Human Lanterns – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1982
Director: Sun Chung
Writers: Ni Kuang, Sun Chung
Cast: Lau Wing, Chen Kuan-Tai, Lo Lieh, Tanny Tien Ni, Linda Chu, Sun Chien, Susan Yam-Yam Shaw, Lin Hsiu-Chun

Release Date: May 16th, 2022 (UK), June 7th, 2022 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 2 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $29.95 (USA)

"When an unbalanced craftsman decides to get revenge on two Kung Fu masters by creating special lanterns constructed from the human skin of their dead relatives, all hell breaks loose in this gruesome tale of bloody retribution." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “HD transfer from original negative.” 

Human Lanterns comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.3 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

The source used for this transfer looks great. Colors, image clarity, and black levels are strong throughout.

Audio: 3.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. Though the dialog comes through clearly, there are times that this track lacks depth, and there are some sibilance issues.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 33 seconds, LPCM mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Lau Wing titled The Ambiguous Hero (51 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Linda Chu titled The Beauty and the Beasts (14 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Susan Shaw titled A Shaw Story (13 minutes 48 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast on Fire Network, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, a limited edition slipcover; and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Splicing Genres with Human Lanterns written by Barry Forshaw.

Summary:

Chung Sun directed Human Lanterns. His notable films include Big Bad Sis, The Avenging Eagle, The Deadly Breaking Sword, The Kung Fu Instructor, To Kill a Mastermind, and City War.

A kung fu master wanting to beat his rival at the upcoming festival of lanterns hires a deranged craftsman to make him a lantern. Unknown to the kung fu master, the craftsman uses the flesh of beautiful women to make his lanterns.

The Shaw Brothers are most remembered for their martial arts files, specifically their Wuxia files. When it comes to their contributions to the horror genre, these films are not your run-of-the-mill horror files. A case in point is Human Lanterns, a film that is just as much a horror file as it is a Wuxia file, combining the best of these two genres.

From its opening moments, Human Lanterns establishes a foreboding tone that becomes bleaker as the narrative reaches its climax. The premise is full of gruesome possibilities that are exploited for all their worth. While there is an abundance of atmosphere and gruesome moments, when it comes to the action sequences, Human Lanterns far exceeds expectations and is in line with other martial arts films from this era.

The heart and soul of Human Lanterns is Lo Lieh’s (King Boxer) portrayal of Chao Chun-Fang, a renowned craftsman who makes lanterns from human flesh. He delivers a diabolic performance that fully immerses him in his character's madness. While the rest of the cast pale in comparison, there is only so much they can do since their performances are overshadowed by Lo Lieh.

Human Lanterns is a textbook example of the Shaw Brothers' 1980s output, where they often made films that went against their legacy. The further they drifted from martial arts films and leaned more into exploitative and horror elements, they more often than not delivered some truly one-of-a-kind films like Human Lanterns. While the exploitation and horror elements are the main draw of Human Lanterns, its narrative actually finds a very satisfying balance between action, horror, and exploitation while never skimping on exposition. Ultimately, Human Lanterns is a highly entertaining wuxia horror film that quickly draws you in and does a phenomenal job holding your attention as it builds to an unforgettable finale.

Human Lanterns gets a great release from 88 Films that comes with a solid transfer and an abundance of insightful extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer