Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters

Product Description In 19th-century China, an evil monk awakes a nest of ghoulish vampires hell-bent on devouring humanlife. Now, a quartet of heroes trained in the Taoist Mao Shan school of magic and their master mustuse their unique powers to destroy the Vampire King and its lethal coven before it's too late. Masters of the martial arts, each of the four students specializes in controlling the element of his namesake: Rain, Lightning, Thunder and Wind! From critically-acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark (Black Mask 2, Time and Tide, Double Team), TSUI HARK'S VAMPIRE HUNTERS is an action-packed thrill ride destined to become a martial arts/horror classic. Amazon.com In 17th century Asia, "zombies roamed the lands," which in turn led to many vampires roaming the lands, because the zombies turned into vampires. Or so Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters would have us believe. This lively, wisecracking movie is a little short on narrative logic (actually, it's short on the kind of logic that leads one shot naturally into the next). But it has the staples of the Hong Kong ghost story, with plenty of gravity-defying fights and putrescent zombies. The prolific Tsui Hark wrote and produced this one, but decidedly did not lend his often thrilling directorial touch. Still, there are moments within the generally bewildering mayhem that soar: a zombie-vampire dragging a group of hunters by chains along the treetops, for instance. If you want to see what would happen if a Hammer Film were dropped into an acid bath, this is the movie for you. --Robert Horton