Encounter of the Spooky Kind (1980) User Reviews (31)

Sammo "Hung" in there...

[Guardia · 8/10 · 12 December 2007]

This film deals with the persecuted character of "Bold Cheung", played by Sammo Hung, as he simultaneously battles to find those who framed him for murder and also escaping a pursuing detective. It is a mostly kung-fu comedy film, and really defined the genre of kung-fu horror, (from which titles such as "Mr. Vampire" capitalised off greatly).

The brilliance of this film lies in it's great mix of excellent choreography, and interesting and exotic characters - the horror themes are like an extra background setting that improve the film even further. Not only is it a first in it's (sub)genre, but it happens to be one of the best - and this is due to Sammo's awesome talent.

The development of the plot really does centre around Cheung, as he uses his wits and savage kung-fu to overcome various set-pieces of action such as a resurrected corpse (Chinese vampire), a voodoo-doll, a band of policemen, yet another undead corpse, ghosts, specters, and men possessed with summoned Gods.

His slapstick style is present again, as well as his unique ability for weapon choreography. The ending sequence rivals "Odd Couple" as the best weapon skills caught on film - (watch those spear techniques closely!). Cinematography in this film is superb, and the restored version I own has not dated in the slightest. In fact, the film looks better than those brought out much later, (I did notice a wash of blue across the entire print, though).

Hang in there for the end - one of the most vindictive and vengeful endings I have ever seen. It has a strange satisfaction though!

One of the first successful attempts at combining martial arts with horror

[donbendell · 7/10 · 25 January 2007]

"Hung plays Chang, a town bumpkin who unwittingly is drawn into the realm of the supernatural after a trick by his buddies goes awry and conjures up a zombie. His cheating wife takes note and, with her lover, attempts to kill Chang by duping him into repeatedly staying the night in a haunted cemetery, where he must face a powerful zombie. Eventually, he enlists the help of a friendly white (good) wizard to try and help him get rid of the zombies once and for all.

One of the first successful attempts at combining martial arts with horror, Encounters of the Spooky Kind is a classic in the genre that helped pave the way for such popular movies as the Mr. Vampire series. It should be noted though that the HK definition of horror is a bit different than here in the West. The zombies (or vampires, depending on the interpretation) look and act (at least to Western standards) weird, hopping about in a kind of dead man's dance. As such, the horror aspects of the movie probably aren't as strong to me as they may be to others. But the film does succeed in creating some excellent action pieces. The finale, which has Hung and the wizard teaming up to defeat a dark wizard and his demon is a textbook example of the genre and quite exciting to watch."

Now THAT'S what I call horror

[drngor · 8/10 · 2 January 2001]

I rented this movie after hearing a lot of good things about as far as action, comedy, and inventiveness was concerned. I must say I wasn't disappointed. This movie is off the wall; anyone who isn't used to Hong Kong cinema, their heads will explode by the finale. The movie has vampires, ghosts, possession, kung fu, comedy, monkey talk, random acts of violence against poultry, Lam Ching Ying, and then some. The martial arts choreography is good and the acrobatics are great, esp. for Sammo. Overall, a movie that needs to be seen to be believed.

Monkey Magic

[nickthegun · 18 October 2002]

This is one of, if not the best sammo hung film I have seen. It is just so funny.

Sammo plays Courageous Cheung, the man who cant turn down a bet. He gets himself in trouble when his wife and her lover (sammos master) make a bet that they hope will kill him. Cue much slapstick kung-foolery and bizarre goings on. Such as Sammo's hand being possessed and trying to kill him.

The films climax though is the killer. In order to have enough strength to defeat his enemies Sammo and his wizard mate allow sammo to be possessed by the Monkey god (of MONKEY! Fame, but obviously not the same character. That would just be stupid). Sammo takes on the characteristics of a Monkey and kicks a lot of arse, including his wifes. Im not advocating spousal abuse, but when sammos wife comes crawling back, he gives her such a richly deserved thrashing you cant help but cheer!

Samo Hung sure knows how to make a good movie

[The-Sarkologist · 7/10 · 18 November 2011]

Des Mangan defines this movie as being the one that defined the Hong Kong horror scene for the rest of the century. Not being too familiar with Hong Kong cinema, I cannot agree or disagree, but there seems to be a lot to things in this movie that other Hong Kong movies have borrowed from.

Hong Kong horror is nothing like Western horror. In Western cinema, horror films are either of two sorts: a real horror such as is seen in movies like Misery, or a supernatural horror, as is seen in movies like poltergeist. In the supernatural horror films, it is generally defenseless people fighting evil creatures of hell which are ultimately more powerful.

