Horrible High Heels – Massacre Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1996
Directors: Chow Cheung, Chen Wei-An, Mao Chiang-Pang
Writer: Chow Cheung
Cast: Shing Fui-On, Dick Wei, Billy Chow, Suen Tong, Yue Shut-Man, Lin Hsiao-Lu, Lam Chak-Ming, Siu Yuk-Lung, Hung Fung

Release Date: November 12th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.99

"In Horrible High Heels, the grim story of a shoe factory owner’s descent into madness is gruesomely portrayed. Driven by perverse desires, he begins a horrifying spree of brutally murdering and skinning women to create high heels. What starts as an ominous plan to teach a rival a lesson evolves into a chilling series of killings, revealing the darkest depths of depravity." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2k Restoration from 35mm Original Camera Negatives."

Horrible High Heels comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.9 GB

Feature: 21.6 GB

Although some minor debris remains, it is never intrusive. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a trailer for Horrible High Heels (1 minute 42 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in Mandarin, no subtitles), and a slipcase.

Other extras are trailers for Men Behind the Sun, Mind, Body, Spirit, Beaten to Death, and Postal.

Summary:

A struggling shoe factory’s fortune turns around after their buyer acquires a new fabric made out of human flesh.

It is fascinating how Hong Kong cinema got more violent as the 1997 handover approached. Martial arts cinema has long been a staple in Hong Kong, but the mid-1980s saw the emergence of heroic bloodshed as a dominant genre. By the time the 1990s arrived, Cat III films had taken the lead in popularity. That said, Horrible High Heels is a film that fits firmly into the Cat III category, with its excessive carnage and abundance of softcore erotica.

That narrative does not waste any time with exposition, with its exploitation elements being the driving force. Other strengths of the narrative are how well it keeps the killer's identity under wraps and how effectively it builds and sustains momentum. While the acting is not memorable, it works well with the story that unfolds. The most notable cast member is Shing Fui-On (The Blue Jean Monster); he portrays a wheelchair-bound crime boss.

Content-wise, Horrible High Heels is a melting pot of genres: horror, erotica, police procedural, and some martial arts thrown in for good measure. When it comes to the carnage, it is gruesome; limbs are severed and in one scene the killer pisses on a victim. If you're feeling a sense of déjà vu from the score, that is because it lifts a few music cues from Pino Donaggio’s score for Body Double. Ultimately, Horrible High Heels is a well-crafted exploitation film, making it a must-see for Cat III fans.

Massacre Video gives Horrible High Heels a strong audio/video presentation, recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Erotic Ghost Story Trilogy: Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1990 (Erotic Ghost Story), Hong Kong, 1991 (Erotic Ghost Story II), Hong Kong, 1992 (Erotic Ghost Story III)
Directors: Lam Ngai Choi (Erotic Ghost Story), Peter Ngor (Erotic Ghost Story II), Lai Kai-Ming (Erotic Ghost Story III)
Cast: Amy Yip, Ha Chia Ling, Man So, Hitomi Kudo, Lam Chung (Erotic Ghost Story), Anthony Chau-Sang Wong, Ichijo Sayuri, Charine Chan, Kwok Yiu-Wah, Chik King-Man, Amy Yip, Man So (Erotic Ghost Story II), Pauline Chan, Wong Tak-Ban, Shing Fui-On, Chik King-Man, Otomo Rena (Erotic Ghost Story III)

Release Date: March 3rd, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 89 Minutes 24 Seconds (Erotic Ghost Story), 98 Minutes (Erotic Ghost Story II), 95 Minutes 57 Seconds (Erotic Ghost Story III)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese (All Films), LPCM Mono English (Erotic Ghost Story)
Subtitles: English (All Films)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £39.99 (UK)

"This triple-bill of paranormal perversion delivers everything you’d want from a Category III movie, plus a bit more besides. In the first tale from Story of Ricki director Ngai Choi Lam, a trio of sexy spirits fall for the same hunk. The second movie, the directorial debut of Peter Ngor has the God of Carnal Desire, God Wu Tung on a quest for revenge after his favorite conquest is zapped by other god like beings and in the third piece from Kai-Ming Lai, a man journeys into the afterlife only to be greeted by a very powerful woman. A trilogy like no other, this one hits the spirited saucy spot." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (Erotic Ghost Story), 4.5/5 (Erotic Ghost Story II, Erotic Ghost Story III)

Here’s the information given about the transfers, "Stunning new 2K restoration of the original Cantonese version and the extended Mandarin version."

