Mister Vampire

Starring:Ching-Ying Lam, Siu-hou Chin, Ricky Hui, Moon Lee, Billy Lau, Pauline Wong, Anthony Chan, Wah Yuen, Ma Wu, Chau Sang Lau, Kai Man Tin
Director: Ricky Lau
Studio: Tai Seng
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Terrific And Very Funny Chinese Horror-Comedy!
Temporarily Hold Your Breath
Sticky rice!
A classic film of undead martial arts tomfoolery
Chinese ghost tale keeps things hopping

Mister Vampire
Starring: Ching-Ying Lam , Siu-hou Chin , Ricky Hui , Moon Lee , and Billy Lau
Director: Ricky Lau
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Frighteningly Funny | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Spooky Encounters
Mr. Vampire III
Mr. Vampire II
Vampire vs. Vampire
Knockabout

ASIN: B0000507ON
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Customer Reviews:

Terrific And Very Funny Chinese Horror-Comedy!.......2007-04-23

I wish there were more films like this one. It's great to see parody in any genre. Moreover, it is necessary at times. Which leads us to this unique film "Mr. Vampire." Having first seen the film many years ago [release date around 1986], I originally owned an import VHS copy which was pretty choppy and bad to say the least. I was happy when the DVD was released and grabbed it up right away. That's how much I like this film. The film has action, horror and comedy. Those who are into Martial Arts films, however, may not find the film as much action-based as you might like. But it does deliver as a fun parody of Martial Arts action. Nevertheless, I did like the fight sequences and acting, and the film succeeds exceptionally well as a very funny film. Which is one of the reasons I bought the film initially anyway. This is a funny delight of cinema from Hong Kong, and I would recommend to viewers to check it out.

I don't wish to give away too much of the film, therefore, I will leave out some of the funnier sequences from this review. However, I will write that the film centers on one Master Gau (Ching-Ying Lam) and his two assistants Chou (Siu-hou Chin) and Man Choi (Ricky Hui). Master Gau is in the business of controlling vampires. Both he and his assistants [bumbling ones at that] are in for one funny romp. They are trying to cope with the rewawakened corpse of a man. However, things backfire, and the viewer is in for one exceptionally funny horror-comedy. In trying to deal with the very strong 'hopping vampires' the film progresses through a maze of slapstick comedy [But in a very good way] as it spoofs Kung Fu and gives a delightfully comedic twist to the horror genre. Also, Chinese bureaucracy and the police are dealt with in a funny and lampooning way.

Yes, there are silly parts in the film, but it's done in a hysterically funny way, and that's what makes this film so funny. Also, while garlic is the recipe in the West for combating Vampires: English and American films in particular, in China--it's sticky rice. I really like this film. It delivers in every way that one will find entertaining. With Master Gau up to his elbows in trying to help his two assistant's Man Choi and Chou from falling prey to the vampire curse they now battle, he also finds himself up against one tough super powerful vampire. Not at all like what we see in the vampires flicks here in the West. This is a great and entertaining film. I recommend the film highly. I enjoyed the film immensely, and still do. Highly recommended.

Temporarily Hold Your Breath.......2007-03-16

Don't let the title mislead you. The film title should have been translated as Mr. Zoombie instead of Mr. Vampire as these hopping ghosts are what we called zoombie. When the film was first released in the 80's, it was titled as Temporarily Stop Your Breathing. It was an enormous hit throughout Asia. 2 or 3 sequels were made afterwards. It also created a zoombie sensation in Japan. Among the Chinese zoombie movie, this one stood out the most as it succeeded in all three genres that it tried to achieve: action, comedy and horror.

Mr. Vampire, along with Chinese Ghost Story 1, is among my favorite films from the 80's.

Hop, hop and hop.

Sticky rice!.......2006-07-19

"Mr. Vampire" is a movie for people tired of angsty, gorgeous vampires with thick Transylvanian accents.

Instead, this hilarious supernatural comedy has a different kind of vampire -- the superstrong, zombielike "hopping vampire." And dealing with the hopping vampires are a long-suffering Taoist priest and his bumbling assistants, who add all sorts of wacky twists.

Master Gau (Ching-Ying Lam) agrees to help the wealthy Yam family move their patriarch's body -- until he sees the undecayed body. Turns out Grandpa is a vampire. And after his bumbling assistants fail to properly restrain the vampire, it gets loose, kills its son, and now the vampire hunters are facing TWO vampires instead of one.

To make matters worse, Man Choi (Ricky Hui) has been infected with vampire toxin, which will turn him into a vampire if they can't cure him with sticky rice, and Chou (Siu-hou Chin) is being seduced at night by a ghost. Master Gau must cure one, save the other, and somehow destroy a superpowerful vampire that invades the Yam household.

"Mr. Vampire" was such a success in China that it started a whole trend of "hopping vampire" movies. But as with most trends, the original is still the best and more entertaining example. And it incorporates traditional vampires and succubi from China, as well as little-known mythical trivia (such as sticky rice being the "garlic" for a Chinese vampire).

Expect lots of Peter Jacksonish twisted humor (Man Choi having his fangs filed down) alongside the more typical kind (Chou and Man Choi cast a spell to make their romantic rival strip in public). But when the vampires show up, there are plenty of wild, undignified action scenes. And lots of property damage -- they break every piece of furniture they come across.

The late Ching-Ying Lam became a star thanks to this movie, and his staid, unibrowed priest is a likable guy when you consider everything he has to deal with. Hui and Chin are hysterical as a pair of earnest but hormonal guys. They're kind of an annoyance when Gau isn't actually fighting vampires, but perhaps they're good for doing errands.

(Fortunately they also cleaned up the subtitling on this movie. The original subtitling was comically bad, but the new ones are are very well done)

"Mr Vampire" is one of China's better supernatural comedies, with weird vampires and lots of sticky rice. Hysterical and warped.

A classic film of undead martial arts tomfoolery.......2006-02-27

Very good.

The performances are excellent, and the broad humor is genuinely amusing. There's also a heck of a weird story with hopping vampires and a ghost lover. The Asian sensibility of these elements is what pushes this into the forefront. These are not Bram Stoker's undead, and even the ghost is much more physical than you'd ever see in an American film. And she can even shoot off her head, which is pretty damn neat.

This is an excellent movie for anyone looking for monsters, martial arts, and a healthy dose of humor. Can't recommend it enough. So see it already.

Chinese ghost tale keeps things hopping.......2005-09-23

Sifu, the One Eyebrow Priest, needs all his skill to vanquish a powerful "hopping ghost"(like Hsien-Ko in "Darkstalkers," but more vicious) without much help from his two likeable, less-than-bright pupils. A bite from this creature will turn the bitten one into another vampire-zombie-ghost. Quick, get the sticky rice!