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A Chinese Ghost Story
倩女幽魂
1987 95 min Hong Kong 12+
★7.3
Fantasy, Action
Director: Siu-Tung Ching
🎭 Based on
«Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio»
byPu Songling
Trailers
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Description
A naïve young tax collector for the imperial government winds up spending the night in a haunted temple. There he falls in love with a beautiful woman who, unfortunately, is dead. With the aid of a powerful Daoist Swordsman, he must defeat undead hordes, overcome a sinister Tree Demoness, and descend to the pits of hell, to fight for the spirit he loves.
Budget:
$1.25M
Starring
Leslie Cheung
Actor
Joey Wang
Actor
Wu Ma
Actor
Awards
12 wins & 15 nominations total
Key opinion
A Chinese Ghost Story is widely celebrated as a seminal work of Hong Kong fantasy cinema, successfully blending romance, horror, and martial arts into an atmospheric masterpiece. Despite some criticisms regarding the depth of character development, the film is anchored by stellar performances and a distinct visual style that remains influential today.
| Acting | Leslie Cheung delivers an earnest and memorable performance as the naive, golden-hearted protagonist. | |
| Direction | The film functions as a quintessential genre-blender, masterfully synthesizing comedy, melodrama, fantasy, and horror elements. | |
| Score | The score effectively bridges the gap between contemporary musical sensibilities and the traditional medieval setting. | |
| Production | The production design and visual effects create a vibrant, atmospheric world that avoids dated theatricality. | |
| Screenplay | Supporting characters and backstories feel under-developed or stereotyped, though strong acting helps mitigate these narrative gaps. |