Hong Kong horror differs in the way that the protagonists aren't always defenseless. The hero of this movie, Fearless Cheung, is not able to fight the ghosts on his own, and as such enlists the help of a local wizard and both of them fight the antagonists together. The horror is always supernatural, which represents the highly superstitious Chinese demeanor, and magic is generally thrown around everywhere. The plots aren't always direct either nor is their generally one spooky antagonists. In this movie, the antagonist is actually a governor who hires a corrupt sorcerer to kill Cheung, thus Cheung faces everything from ghosts to hopping vampires, to corpses that he accidentally animates while sleeping next to it.

Another difference, which is mimiced in Magic Cop and Erotic Ghost story, is the final battle. Hong Kong cinema generally have very spectacular closing scenes with much magic flying about. In this film we have two sorcerers fight each other while summoning deamons to possess their servants. In Western cinema it is generally an underdog priest battling helplessly against an even more powerful demon. In this movie the spirit world is divided into good an evil, while in Western cinema, the spirit world is evil while the real world is good.

Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind is an exceptionally good movie. The action never lets up and goes right through to the close. It is not tense or scary, though it seems that it is one man against not only the establishment, but the forces of hell as well. As with a lot of Hong Kong action, the action is also very animated which makes it very entertaining to watch.

Enjoyable Sammo Hung in haunted comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 11 July 2021]

I sat down in 2021 to watch the 1980 martial arts comedy "Gui da gui" (aka "Encounter of the Spooky Kind") for the first time. Needless to say that with my admiration for the Asian cinema, of course I had to watch it. And the movie also had Sammo Hung on the cast list.

Now, the storyline told in "Encounter of the Spooky Kind" is pretty entertaining. Sure, this is a combination of slapstick comedy, martial arts and a bit of drama and traditional ghost/vampire lore. So there is a bit of everything to be enjoyed here.

The movie has some very enjoyable characters, and they also had a great cast ensemble to bring these characters to life. While this isn't among the best of Sammo Hung movies, then it still rather entertaining.

There is a good amount of funny scenes and laughs throughout the course of "Encounter of the Spooky Kind".

Visually then the effects in this 1980 movie are hopelessly outdated and laughable to look at. Especially the make-up and special effects on the hopping vampire and the reanimated corpse.

I am rating "Encounter of the Spooky Kind" a six out of ten stars. This is definitely an older movie that is worth taking the time to watch.

Encounters of a spooky kind

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 15 January 2023]

Sammo Hung plays Courageous Cheung, a man well known in his local village for his lack of fear. His reputation is soon put to the test after he is tricked into spending the night in a temple full of spirits, zombies, and vampires!

Blending acrobatic Kung fu, special effects and Chinese folklore, Encounter of the Spooky Kind is considered a major influence In Hong Kong cinema as far as mixing comedy with supernatural chills; the latter is well done. It's quite spooky in parts, and there's some tension. The comedy, however, didn't tickle me so much. Plus, the film could be a bit overlong, long drawn out and a bit boring: the acrobatic fights are very impressive, however. But I prefer the dead and the deadly ( also starring Sammo Hung).

great film!

[fishbob999 · 9/10 · 10 February 2007]

After an official is nearly caught sleeping with a woman by her husband, he hires a greedy sorcerer to do away with the not-so-courageous man. Corpses hop, kung fu fighters are possessed, and all manner of spooky, supernatural action occurs.

Sammo Hung stars in his definitive homage to the tales of horror that he enjoyed in his youth. Encounter of the Spooky Kind is a cult classic filled with terrific kung fu action, vampires, zombies, sorcerer duels of magic, and one of the most memorable endings in kung fu genre history.

Sammo is Courageous Cheung, a pedicab driver in a rural community who is known around town as the man who fears nothing. Well, this is proved false before the opening credits finish when he endures a particularly frightening nightmare of flesh-eating zombies. But, that's just the beginning of his run-ins with the supernatural. His friends decide to pull a scary prank on him that results in a ghastly ghost joining in on the fun. The plot finally kicks in when Cheung comes home early one day to find his wife in bed with another man. It turns out to be Master Tam, a prominent citizen who is also a regular client of Cheung. He escapes before Cheung can identify him and decides Cheung must die to keep this activity a secret. Tam hires a greedy master of witchcraft named Chin Hoi (Peter Chan) to kill Cheung without arising suspicions. Chin Hoi's accomplice (Wu Ma) bets Cheung to stay locked in a broken down temple for one night where a corpse resides. With advice from Lau (Chang Ti Chiang), Chin Hoi's brother, Cheung survives two fierce nights in the temple. Later, a plot by Master Tam to frame Cheung for murder fails to succeed after he escapes by hiding out in a funeral home. Even an attempt to take control of Cheung's body using voodoo is foiled by Lau. Finally, both Master Tam and Cheung become pawns in a vicious battle of the sorcerers as the two brothers square off in a final, fiery confrontation.

Pretty good

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 7/10 · 16 July 2023]

I watched this not long after watching The Millionaires' Express, and I think both have made me appreciate Sammo Hung's willingness to blend martial arts action with unexpected other genres. In the case of the former, it was a martial arts/comedy/Western movie, and in the case of Encounter of the Spooky Kind (which is a fantastic title), it's a martial arts/horror/comedy/fantasy movie.

I can't say I always knew what was going on, and it definitely felt like it was a bit all over the place. But on the other hand, the randomness of it all also added to its charm, and it can't be overstated just how good some of the action and stuntwork are.

Very strange ending, though, and not in a good way.

Not just a great Chinese movie - a great movie full stop

[Leofwine_draca · 10/10 · 7 July 2016]

An excellent combination of martial arts, comedy and horror, this outstanding film helped pave the way for the comedy/horror genre that filled Hong Kong production studios in the '80s and '90s. All of the clichés and fun elements of the genre are present and correct in this nicely-budgeted romp, which doesn't let up from the word go. Our guide and hero through the film is the one and only Sammo Hung, here on top form as both star and director. As the star, Hung puts in a great and funny performance, his comedy skills (mostly acting terrified of the dead) matched by his superior martial arts abilities, ably demonstrated in lots of cool fight scenes. As a director, Hung is in his element and delivers a colourful, exciting, never-lets-up comic book style romp.

The plot takes in all kinds of bizarre characters and situations, there's even a guy with a huge hairy mole on his cheek which seems to be the stand for every '70s kung fu flick. Intense set-pieces include nights spent in a haunted temple, jailbreaks, plus the rip-roaring climax which involves the classic duel of wizards and tons of non-stop action. The martial arts sequences are fantastic, especially a fight scene in a restaurant where Hung uses a bench to protect him from razor-sharp swords, and the finale, where Hung and his opponents are possessed by gods and perform superhuman techniques (anyone who doesn't chuckle at Hung's "monkey god" style has to be dead, or possessed).

As well as the action, ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND fulfils its horror quota by including lots of bizarre situations and horrific moments. From the opening shots of zombies tearing open Hung's leg to the spectacular duel between the wizards, this is extreme stuff. Ghosts come out of mirrors and kill people and Sammo's own arm is possessed by evil (two ideas later borrowed by Sam Raimi in his EVIL DEAD II). Elsewhere we have bizarre and complex magic rituals complete with on-screen chicken death (shocking) and some hilarious mumbo-jumbo gobbledegook that the evil magician chants. It doesn't make sense but it sounds great. The film features a great slapstick sequence involving a zombie who copies Sammo's every move, and a hopping corpse which is raised from the dead to attack our hero. It's just like KUGN FU ZOMBIE, but with a decent budget.

The main strength of the movie is through the sheer dynamism of Hung and his cohorts and the inventiveness of the scenes. Something new and original is happening in every shot, you sit spellbound watching the events play out and it's one of those films you have to sit through in one go, no time for tea breaks or snacks in between. Possession, zombies, magic duels, and even a few voodoo dolls thrown into the mix make this a killer of a film. Check out the final shot, a real adrenaline burst that will make you stand up out of your chair and cheer our hero on. A great slice of Hong Kong escapism and one of the best out there.

More laughs than... boos!

[lost-in-limbo · 9/10 · 24 August 2008]

