In the heart of all this was actor Lam Ching-ying who was Mr. Vampire but also a Taoist priest who could battle evil in a number of films. He had been a regular in many of Sammo's films for years and this was finally his opportunity to step out and become a star. Not only a star but a much loved actor.



With this one, director Andrew Lau in only his second film before he was to go on to become one of Hong Kong's major directors throws everything into the soup - One Hundred Precious soup as is one of the needed spells that are created in the film. It begins with Lam Ching-ying and his two bumbling assistants, ghosts, hopping vampires, a re-animated monster, the walking dead, spells and counter spells. It is at times quite silly as these films usually co-join the supernatural along with comedy to frantic fast moving effect that can be great fun and absurdly entertaining. This one mixes in too much comedy in the form of the two nitwit assistants who at times dominate the film. This is a bit of a tradition in these films - the competent Master who is constantly undone by his goofy students. It made me think of all the American B films I have seen of late in which the Inspector often has a comic relief subordinate.



Remind me never to go to Hong Kong in July over the lunar holiday. That is when the Gates of Hell are opened and the ghosts given leave to go out to eat the many offerings left out and see some entertainment at midnight. Hell Cops go with them to make sure everything is kept orderly and that they return to Hell when their time on earth is over. Chaperones. They are watching a midnight show of Chinese Opera put on for their benefit when one of the Master's disciples Wanchai (Ronald Wong) walks in and wonders why he is the only one there. He is actually surrounded by hundreds of ghosts who ignore him. At the bidding of the Master, disciple number two Charelson (Chin Siu-ho, who had this same role in a few other films)  enters the theater to bring his friend out with the admonition - pretend you don't see ghosts - which the Master has given him the ability to see. But he is an idiot for the most part and when a lovely ghost floats down in a lavender gown he loses all his few senses. Who can really blame him since she is played by Carrie Ng. To allow her to escape he slaps yellow paper talismans on the Hell Cops which puts them to sleep and the ghosts all run out like frat boys on initiation night.



After this it is utter chaos as they first have to corral all the spirits in bags that suck them in - with the exception of Carrie who the two boys warn to stay away. In return she tells them that any time they need her just chant "boys and girls black and white" and she will be there in a jiffy. With all the happenings ahead they will call on her help often. She sort of becomes a friendly Casper like ghost. The disciple (Karel Wong) of a not very nice Taoist priest (the great Lau Shun - in Swordsman as the Eunuch and so many good films) casts a spell that allows his spirit to leave his body to go rape a girl. Our two boys witness this and move his body so he can't find it upon his return and unfortunately dogs eat it - and Charelson goes along with Carrie to stop him. At one point she possesses him and his breasts grow.



All this creates the enmity of Lau Shun and he first gets the hopping vampires on them and then the walking dead. And meanwhile Carrie falls in love with Lau Chin-wan. That is the only thing that truly terrifies him. Quite adorable even when he sticks her in a jar as she calls out her love from within. It is a lot of nutty fun with spells and counter-spells coming a mile a minute having to do with soup, eggs, coffin mushrooms and much more, having to outwit the vampires by holding their breath and battle for their lives against the Walking Dead. I always enjoy these films because they are anything goes but also so different from anything else you will see in movies. I wonder if they will be allowed to make any more.