Erotic Ghost Story comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.9 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB (Original Cantonese Version), 12.8 GB (Shorter Mandarin Version)

Here’s the information given about the transfers, "Stunning new 2K restoration of the original Cantonese version and the shorter Mandarin version."

Erotic Ghost Story II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.7 GB

Feature: 27 GB (Original Cantonese Version), 12.1 GB (Shorter Mandarin Version)

Here’s the information given about the transfers, "Stunning new 2K restoration of the original Cantonese version and the shorter Mandarin version."

Erotic Ghost Story III comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB (Original Cantonese Version), 11.6 GB (Shorter Mandarin Version)

The transfers for each film look excellent, and Erotic Ghost Story is a noticeable improvement over 88 Films' 2022 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5 (All Audio Tracks)

Each film comes with a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. Erotic Ghost Story also comes with a LPCM mono mix in English, and there are removable English subtitles for Cantonese text. All of the audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, they handle ambient sounds well, and the score sounds robust.

Extras:

Extras for Erotic Ghost Story include a reversible cover art, a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Tai Seng trailer (1 minute 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (2 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an episode of Celebrity Talk Show with James Wong, Ni Kuang and Chua Lam who visit the set of Erotic Ghost Story (47 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an audio commentary with film critic and author Samm Deighan, and the extended Mandarin version (95 minutes 16 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles).

Extras for Erotic Ghost Story II include a reversible cover art, a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with Cantonese text with removable English subtitles), an archival Making Of featurette with actor Anthony Wong, scriptwriter Abe Kwong and assistant director Tenky Tin (15 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng, and the shorter Mandarin version (92 minutes 36 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles).

Extras for Erotic Ghost Story III include a reversible cover art, a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng, and the shorter Mandarin version (77 minutes 30 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles).

Extras for this release include a rigid slipcase, 6 premium collector’s art cards, a double-sided fold out poster, and a 40-page booklet with an essay titled Sex is Satanic: How Female Sexuality is Demonised in the Erotic Ghost Story Trilogy written by Zoë Rose Smith, From an Ancient Past to an Unknown Future a Brief Introduction to Category III Cinema and Erotic Ghost Story written by Dylan Cheung, and archival images.

Summary:

Erotic Ghost Story was directed by Lam Ngai Choi, whose other notable films include The Seventh Curse, Her Vengeance, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky, and The Cat. Erotic Ghost Story’s two main influences are The Witches of Eastwick and Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.

Despite the fact that sex and violence are the two elements that unite Cat III cinema, the best examples of Cat III cinema are the films that are balanced between these two elements. Films that lean more towards sex are the ones that do not hold up as well as films that are overtly violent or are a combination of sex and violence. A case in point is Erotic Ghost Story, a film that has an ample amount of sex and any violence is limited. That said, when it comes to violence, what few moments there are in Erotic Ghost Story are very effective moments, most notably a scene where three sister fox spirits witness a demon unleash his fury on a woman he has lured.

Anyone who has seen any of Lam Ngai Choi's films knows that they are not rooted in reality. He has directed some of the most adventurous films to emerge from Hong Kong in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. And though Erotic Ghost Story has many elements that tend to pop up throughout Ngai Choi Lam’s filmography, Erotic Ghost Story is his only foray into erotic cinema. That said, when it comes to this genre's tropes, he does a great job of mixing them with his cinematic style.

Though there are a few secondary characters, Erotic Ghost Story is ultimately carried by its four leads. In the roles of the three sister fox spirits are Amy Yip (Robotrix), Hitomi Kudô, and So Man, and Lap-Man Tan (City Hunter), in the role of a scholar who is seduced by the three sisters. That said, all three female leads have ample physical assets, which provides plenty of eye candy. Also, Amy Yip and So Man will return for Erotic Ghost Story II.

Besides an ample amount of nudity and some well-placed moments of erotica, sex also plays a significant role in the dialog. And, despite the fact that Erotic Ghost Story is softcore erotica, it throws in some martial arts for good measure. Ultimately, Erotic Ghost Story is a thrilling film that lives up to its name.

Peter Ngor directed Erotic Ghost Story II. He only directed four films, and he is more known for his work as a cinematographer on films like Mr. Vampire, Armour of God, On the Run, Sex and Zen, and Full Contact.

It is never surprising when a successful film spawns sequels or knockoffs, and this is what happened with Erotic Ghost Story, a film that had two sequels that are essentially variations of the same premise. The narrative for Erotic Ghost Story II begins with a recap of the events from Erotic Ghost Story. Besides the premise, another area where Erotic Ghost Story II connects to its predecessor is through cameos from two actresses, Amy Yip and So Man, who return, albeit in different roles.