Oh I love 'Mr Vampire (1985)', so how could I not fall for 'Spooky Encounters' in what people call the prototype of the Hong Kong sub-genre; horror, comedy and martial arts rolled into one. It's genius. Inspired. And non-stop fun. Really the tripped-out blend would be hard to pull off, but star/writer/director Sammo Hung does an adeptly magnificent job combining them in a satisfying manner. No doubts, that this film has some influences' on other horror films. Sam Raimi's 'Evil Dead' Trilogy? I can see it. The comically bumbling, but gallant protagonist (amusingly acted by Hung) sticks out with its familiarities to Ash. The confrontations with the supernatural are exaggeratedly humorous with its free-flowing slapstick and psychical gags. The scenes of possessed rotting corpses and jumping Chinese vampires in combat and that of our protagonist's arm having a mind of its own are highly enjoyable in their spectacularly crafted set-pieces. Kung-fu choreography is that of high level with its timing, pacing and overall rhythm. Never skips a beat, as the outstanding camera-work characteristically frames every shot in a prolific and kinetic fashion. The story tells of poor worker Bold Cheung as he encounters many unusual, spooky situations when he gets caught up in a bet to stay a night in a haunted temple, but along the way he's getting close to discovering that his wife is having an with affair with his boss. The material is a jumble, but creative storm of hybrid ideas. Adventurous, cheeky and ghastly. Scripting holds up well, as it compels with its charm and fruitful quips. The witchcraft side isn't particularly horrifying, not even eerie because the humour mostly takes centre stage, but it's definitely pleasurably offbeat. But what stands out, and leaves an impression is the way they go about ending it. POW! Hung's high octane direction is thick on atmosphere, uncanny sound FX, playful score, vivid art-direction and splendidly wonderful looking (yep even though macabre corpses) make-up and special effects. Brightly animated performances by Ha Wong, Dick Wei, Ching-Ying Lam, Fat Chung, Lung Chan and Suet-Moi Leung lend well too. Growing up watching the magically crazy 70's Japanese TV series 'Monkey Magic' was where it all started for me, and I don't see myself ever falling out of interest. If you're getting bored with the recent same-old clutter coming out of modern Asian horror cinema, all you have to do is go back and delve into these early Eastern fixtures for some blistering thrills and tasty laughs.

Lots of Kung-Fu action, but preachy and dragged out film.

[OllieSuave-007 · 5/10 · 30 September 2013]

Sammo Hung stars in one of his first Hong Kong horror movies, where he plays Bold Cheung, a villager who is on the run from an evil master who wants him dead so he could marry his unfaithful wife and from a corrupted inspector who believes Cheung murdered his wife (he was framed for it). Two dueling Taoist Priests fight over Cheung's fate.

There are plenty of nicely choreographed and sword-wielding Kung-Fu action and a freaky-executed Chinese vampire, who was controlled by the evil priest to do Cheung in. These two are the most exciting elements of the film. However, a large part of the movie stretches too long: Towards the beginning of the film, there is a demon who nearly captures Cheung through a portal in a mirror; however, this scene has nothing to do with the plot and it looks as if the demon scene was just thrown in for good measure. It strays from the story in what is a long and dragged out movie. Too much preaching from the characters added unnecessary plot elements and did make this movie boring at times, contributed by an unremarkable music score. The climax was also, I think, a little overkill.

If you are a hardcore fan of Kung-Fu movies and wouldn't mind watching a long, dragged out movie, than give this film a try. Otherwise, there are plenty of other horror, ghost and fantasy movies from Hong Kong that are more entertaining.

Grade D+

One of the ten best kung fu flick!!!

[bajbij · 22 May 2001]

This influential film introduced the hopping vampires in kung fu films, called gyonsies. This was the first film to accurately depict chinese vampires (Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires was the first kung fu film to show vampires, but with European vamp influence.) Sammo Hung is funny in this film, but for a fat man, he is no joke. He can do stunts that would shame any fit athletic man. The kung fu choreography is spectacular and humorus. And the ending is one of the most satisfying ending any man can hope for when your wife not only cheats on you, but plots your murder. EOTSK helped pave the way for chinese horror films as we know them today, but this is easily the best as far as entertainment all over. 9 out of 10.

Just be patient and wait to laugh

[SamuraiNixon · 8/10 · 3 June 2010]

"Spooky Encounters" (aka Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind; 1981) is a seminal work in the hybrid genre of Hong Kong comedy/kung fu/horror films. While this had been done before by the Shaw Brother's "The Spiritual Boxer" (1975), "The Spiritual Boxer Part II" (1979) and Lo Wei's unsuccessful "Spiritual Kung Fu" (1978), "Spooky Encounters" is the film most causal in the formative kyonsi (hopping vampires) craze of the 1980s with "Mr. Vampire" (1985) as the best example of that sub-genre with its plethora of sequels. It was directed by and stars Sammo Hung Kam-Bo ("Warrior's Two" and "The Prodigal Son" who would also produce "Mr. Vampire") during the golden age of Golden Harvest and was the first film under Sammo's Bo Ho Films Company.

Sammo stars as Bold Cheung an affable courageous not-so-bright cuckold who works for Mr. Tam (I am not quite sure what Cheung does though). However, Tam is cheating with Cheung's wife and Cheung came awfully close to finding the two together; however, he did find a shoe that was left behind. Since Tam, who is going to run for mayor, does not want any scandal he decides to employ the services of a black-magic Taoist named Chin Hoi to murder Bold Cheung. Luckily his brother-in-witchcraft Tsui (Chung Faat who is also in Sammo's "Prodigal Son" and "Magnificent Butcher") is astonished he will breaks the rules of the sect (the four rules are: must not be greedy, must not kill, must not insult our god and must not behave badly) and goes off to help Cheung.

