Shaw Brothers Cinema: Halloween Edition! Part 2

This is Part 2 of the Shaw Brothers Halloween edition. There's a handful of HK horror here which were never released to DVD and some that were altered to make an entirely different movie. The horror films from Shaw Brothers in the 1980's were engulfed in sleaze far more than the horror pictures of the prior decade as indicated by some of the entries below. All images come from various issues of Southern Screen magazine in my collection.

These came attached to two of the Shaw posters I have--HEX and PURSUIT OF VENGEANCE

***CLICK A PIC TO SEE A LARGER IMAGE, OR TO READ ENGLISH TEXT WHERE APPLICABLE***


HEX (1980) was ace crime thriller-horror-sleaze director Kuei Chi Hung's Chinese version of DIABOLIQUE (1955) with an ending that recalls the 'Hoichi, the Earless' episode of KWAIDAN (1965) and a helping of exploitation during an exorcism finale giving a fully naked model an excuse to do an erotic dance.




One of Kuei's best horror works, it also contains some undeniably eerie moments and creepy camera work. Some of the best sequences are fully realized by fog enshrouded Shaw studio sets. The lobby set accentuates the sexual elements in the film even containing nude shots among some of the cards.


HAUNTED TALES (1980) is an interesting picture. It began five years earlier under the direction of Chu Yuan under the title HELLISH SOUL. Filming shut down at some point with reshoots being required. With original director, Chu too busy to redo some of the sequences (including a hospital scene), Ho Meng Hua was ordered to partake in the reshoots in late 1978.

Shots from the start of production in 1975

For whatever reason, the movie, now titled THE GHOST, was still problematic and was put on hold yet again. With a number of other Shaw pictures (most notably THE CRIMINALS series) being left unfinished and later turned into anthologies, Chu's ghost picture would share the same fate. See more info (as well as an unfinished Kuei horror comedy called THE SEX WOLF) regarding this troubled film here and here.



Controversial director, Mou Tun Fei (MAN BEHIND THE SUN) had some of his Shaw pictures halted to be turned into shorter features for a multi-part movie, some of which became part of the above mentioned CRIMINALS series. His THE PRIZE WINNER was one of these proposed full length productions that was later cut back as a short feature.



Finally, both THE PRIZE WINNER and THE GHOST were combined to form HAUNTED TALES, 93 minutes of spine-tingling terror about a newlywed couple moving into a haunted house and a greedy lottery winner who comes to a bad end.

Early promo for the film under the less horrific title of THE RETURN OF THE SWORDSMAN

REVENGE OF THE CORPSE (1981) was the first martial arts horror film from Sun Chung. It started out under different titles such as RETURN OF THE SWORDSMAN before settling for the more horror sounding moniker it now sports.

Two page spread of REVENGE OF THE CORPSE (1982)

Earlier in his career, Sun Chung showed a penchant for slight fantasy horror with what became his Shaw Brothers debut, THE DEVIL'S MIRROR (1972), a wild Wuxia/Horror hybrid.


There's a terrible quality bootleg out there of REVENGE OF THE CORPSE, which is a chore to watch from all the jitter. Hopefully, a much better copy will see the light of day at some point.


CORPSE MANIA (1981) was Kuei's Chinese Giallo movie laced with a thick atmosphere and slasher conventions. The title possesses a great number of possibilities for a gala and gory good time, but while it is an unsettlingly gruesome movie, it isn't the putrid potpourri you might expect. Bizarre murders take place in a small town and a formerly institutionalized necrophiliac is the prime suspect. Another twisted and macabre movie from Kuei Chi Hung.


THE BLOODY PARROT (1981) is from Hua Shan, the director of SUPER INFRAMAN (1975) and the grim, downbeat and excessively violent modern crime thriller BROTHERHOOD (1976) among many other credits. This is a Wuxia horror picture that contains a high quotient of exploitation value and little else.

Top right corner: Hua Shan; Bottom left corner: Jenny Liang (middle) prepped for a scene; Bottom right: Hua Shan demonstrates the love scene between Jenny Liang and Pai Piao

This shot of Jenny Liang seen through a lot of mirrors is a full on nude shot in the actual film; see below

This image is also on the lobby set which aggressively sells several nude scenes of actress Jenny Liang

The plot makes little sense and what's there is pretty much thrown out the window after its Scooby Doo ending that betrays the supernatural shenanigans from earlier in the film. Based on Gu Long's original novel, how faithful it is depends on those familiar with the source material. Gorgeous, well endowed starlet, Jenny Liang, ascended the exploitation throne vacated by Chen Ping, only her presence wasn't as strong as Chen who was much more charismatic and capable in action film roles.


Ho Meng Hua had given life to the brand of HK horror built around bizarre occult practices involving black magic spells, curses and maggot ridden corpses. Kuei Chi Hung jumped into the arena with BEWITCHED (1981), a more serious approach to the material.

BEWITCHED under the tentative title of UNDER CURSE

The films poster promises chintzy thrills, but the artwork belies the actual film itself. The storyline itself is an amalgamation of Ho's BLACK MAGIC (1975) and independent features such as WITCHCRAFT OF MIAO PEOPLE (aka PRINCESS & THE TOXICANT; 1977) and THE MAGIC CURSE (1977).


The central plot device is a modern adventurer who uses a woman from an exotic locale professing love for the woman. Unknowingly, said female places a curse on the man so that if he does not return within a certain time frame, or is unfaithful, a terrible fate awaits him.


AVENGERS FROM HELL (1981; pictured above and below) is another of numerous Shaw Brothers movies that failed to get released to DVD during the five year license with IVL had with Celestial Pictures. It's an anthology horror film from newcomer, Li Pei Chuan.



HELL HAS NO BOUNDARY (1982) was a rare find when it hit DVD. Directed by Yang Chuan (SEEDING OF A GHOST), it's much more of a successful horror film in my opinion. It's about a happy couple on a camping trip that turns disastrous when the young woman is possessed by a vengeance seeking spirit. There's black magic, OMEN style death scenes, demonic possession and a brutal flashback showcasing Japanese soldiers doing dirty deeds with dead people.


Sun Chung's HUMAN LANTERNS (1982) is one of the most famous and well known HK horror films and one that fans were most anxious to see in a more complete form after a severely truncated bootleg had been making the rounds for years.

Tanny, Lo Lieh and Liu Yung between takes

Director Sun Chung demonstrates an action shot from HUMAN LANTERNS

Easily one of Lo Lieh's best roles, none of the characters are very likable. Some more tragic than others, virtually none of them are redeemable save for one who mends the err of his ways, but with a terrible price.

Note the shot at bottom in the image above is not in the finished movie

Upon seeing this movie, you'll notice some Bavaesque style sequences. Shaw's utilized this type of colored lighting for years in numerous movies, but some directors put it to better use than others.


Kuei directed a sequel to BEWITCHED that was released in 1983 under the title THE BOXER'S OMEN. This picture was the batshit movie the poster of BEWITCHED promised. Highly recommended, it's simply the most psychedelically insane picture you're ever likely to see.

Above and below: behind the scenes on BOXER'S OMEN (1983)

Spanning several countries, THE BOXER'S OMEN is the directors magnum horror opus melding mind numbingly outlandish special effects and sprawlingly surreal locations with some nauseating, sickening scenes of geekshow gore.


The reliable Hua Shan followed up THE BLOODY PARROT (1981) with a much more entertaining and fantastically bloody exploitation swordplay film with PORTRAIT IN CRYSTAL (1983). The plot is barely there and no more cohesive than his other Wuxia horror outing.

Early promotion for the film listed as CRYSTALMAN

Director Hua Shan (right) going over the script with Kuan Feng (left)

Still, Hua Shan's fast paced Gothic wonder is just under 80 minutes and its flimsy plot never gets in the way of the gore, nasty traps and kooky characters that include a PHANTOM OF THE OPERA type swordsman and a weapon that causes the body to explode in a shower of blood and guts among other things.


