DVD Review: Chinese Ghost Story (B)

Chinese Ghost Story (1987)
Directed by Ching Siu-Tung
Starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma
MPAA: Not Rated
Review By Ellyn Elm
Grade: B

When lowly tax collector Ning Tsai-shun gets caught in a downpour on the way to town, his tax books are ruined and no one will pay. He needs a place to stay for a few days so he can re-write the books. He settles into the strange and silent Lam Ro temple, empty except for one very energetic Taoist priest who warns him away. He elects to stay, and it isn't long before he is lured by the sound of a lute out of the temple to where Hsiao Tsing, a beautiful woman, awaits him.

But there's more to this woman than meets the eye. She's a ghost in the reluctant employ of a thousand year old tree demon who uses her massive tongue to suck the life out of hapless victims.

When ghost and tax-collector meet, they fall in love, and he swears to help her escape from the tree demon's evil clutches.

Some really great (and cheesy!) special effects coupled with kooky dialog and likeable characters make this movie enormously entertaining. If you’re looking for a fun and upbeat horror flick – this is it!

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