The narrative revolves around two fox spirits who capture a demon’s lover and burn them at the stake, destroying his offspring. Angered, the demon wreaks havoc on humans, and the only way to appease him is to offer virgins. One of the women offered as a sacrifice resembles the demon's lover perfectly, prompting him to seek her out. That said, the narrative is overreliant on sex scenes, one of which lasts nine minutes.

The best part of Erotic Ghost Story II is Anthony Chau-Sang Wong’s (Hard Boiled) portrayal of a demon named Wu-tung. Once again he portrays an outrageous character, and the result is another exemplary performance. Another noteworthy performance is delivered by Ichijo Sayuri, who provides an equally delirious portrayal in the role of Chiu-Sheng, Wu-tung's demoness accomplice. Ultimately, Erotic Ghost Story II is an underwhelming sequel that is tonally different and lacks many of the things that made its predecessor work so well.

Lai Kai-Ming directed Erotic Ghost Story III. His notable films are The Blue Jean Monster, Daughter of Darkness, and The Peeping Tom.

After the letdown of its predecessor, I approached Erotic Ghost Story III with cautious expectations, and what I witnessed far exceeded my hopes. The narrative revolves around a swordsman who is drawn into the demon realm, and though he is engaged to another woman, he falls in love with a demon. That said, where its predecessor was over reliant on sex scenes, Erotic Ghost Story III does a superb job effortlessly blending them with exposition.

The most surprising aspect of Erotic Ghost Story is its performances, especially its two leads: Wong Tak-Ban, who portrays Chu Chung, the swordsman who falls in love with a demon, and Pauline Chan (From Beijing with Love), who portrays the demon who bewitched Chu Chung. Another performance of note is Shing Fui-On (Her Vengeance), whose character Reverend Wick provides the comedic relief. This character looks ridiculous with his chrome dome hairline, and it is interesting to see him in a role against type.

Erotic Ghost Story III does a better job than its predecessor at capturing the essence of Erotic Ghost Story. Another strength of Erotic Ghost Story III is how effectively it blends sex, humor, and action, and in the case of the latter, they are well-executed. The demon realm depicted in Erotic Ghost Story III is filled with debauchery, flesh-eating, and other sinful behavior. Though there are a few wild moments, the most memorable is a scene where Reverend Wick shrinks himself and crawls inside of the matriarch's demon witch's vagina. Ultimately, Erotic Ghost Story III is a perfect mix of fantasy and erotica, making it the superior of the two sequels.

Erotic Ghost Story Trilogy is an exceptional release from 88 Films that gives each film a solid audio/video presentation. Each film comes with its alternate Mandarin version and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Sex and Zen: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1991
Director: Michael Mak
Writer: Lee Ying Kit
Cast: Amy Yip, Lawrence Ng, Kent Cheng, Lo Lieh, Carrie Ng, Isabella Chow, Rena Murakami, Mari Ayukawa, Tim Wong, Tien Feng, Elvis Tsui

Release Date: March 27th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"Also known as The Carnal Prayer Mat's Stash of Illicit Love and slightly based on the seventeenth century novel The Carnel Prayer Mat, we follow a desperate man who is convinced by his mentor that he needs to be “well equipped” to pleasure his wife, so he has a horses appendage transplanted onto him! From here on in it gets really strange!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand-new 2025 2K restoration from original camera negative."

Sex and Zen comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 29.6 GB

For this release, it uses a brand new exclusive transfer that blows away all other Blu-ray releases. The source looks excellent; fleshy tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with four audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Though all four audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, range-wise, the Cantonese language tracks fare better than the English language tracks. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching with the English language tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/posters/other promotional images/Amy Yip magazine photos), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English opening credits (2 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), English closing credits (1 minute 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival documentary about Amy Yip titled Tempting Your Heart: The Seven Emotions and Six Virtues of Amy Yip (54 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Michael Mak (14 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Michael Mak titled The Master of (Sex and) Zen (54 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival), Sex and Zen -  longer Mandarin version (102 minutes 43 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, a rigid slipcase, a double sided poster, and a 40-page booklet with an essay titled Fetishes, fantasies and fornicating: Sex & Zen’s cultural importance in erotic CAT III cinema written by Zoë Rose Smith, an essay titled Carnal Temptations, Hidden Karma Sex and Zen’s Enduring Legacy in Erotic Cinema written by Paul Bramhall, an essay titled The Yin and Yang of Sex and Zen written by Dylan Cheung, and archival images.