SEEDING OF A GHOST (1984) was likely the last Shaw Brothers horror movie of note. It works within the same parameters as Ho Meng Hua and Kuei Chi Hung's black magic movies, but after hearing so much about it, it fell short in my view.



I avoiding seeing the bootleg version of the movie till the restored DVD finally arrived in Hong Kong. All the gore that was touted from those who had seen it prior to that is relegated to the final ten minutes. It's a very sleazy movie, but one that was hyped so much, I couldn't figure what the big deal was. Another viewing should prove beneficial. Well, that's the conclusion of this special horror edition of 'Shaw Brothers Cinema: Behind the Scenes'. I hope you enjoyed it!

Shaw Brothers Cinema: Halloween Edition! Part 1

Ku Feng says HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! as the KISS demon in BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980). Actually, he's something else entirely in this Shaw wuxia-mystery-horror movie

Welcome to the Shaw Brothers Cinema Halloween edition! This is a two part look at numerous Shaw horror movies populated with assorted behind the scenes photos, posters and promos from various Southern Screen and HK Movie News magazines. There's also some pictures of movies that were never finished, or those that were canceled and whose footage was compiled to make a different movie entirely. There's also a handful of posters, and or promotional materials for movies that never got a DVD release through IVL during their five year contract with Celestial Pictures. If you're a Shaw Brothers fan, or lover of Asian cinema in general, I hope you enjoy this cobweb covered compendium of Hong Kong horror--oldschool style!

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Kuei Chi Hung's disturbing version of WILLARD (1971) details a darker side of Hong Kong, one immersed in sordid squalor. It's about an unbalanced young man named Chi Hung and his affection for snakes, lizards and bondage/torture. Finally fed up with being bullied by various cretinous individuals, Chi Hung and his scaly friends bite back with venomous fury. It's shot in a similar nightmarish style that was displayed in Tobe Hooper's TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974).

The director and some of the actors seem awfully at ease being up close and personal with so many serpents; behind the scenes on THE KILLER SNAKES. Released in the early part of 1974, it led to even more disturbing subject matter from Kuei after his previous gritty films, the brutal women in prison actioner, THE BAMBOO HOUSE OF DOLLS (1973) and two modern crime thrillers, THE DELINQUENT (1973) and PAYMENT IN BLOOD (1973).

GHOST EYES (1974) is quite an original concept dealing with a hair stylist named Wang who is possessed by the ghost of a former optometrist when she becomes the unlucky recipient of an otherworldy pair of contact lenses. She begins seeing walking corpses and other supernatural goings on. This mysterious man from beyond the grave is basically a vampire who drains her life essence and that of other victims.

Chen Szu Chia gets her GHOST EYES

Kuei Chi Hung was arguably the best director of HK horror at that time and much of his career is populated by horror films and action pictures with a cruel slant. He was also adept at other genres as well including childrens films and comedies.

Hammer and Shaw Brothers teamed up for this rousing first pairing of Hammer's brand of horror and Shaw's kung fu madness to produce a wonderfully action packed comic book come to life in a spooky version of THE SEVEN SAMURAI meet DRACULA.

LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES (1974)

Baby queen, Li Ching stars in THE GHOST LOVERS (1974), a love story from beyond the grave about a man who discovers that the woman that simply loves him to death might actually be dead! You'll notice from the English text above, that there was two versions of this film, one for HK and one for Korea.

THE FEMALE GHOST was apparently intended as something of a follow up to Shin Sang Okk's GHOST LOVERS (1974). After Shin's departure at Shaw's for unknown reasons, this originally intended joint effort with fellow Korean director Chang I-Hu was left solely to him. Incidentally, GHOST LOVERS was a massive box office failure.

THE FEMALE GHOST, now under the guidance of Chang I-Hu, ultimately became the more exploitatively titled NIGHT OF THE DEVIL BRIDE and was released to HK theaters in March of 1975.

