The Seventh Curse: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1986
Director: Ngai Choi Lam
Writers: Jing Wong, Kai-Chi Yuen
Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Chin Siu-ho, Maggie Cheung, Elvis Tsui, Kara Wai

Release Date: July 4th, 2022
Approximate running times: 83 Minutes 42 Seconds (Extended Hong Kong Version), 80 Minutes 25 Seconds (Export Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese/Mandarin/English (Extended Hong Kong Version), LPCM Mono English (Export Cut)
Subtitles: English (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), English SDH (Extended Hong Kong Version, Export Cut)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"When Dr Yuen (Chin Siu-ho) attempts to rescue a girl about to be sacrificed by the Worm Tribe in the middle of a Thailand jungle, he is damned with seven ‘Blood Curses’. Though he finds a temporary antidote this will only last a year and he must return to the jungle to find a permanent cure." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Extended Hong Kong Version), 4.25/5 (Export Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the extended Hong Kong version transfer, "2K transfers from the Original Negatives."

Here’s the information provided about the export cut transfer, "2K transfer from the only known 35mm Film Elements."

The Seventh Curse comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.4 GB

Feature: 18.7 GB (Extended Hong Kong Version), 18.3 GB (Export Cut)

Though both transfers are in excellent shape, the source used for the extended Hong Kong version is the stronger of the two transfers. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid. There are no issues with compression, and both transfers retain an organic look that keeps the grain intact.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese/Mandarin/English - Extended Hong Kong Version), 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono English - Export Cut)

The extended Hong Kong version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese/Mandarin/English, and this version comes with two subtitle options: removable English subtitles for all dialog spoken in Cantonese and Mandarin, and removable English SDH subtitles for the entire audio track.

The export cut comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English, and included with this version are removable English SDH subtitles.

Both audio tracks are in great shape. Dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English export theatrical trailer (2 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 20 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Patricia Wong titled In Support of The Seventh Curse (7 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Chinese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Chin Sui-Ho (2 hours 13 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and Marc Walkow for the extended Hong Kong version, a second audio commentary with Frank Djeng for the extended Hong Kong version, an audio commentary with action experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema for the export cut, six replica Lobby Cards, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a eighty-page perfect bound book with an essay titled Spooky Encounters, Holy Virgin’s and Seventh Curses A Short Guide to Hong Kong Horror 1980–1997 written by Matthew Edwards, an essay titled Ni Kuang and the Seven Stars of The Seventh Curse written by Matthew Edwards, and an essay titled The Blood, the Bad and the Ugly Getting to grips with Lam Ngai-Choi’s bizarre fantasy horror, The Seventh Curse (1986) written by Andrew Graves.

Summary:

The Seventh Curse was directed by Ngai Choi Lam, whose other notable films include Her Vengeance, Erotic Ghost Story, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky, and The Cat. The Seventh Curse is based on author Ni Kuang's novel series Dr. Yuen.

The Seventh Curse is a classic example of how good Hong Kong cinema was at making cinema that incorporated multiple genres and how effortlessly they shifted between genres. The Seventh Curse is a melting pot of genres. It is an action film, an adventure film, a horror film, a fantasy film, and a martial arts film all rolled into one.

A lot happens in The Seventh Curse in just under eighty-four minutes (if you include the opening and closing credits). The same can be said, even if you watch the export version, which only omits the segments with author Ni Kuang that open and close the extended Hong Kong version. That said, from the opening raid of a hospital by a swat team to a supernatural showdown that has impressive martial arts and some old-school practical special effects, there is rarely a moment where the narrative lets you catch your breath.

The Seventh Curse has a solid cast that is anchored by three actors: Siu-Ho Chin (Mr. Vampire) in the role of the protagonist, Dr. Yuen; Maggie Cheung (Police Story) in the role of Tsui Hung, a reporter who's always getting in the way of Dr. Yuen; and Chow Yun-Fat (The Killer) in the role of Wisely, a confidant of Dr. Yuen. Most of the humor in The Seventh Curse comes from the combative relationship between Dr. Yuen and Tsui Hung. Another performance of note is Elvis Tsui (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story) in the role of an evil sorcerer named Aquala. He delivers a deliriously demented performance that perfectly captures his character's essence.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Seventh Curse does not deliver and then some. The premise is well-executed, a breakneck narrative ensures there is never a dull moment, the action set pieces are fantastic, and the old-school practical special effects hold up really well. Ultimately, The Seventh Curse is an entertaining film that epitomizes all the things that make classic Hong Kong cinema so great.

The Seventh Curse gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and a wealth of informative extras, highly recommended.

                                        Extended Hong Kong Version Screenshots.

                                                    Export Cut Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer