Description
Title: The Boxer’s Omen (1983)
Alternate Title: Mo
Genre: Horror
Plot Synopsis:
After his brother is paralyzed by a deceitful Thai boxer, Chan Hung seeks vengeance. Traveling to Thailand, he becomes entangled in a complex web of fate, Buddhism, and black magic. His journey unveils connections to ancient curses and supernatural challenges, blending martial arts with mysticism.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kuei Chih-Hung
- Writer: Szeto On
- Cast:
- Phillip Ko as Chan Hung
- Elvis Tsui as Black Wizard
- Wai Ka-Man as Chan’s Girlfriend
- Bolo Yeung as Bu Bo
- Johnny Wang as Monk
IMDb Link:
The Boxer’s Omen (1983)
YouTube Trailer:
The Boxer’s Omen (1983) | Trailer
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Jack Often – ★★★★★
“Boxer’s Omen pushes this inventiveness to the limit. The use of color is audacious and Bavaesque, the framings and intriguing setpieces draw you through the film with confidence no matter how stomach-churning or surreal the practical gore becomes.” -
C.A. DeStefanis – ★★★★
“A wild trip down a road full of wild twists of logic that lead through glowing supernatural vistas, magical terrorist attacks, flying eyeball creatures, and wild clashes with demonic entities and manifestations of all sorts.” -
teamgal – ★½
“This one’s definitely one to see, just to say you’ve seen it. That’s not to say you won’t get something out of it, but it’s weird… it’s tremendously weird!”
Meta Description:
“The Boxer’s Omen” (1983), directed by Kuei Chih-Hung, is a Hong Kong horror film that intertwines martial arts with supernatural elements. The story follows Chan Hung’s quest for vengeance, leading him into a world of black magic, Buddhist curses, and eerie rituals. Renowned for its surreal imagery and audacious storytelling, the film has garnered a cult following among horror enthusiasts.
Title: The Lady Professional (1971)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Plot Synopsis:
Ge Tianli, portrayed by Lily Ho, is a skilled assassin renowned for her precision and success. Her latest mission becomes personal when she discovers that she is now the target of an assassination plot. As she navigates through a web of deceit and danger, Ge Tianli must use her expertise to outmaneuver those aiming to eliminate her. The film explores themes of survival, betrayal, and the complexities of the assassin’s world.
Cast and Crew:
- Directors: Akinori Matsuo, Kuei Chih-Hung
- Writer: Shu-Mei Chin
- Cast:
- Lily Ho as Ge Tianli
- Chang Pei-Shan as Xiaojiang
- Ching Miao as Fei Qingyan
- Huang Tsung-Hsun as An Bingxin/An Ping Hsin
- Erh Chun as Mo Laosan
- Chan Shen as Shi Yun Pu
- Bolo Yeung as Bald Killer
YouTube Trailer:
The Lady Professional | Trailer
IMDb Link:
The Lady Professional (1971)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
BrianDanaCamp – ★★★☆☆
“LADY PROFESSIONAL – Lily Ho in a black leather trenchcoat. THE LADY PROFESSIONAL (1971) is a Shaw Bros. crime drama starring Lily Ho as an assassin in contemporary Hong Kong. It opens as she performs a hit on a lowlife while riding a roller coaster at an amusement park. Her weapon is a compact/powder puff that shoots lethal darts.” -
Mighty Peking Man – ★★★☆☆
“If you can get past the bad ‘first impression,’ you’ll be quite pleased with what’s to come: a tight, witty, entertaining flick filled with psychedelic color, ultra-violence, and vivid villains; one of them, a very young, bald Bolo Yeung. The film sports wit, creativity, and no matter what, we can’t take our eyes off the gorgeous Lily Ho, who plays the cunning lady assassin.” -
Rob Gowers – ★★★★☆
“In 1971, Art of Assassination would receive a Hong Kong remake courtesy of the Shaw Brothers, retitled as The Lady Professional with Lily Ho in the lead role – now named Ge Tianli. Despite being made in Hong Kong, The Lady Professional is undeniably a Japanese affair thanks to its co-director Akinori Matsuo (credited as Mai Chih Ho).”
Meta Description:
“The Lady Professional” (1971) is a Hong Kong action-thriller directed by Akinori Matsuo and Kuei Chih-Hung. The film follows Ge Tianli, a master assassin portrayed by Lily Ho, who becomes the target of an assassination herself, leading to a gripping tale of survival and intrigue.