Summary:

Michael Mak directed Sex and Zen. He’s known for Everlasting Love, Long Arm of the Law: Part 2, Long Arm of the Law: Part 3, and Butterfly and Sword. Sex and Zen is a loose adaptation of The Carnal Prayer Mat, a Chinese novel of erotic stories.

The narrative revolves around the sexual adventures of a scholar named Mei Yeung-Sheng, whose quest for sexual enlightenment nearly kills him. He sets out to bed as many women as he can after a sexual mishap with his bride on their wedding night. 

Unable to get women to jump into bed solely based on his good looks, he enlists the help of a master thief named Chor Kun-Lun, who has the ability to get into places unseen. Before he takes Mei Yeung-Sheng up on his offer, Chor Kun-Lun takes him on a dry run in which they spy on a fabric maker named Wong Chut and his wife. Wong Chut is a cruel man with a sex drive that dwarfs an average man's ability to stand hard. Unimpressed with his eager disciple, Chor Kun-Lun refuses to help Mei Yeung-Sheng because he has a small penis.

Not willing to give up just yet, Mei Yeung-Sheng finds a doctor who performs an experimental procedure in which he gives Mei Yeung-Sheng a horse’s penis. With his newfound organ to help his sexual prowess, Mei Yeung-Sheng finally gets Chor Kun-Lun to help him. While all of this is happening, Mei Yeung-Sheng has been neglecting her spouse Huk-Yeung, who has her own needs, and, overwhelmed with loneliness, she seeks comfort elsewhere.

The area that stands out the most is the visuals, which fully exploit the inventive erotic set pieces. The sexual positions characters use often defy gravity and require a tremendous amount of flexibility. The most surprising aspect of Sex and Zen is how effectively it uses humor, especially when it comes to erotic moments.

Performance-wise, the cast is pitch-perfect in their respective roles. The most memorable performance is Amy Yip (Robotrix), who portrays Huk-Yeung, the scholar's wife, who is left at home while he travels looking for his next sexual conquest. Her erotica scenes, like when she holds a paintbrush on her vagina or when she is having sex in a bathtub, are sure to get the blood flowing. The cast features a few recognizable faces, like Carrie Ng (Naked Killer), who portrays a brothel madame; Elvis Tsui (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story), who portrays a fabric maker with an unusually large penis; and Lieh Lo (King Boxer), in the role of Chor Kun-Lun, her husband's mentor.

The narrative does a phenomenal job balancing erotic moments and exposition. Though the narrative leans heavily to the sex side of the film's title, the finale brings the zen side into focus. Sex and Zen works as well as it does because of how effortlessly it balances drama, comedy, and erotica. That said, it should come as no surprise that Sex and Zen was one of the most successful CAT III, making it a must-see for fans of these films.

Sex and Zen gets a definitive release from 88 Films, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Seventh Curse / Witch from Nepal – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1986 (The Seventh Curse, Witch from Nepal)
Directors: Lam Ngai Choi (The Seventh Curse), Ching Siu-tung (Witch From Nepal)
Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Chin Siu-ho, Maggie Cheung, Elvis Tsui, Kara Wai (The Seventh Curse), Chow Yun-fat, Emily Chu, Yammie Lam, Dick Wei (Witch from Nepal)

Release Date: January 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 83 Minutes 57 Seconds (The Seventh Curse - Extended Hong Kong Version), 80 Minutes 38 Seconds (The Seventh Curse - Export Cut), 89 Minutes 57 Seconds (Witch from Nepal)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $59.98

The Seventh Curse: "Dr. Yuan is a world-famous adventurer whose exploits have found him playing everything from hostage negotiator to exploring the most offbeat corners of the globe. While in the jungles of Thailand, Dr. Yuan rescues a young woman from a bloodthirsty supernatural sect named the "Worm Tribe," as they attempt to sacrifice her to their ancient evil deity. After a Worm Tribe elder forces the doctor to swallow a handful of bullets, Dr. Yuan becomes afflicted by the “seven blood curses,” which cause the bullets to burst from his body. Determined to find a cure before the seventh and final curse takes his life, Dr. Yuan returns to the jungle, where he must defeat the Worm Tribe and other unexpected supernatural obstacles." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Witch from Nepal: "Joe and his girlfriend travel to Nepal to escape their busy lives. However, their vacation takes an unwelcome turn when Joe is injured while on safari and goes missing. Once found, he is brought to a hospital where a mysterious woman tells him that he's been chosen to be the leader of a mystical tribe in order to fight against an evil sorcerer. Upon returning to Hong Kong, Joe tries to forget about his ordeal. However, the mysterious woman tracks him down, and the two soon fall madly in love. Unfortunately, the sorcerer is also in Hong Kong searching for the mysterious woman, and Joe soon finds himself embroiled in a savage fight between good and evil." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (The Seventh Curse - Extended Hong Kong Version, Witch from Nepal), 4.25/5 (The Seventh Curse - Export Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "Newly color-graded and restored by VS from studio-supplied masters."

