Starring: Ronald Cheng, Yuen Biao, Philip Ng, Kelvin Kwan, Michelle Hu, Bella Law, Kitty Jiang
Language: Mandarin with English and Chinese subtitles
Release date: 23rd October 2014
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scenes)
Riding on the trend of the recently revived Chinese Vampire horror genre, SIFU VS VAMPIRE may be classified as a horror film, but do not let its appearance fool you. The film’s scary scenes are few and far in between and is instead peppered with moments of comedy.
Set in modern day Hong Kong, SIFU VS VAMPIRE tells the story of a grave exhumation gone terribly wrong. Tycoon Kelvin Chow (Kelvin Kwan) arranges for an exhumation of his grandfather’s grave, but a series of unexpected events result in the release of his grandfather’s corpse – now a ninety year-old Chinese vampire – into a TV station where a zombie movie is being filmed. Small time gangsters Nicky (Ronald Cheng) and Boo (Philip Ng) find themselves entangled in the chaos that ensue when they become assistants of Charlie Jiang (Yuen Biao), a Taoist-priest-turned-vampire-hunter.
For fans of the supernatural and the undead, SIFU VS VAMPIRE is a feast for the eyes as it brings together zombies, Dracula-style vampires, traditional Chinese vampires and even a beautiful female ghost in its short but action-packed 96 minutes. Though the plot itself is predictable, it is accompanied by a cast of mismatched characters who are nevertheless hilarious and their antics are guaranteed to bring laughter to audiences.
SIFU VS VAMPIRE may have scored dismally on the horror charts, but for those looking to relive the slapstick comedy and juvenile sexual jokes characteristic of the original Mr Vampire series, SIFU VS VAMPIRE remains an enjoyable and light-hearted watch.
Image credits: Shaw Organization