Mr. Vampire 3 (1987)

Hong Kong’s number one vampire buster (Lam Ching-ying) teams up with a Taoist conman ( Richard Ng) and his ghostly partners to take on a gang of marauding bandits led by a black sorceress.

The third installment in the popular Mr. Vampire series returned Lam Ching-ying to the Ching era after a less satisfying modern day adventure in Mr. Vampire II. Having successfully battled Chinese vampires twice, Lam’s next assignment was to take on ghosts and a sorceress. Ghost busting was already popular in America after the release of Ivan Reitman’s smash hit Ghostbusters in 1984. Three years later, Tsui Hark’s A Chinese Ghost Story had come out just months prior to Mr. Vampire III, which combined elements from both films while continuing to develop the horror comedy with wild effects, action, and performances. The end product is immensely imaginative and entertaining, making it arguably the best film in the series and certainly one of the best horror comedies around.

Comedy actor Richard Ng had worked with Sammo Hung in numerous films like Winners and Sinners, Wheels on Meals, and Pom Pom. Like most Hong Kong comedians in the ’80s, his style was an acquired taste for Westerners. But in Mr. Vampire III, there is no such hurdle as he plays Ming, a likable Taoist-trained conman who teams up with two friendly ghosts to earn a living as a house exorcist. After some unfriendly ghosts spoil their latest scheme, the trio makes a quick exit and step into the middle of a confrontation between invading bandits and townsfolk who have prepared a trap. Leading them is Taoist Master Lam Ching-ying whose knowledge of the arcane is put to use when its discovered that the bandits are using black magic that gives them imperious skin and super strength. All the bandits are captured or killed except for their leader who is simply dubbed the ‘Devil Lady’ for her savagery and mastery of the dark arts. Knowing she will attempt to release her comrades, Lam and his students set a trap that nearly fails when one of Ming’s ghostly pals is kidnapped and turned into a ravenous zombie that sees anyone wearing a Taoist robe as food. A victory over the Devil Lady is short-lived when she and two of her companions return as ghosts who literally crash the heroes’ party.

The martial arts action is toned down in this film which contains no majors action stars apart from Lam, although Sammo Hung, Corey Yuen, and Wu Ma all make a brief, non-action cameo appearance together. Far from being a disappointment, Mr. Vampire III wonderfully cranks up the supernatural mayhem. Though made on a small budget by Hollywood standards and lacking the equivalent special effects capability, this film is still full of crazy effects like twisting or inflating heads, extending arms, and ghosts being sucked into jars. Much like the hi-tech traps used by the Ghostbusters, these jars act as containment units when charms are placed on them. One of the best effects scenes takes place when one of the captured ghosts threatens to escape and Richard Ng tosses the jar into a giant wok filled with boiling oil. The ghost emerges only half-cooked looking like a distant relative of The Toxic Avenger. One of the best visual gags in the film is where Richard starts burning items that will then be “reborn” as ghostly apparel and house wares. The folding ghost child trick also stands out.

There is a madcap genius here that is undeniable. Lam Ching-ying plays the stern master capable of displaying only awkward or menacing smiles. He gets the film’s best action shot as he does a slick leaping kick and appears thoroughly convincing as a man capable of combating evil forces. Amityville horrors, poltergeists, and Patrick Swayze wouldn’t stand a chance against him. Billy Lau also returns to play Lam’s obnoxious first student. His ongoing rivalry with Richard’s ghostly friends is a highlight throughout the film whether he’s being played like a marionette by them or covering himself in soot and a ridiculous costume and sneaking up to lasso one of them with a magical rope. As a villainess, Wong Yuk-waan is excellent. She hardly says a word, but she’s suitably mean and nasty, especially when she’s dispensing a seemingly endless supply of maggots, cockroaches, or bats.

When it comes to supernatural nonsense done Hong Kong style, it doesn’t get much better than Mr. Vampire III. A little more emphasis on kung fu action would have been nice, but there is still enough swinging choppers, wooden swords, and slit throats to keep the blood flowing. Besides, the maniacal magic and ghastly ghost action is a scream.