Ho Meng Hua's BLACK MAGIC (1975) was a milestone in HK horror cinema begatting a whole slew of similar movies that dealt with the superstitions of frightened natives and the mysticism practiced by sorcerers far away from modern society.

BLACK MAGIC (1975)

It's essentially a soap opera styled horror show revolving around a group of individuals who become victims of a vicious black magician and his evil sorcery. Above photos from BLACK MAGIC (1975).

SPIRIT OF THE RAPED (1976) is one of many Shaw Brothers movies that was made available, but never got released to DVD in Hong Kong. It's directed by Kuei Chi Hung. It's lurid poster artwork like this that makes one wish for a digital release sometime in the near future.

This one's based on a Malay folk tale which had been filmed before and since. Apparently a popular myth, the movie piles on the sleaze and unintended hilarity. All one need do is dig a big hole in the middle of your house, jump in and mutter some nonsense and voila...instant Oily Man! Above and below from THE OILY MANIAC (1976).

This absolutely nutty movie is directed by Ho Meng Hua. Earlier in his career, Ho had turned out some truly epic and dramatic pieces of cinema. But by this time in his career, he seemed content churning out ghoulish exploitation fare like this sleazy camp-fest. Danny Lee is the Polio afflicted Oily One who gets revenge against those who betrayed his father. He's something of a dark superhero. Definitely worth tracking down, it contains some awe inspiringly awful special effects although there's some creative abilities given the Oily Maniac.


This sequel from 1976 is also from Ho Meng Hua and is virtually identical in plot to the first movie. The cast is mostly the same although Lo Lieh takes over as the evil wizard. There's some additional exploitation value added and a scene showcasing some of the worst ever rear screen projection of all time. Essential Asian nuttiness.

BLACK MAGIC 2 (1976)

Lo Lieh controls an army of zombies by ramming six inch spikes into the tops of their heads. When the spike is removed, they age rapidly.

Director, Ho Meng Hua gives direction to Lo Lieh in BLACK MAGIC 2 (1976)

WEB OF DEATH (1976) is an extraordinary Wuxia production. After the success of Chu Yuan's KILLER CLANS (1976), Chu embarked on this tale of the 5 Venom Clan and the search for a devastatingly evil weapon that has been locked and hidden away from man. That weapon, the 5 Venom Spider is undoubtedly the wildest, most over the top creation ever devised. There's the requisite subterfuge and a romantic subplot involving Yueh Hua and Ching Li which adds a human element to this otherwise phantasmogorical swordplay fantasy with horror overtones. For more info and pictures on this film, check out SINS OF CELLULOID 5: ASIAN EXPLOITATION!

THE PSYCHOPATH (1978) is directed by Ho Meng Hua and, unfortunately, never got released to DVD in Hong Kong.

Various images from THE PSYCHOPATH (1978)

Li Han Hsiang's THE GHOST STORY (1979) is one of his many period costume Erotic Horror anthology pictures. I haven't seen many of them, but of the ones I've viewed so far, this one is the most absolute bonkers. The last story with the semi naked nuns, the gigantic statue that spits laser beams and an old battling wizard must be seen to be believed. It's basically about a group of travelers sitting around telling each other ghost stories.


BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980) was one of some 30 Wuxia adventure movies Chu Yuan directed for Shaw Brothers. This one starts off really well in the goosebumper department, but returns to standard swordplay shenanigans shortly thereafter. Not a bad thing, but had the film maintained its Gothic ghoulash till the end, it might have truly been something special.


Over two dozen heroes come together to track down and kill 'The Wingless Bat', a notorious serial rapist-murderer. Several years later the bloodthirsty killer appears once more after a clan leaders daughter is kidnapped and another group of heroes band together to save her and uncover the truth behind the re-appearance of the 'Bat Without Wings'. The requisite sword fights, elaborate traps, double crosses and last minute revelations are found here.

More promotional materials for BAT WITHOUT WINGS (1980)

CONTINUED IN PART 2....