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

Disc Size: 46 GB

Feature: 21.9 GB (Extended Hong Kong Version), 20.9 GB (Export Cut)

Though this release uses the same source that 88 Films used, it has a new color grade. Image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. That said, the extended Hong Kong version transfer is stronger than the export version.

Witch from Nepal comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.9 GB

Feature: 22.7 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tone looks correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - The Seventh Curse Extended Hong Kong Version), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - The Seventh Curse Export Cut, Witch from Nepal - Both Audio Tracks)

The Seventh Curse, the extended Hong Kong version, comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. This track has some dialog in Mandarin and English. Included are removable English subtitles that translate all of the dialog. There is no subtitle option that only translates the Cantonese and Mandarin dialog.

The Seventh Curse: The export cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with 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.

Witch from Nepal comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin. These two audio tracks are comparable; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise they are very good. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras on disc one include Cantonese language theatrical trailer for The Seventh Curse (4 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer for The Seventh Curse (2 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Cantonese language theatrical trailer for Witch from Nepal (3 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by film historian and author Samm Deighan titled Lam Ngai Kai: Hong Kong's Master of Fantasy (16 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with martial arts film expert Frank Djeng for the Hong Kong version of The Seventh Curse, and an audio commentary with Samm Deighan and author & podcaster Mike White for Hong Kong version of The Seventh Curse.

Extras on disc two include an audio commentary with Frank Djeng for Witch from Nepal.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a hard slipcase + slipcover combo, and a 40-page perfect bound with an essay titled Erotic Chiller: The Supernatural Sensuousness of Witch from Nepal written by Travis Woods, and an essay titled Adventure, He Wrote: Tracing the Influences of Ni Kuang’s Wisely written by Erica Shultz.

Summary:

Ngai Choi Lam directed The Seventh Curse. He is also known for directing 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.

Witch from Nepal: A mystical tribe member gives a man on vacation in Nepal magical powers.

Ching Siu-tung directed Witch From Nepal. He is also known for directing Duel to the Death, A Chinese Ghost Story (1, 2, 3), The Swordsman (1, 2, 3), The Mad Monk, and Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words".

Witch from Nepal is an adventure/action/supernatural hybrid that effectively blends all of these genres. At its core, Witch from Nepal is your standard good versus evil scenario. The protagonist is given extraordinary powers, which not only allow him to quickly heal a broken leg, but also allow him to effortlessly scale buildings and glide through the air.  That said, the story that unfolds requires a leap of faith, and backstory is non-existent.

After a strong opening that introduces the main villain, a demon, there are no big surprises until the last 20 minutes. The bulk of the narrative is the protagonist discovering his new powers, how to use them, and hiding another woman from his girlfriend. That said, this triangle between the protagonist, the girlfriend, and the other woman provides a few tense moments.

The core cast, which is only four actors, are all great in their roles: Emily Chu (Heart of the Dragon), who portrays the woman who gives the protagonist magical powers. The main draw for most is Chow Yun-Fat (A Better Tomorrow), in the role of the protagonist. No matter what film he’s in, it is always a pleasure to watch him. Yammie Lam's (The Bride with White Hair) portrayal of the protagonist's jealous girlfriend is noteworthy. Dick Wei (Yes, Madam!), who portrays a demon warrior, is woefully underused.

Though Witch from Nepal is a film that takes advantage of resources, like locations not usually seen in Hong Kong films, there are areas where it misses the mark. Its most glaring shortcoming is its pacing, which has many lulls. Areas where Witch from Nepal excels are its ominous score, impressive stunt work, and moments rooted in the supernatural. There are two standout fight sequences: one where corpses rise from the dead and attack, and a showdown between the protagonist and the demon warrior. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, Witch from Nepal is a lot of fun.

Vinegar Syndrome gives two supernatural-themed Hong Kong films an excellent release that comes with solid audio/video presentations and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer