A Chinese Ghost Story

A Chinese Ghost Story (Sien Lui Yau Wan) (1987)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Tony Ching Siu-Tung

Starring: Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma, Lau Siu-Ming, David Lam Wai

From: Cinema City/Film Workshop/Golden Princess Film Productions

Now here’s a movie that could have only come from 80’s Hong Kong-compliment. This is in fact a tale which involves ghosts (a family of them, in fact), the undead, horror, comedy-usually at least worthy of a chuckle-romance, and action. Heck, a key character even sings a song midway through the picture. To quote a Letterboxd mutual, this might have been inspired-at least partially-by the Greek myth of Orpheus & Eurydice & definitely was inspired by old Chinese lore.

A dim-witted tax collector stays at a haunted temple-after encountering red-eyed wolves-meets a bearded Taoist priest, and encounters a lovely lady; despite the context clues and her telling him she’s a ghost, he just won’t believe. Sure, the ghosts in this universe have a physical corporeal form, but our lead is still amusingly dopey—which is much better than an infuriating sort of dopey.

The film is a singular journey, one that’s greatly compelling as the viewer doesn’t know what will happen from scene to scene. They were obviously inspired by The Evil Dead; however, the most bizarre plot points, I have no idea how they came up with such loony ideas, especially involving a tongue! It’s not as bonkers as The Boxer’s Omen-but only a miniscule number are to that level anyhow. I was always interested in the trek our lead experiences while experiencing this creative lore, whether it’s sweet love, his unknowing close encounters w/ the undead, stop-motion animation or the wild climax.

Ghost Story has two sequels; it may be years before those are viewed but undoubtedly I’ll view at least one other movie from this part of the world for Spooky Season 2026.