Title: Hex (1980)
Original Title: 邪 (Xié)
Genre: Horror
Plot Synopsis:
Set in 1930s Shanghai, “Hex” tells the story of Chan Sau-ying, a frail woman suffering from tuberculosis and enduring relentless abuse from her husband, Yeung Chun-yu. Their once-wealthy family has fallen on hard times, intensifying Yeung’s cruelty. The arrival of Yi-wah, a compassionate servant girl, offers Sau-ying a glimmer of hope. Together, they conspire to drown Yeung in a nearby pond. However, their actions unleash a series of supernatural events, leading Sau-ying to believe that Yeung’s vengeful spirit has returned from the bog to seek retribution. The film masterfully blends elements of psychological thriller and supernatural horror, exploring themes of betrayal, revenge, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kuei Chih-Hung
- Writers: Kuei Chih-Hung, Tam Gam-Wa
- Cast:
- Tanny Tien-Ni as Chan Sau-ying
- Wang Yong as Yeung Chun-yu
- Chen Szu-Chia as Yi-wah
- Hon Kwok-Choi
- Lau Yat-Fan
YouTube Trailer:
Hex (1980) | Trailer
IMDb Link:
Hex (1980)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
Bunny – ★★★☆☆
“Hex aka Xie is a gripping tale about domestic violence, betrayal, and revenge. It’s a well-paced narrative that explores these ills of the world insightfully, to an extent that you can relate to certain aspects of it.” -
c h r i s – ★★★★½
“Being from the crazed mind behind The Boxer’s Omen… I was expecting a full-blown black magic-based shocker with excessive rituals, puke, and necromancy all in the name of vengeance.” -
Will – ★★★☆☆
“Hex is an effective and entertaining Shaw Brothers horror film, and I look forward to revisiting it with my expectations in the right place.”
Meta Description:
“Hex” (1980), directed by Kuei Chih-Hung, is a Hong Kong horror film set in 1930s Shanghai. It follows Chan Sau-ying, a tuberculosis-stricken woman who, alongside her servant Yi-wah, murders her abusive husband. Their actions trigger supernatural events, blending psychological thriller elements with traditional ghost story motifs.
Title: Hex vs. Witchcraft (1980)
Alternate Titles: Che dau che, Evil Fighting Evil, 邪斗邪
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Plot Synopsis:
Cai Tou, a compulsive gambler plagued by bad luck, finds himself deeply indebted to a violent gangster boss. Desperate and abandoned by his wife, he contemplates suicide but is continually thwarted. His fortunes take a bizarre turn when an elderly man offers him wealth and an upscale apartment in exchange for marrying the ghost of his deceased daughter, Ah Cui. Accepting the proposal, Cai Tou enters into a supernatural union, leading to a series of horrid and hilarious events as he navigates life with his spectral wife.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kuei Chih-Hung
- Writers: Szeto On, Tam Gam-Wa
- Cast:
- James Yi Lui as Cai Tou
- Jenny Liang as Tou’s Wife
- Pei Ju-Hua as Air Stewardess
- Cheung Miu-Lin as Ah Zhu
- Yang Chi-Ching as Liu San
IMDb Link: Hex vs. Witchcraft (1980)
YouTube Trailer: Hex vs. Witchcraft | Trailer
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
Lorenzo – ★★☆☆☆
“It is sad to say that this is my least favourite film from Kuei Chih-hung and one of the worst Shaws that I have watched so far. A ‘sequel’ in name only to Hex, is actually more a sex comedy and gambling movie than anything to do with the horror genre.” -
Scrambled Face – ★½☆☆☆
“The tone may be more even here, but the story is a rudderless mess. It follows hapless gambling addict Cai Tou (James Yi Lui) as he gets in deep with local mob boss Shen Chan.” -
hotsake – ★½☆☆☆
“This movie was trash. The comedy sucked, the acting was worse, and the rest was just unfunny dull filler. Oh and the ending while ironic was unsatisfying.”
Meta Description:
“Hex vs. Witchcraft” (1980), directed by Kuei Chih-Hung, is a Hong Kong comedy-fantasy-horror film that follows Cai Tou, a compulsive gambler who marries the ghost of a deceased woman in exchange for wealth, leading to a series of supernatural and comedic events.
Title: Hex After Hex (1982)
Alternate Titles: Che yuen joi che, 鬼妻, หลอนสุดหลอน
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Plot Synopsis:
In this third installment of the Hex series, Ma Su, a muscular movie stuntman, discovers a parcel of gold and valuables at his doorstep. He learns that to keep the treasure, he must marry Liu Ah Tsui, a ghost who desires him. Refusing at first, Ma Su becomes entangled with the spirit when she possesses the body of his neighbor, Suk Yi, adopting the name Red Pok Pok. As their relationship develops, they face challenges from greedy real estate developers aiming to evict tenants, leading to a series of comedic and supernatural events.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kuei Chih-Hung
- Writer: Szeto On
- Cast:
- Lo Meng as Ma Su
- Lily Chan as Red Pok Pok / Liu Ah Tsui
- Nancy Lau Nam-Kai as Suk Yi
- Lau Dan as Johnny Tien
- Law Ho-Kai
IMDb Link:
Hex After Hex (1982)
YouTube Trailer:
Hex After Hex – Trailer
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
Lorenzo – ★★★★
“This ended up being my favourite Hex film! So much better than the second film and a tad better than the original.” -
Scrambled Face – ★★★
“The second loose sequel to Kuei Chih-hung’s stylish Diabolique riff offers a continuation and a welcome improvement of the supernatural series’ goofball tendencies.” -
Lynn – ★★★
“Better than the 2nd one, but still a goofy comedy. This one has tons of naked men in it. One of them is Lo Meng, so – win.”
Meta Description:
“Hex After Hex” (1982), directed by Kuei Chih-Hung, is a Hong Kong comedy-horror film where a stuntman becomes romantically involved with a ghost inhabiting his neighbor’s body, leading to a series of supernatural and comedic events as they confront corrupt land developers.