Tsui's first good deed is to help Cheung survive a bet with an employee of Tam (played by the ubiquitous Wu Ma) to spend a night in a haunted place that looks like a giant storage shed. It houses a kyonsi – an undead vampire/zombie that is stiff, has to hop to get around, can suck blood through its long fingernails (does not happen here) and has good kung fu skills for some reason. Cheung being a bit of a dullard gets talked into staying two nights. Obviously this does not work so Mr. Tam ends up framing Cheung for the murder of his wife though no body is found. Now Sammo has the law after him led by the Inspector (Lam Ching-Ying) as well as the supernatural sorcerer.

There is not much to complain about in this film. The few annoyances with the movie is the episodic structure the film takes on in the beginning and the underutilization of Lam Ching-Ying ("Mr. Vampire") fighting especially since he is credited as an action director. Also, the very ending is quite unsuspecting (not necessarily for Hong Kong aficionados) and seemed a bit excessive and hard to watch (for those who have not seen it I will not spoil it, it even startled me the second time I watched the movie). You also might not appreciate the film if you like chickens (unless you like exploding ones). There is also some mention of animal killing though nothing is shown (except for the chickens).

The strengths of the film are many. Sammo is in the best shape of his life during the early 80s. He does look slightly corpulent but his kung fu and movement appears effortlessly and adroit (a big difference to how he would appear in the late 80s and beyond). I did notice he was doubled in a few scenes like when he was transformed into the Monkey King, he does not do some of the swinging movements, but for most he was not doubled. There are a couple of classic fight scenes with the tea house bit where Cheung loses control of his arm to the evil Taoist and takes on the tavern (I do not think it influenced Evil Dead II though you never know) and the excellent showdown at the Longevity Inn where Cheung is transformed into the Monkey King and has to fight the Dragon Slayer. In those fights Sammo does some great fighting with a bench in the first and a spear in the second. The whole finale I found quite entertaining with the dueling Taoists. Sammo's direction was also strongest in the 80s where he uses hand-held cameras to great use and has nice composition within frames. He does overuse under-cranking in this movie though he tends to do that a lot in his films (as well as most Hong Kong films during that period). His best asset as a director is that he makes everyone else look better and never puts himself in the forefront if he does not have to.

The mixture of humor/action/spookiness works well too. The horror aspect is definitely influenced by the Shaw Brother's films like "Black Magic" (1975) but never goes into the grossness (or nudity) of that film. The humor lightens the macabre aspect while kung fu and comedy meld well for some reason. "Spooky Encounters" is not scary or gore-filled by today's standards, but it is still a good spooky film that is a must for those into 1980s Hong Kong martial arts cinema or fans of Sammo Hung.

Best advice learned from this film -- when you need more chi stamp the ground and if two opponents are evenly matched the one with the higher alter will win.

Hong Kong encounters of the absurd kind.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 6 June 2010]

Ask an 'average Joe' to name a successful actor/director and you'll get the obvious answers: Orson Welles, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood, Dennis Hopper, Mel Gibson, Quentin Tarantino, Sylvester Stallone. Ask a fan of martial arts cinema, however, and there's a very good chance that the first name they'll proffer will be that of Sammo Hung, the portly pal of Jackie Chan who has shot and starred in some of the most breathtaking fight action scenes ever committed to celluloid.

Encounters of the Spooky Kind is Hung's first stab at the martial arts/horror/comedy hybrid that became very popular in the 80s, and sees the talented actor/director starring as Bold Cheung, a fearless pedicab driver who is unaware that his wife has been having an affair with Mr. Tam, one of his clients. After narrowly avoiding being caught in the act, Mr. Tam decides that life would be easier with Cheung permanently out of the way, and so hires a warlock to try and dispose of the poor guy.

When Cheung escapes the clutches of a corpse brought to life by the evil magician, Mr. Tam concocts an alternative plot to frame Cheung for the murder of his wife. Unable to prove his innocence, Cheung is arrested and sentenced to death, but the plucky guy manages to escape the night before his execution, and with the help of a good wizard, seeks to put an end to Mr. Tam and his wicked ways.

Even though I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Hong Kong comedy, finding Chinese humour a little too 'basic' at times, Encounters of the Spooky Kind is such an energetic and imaginative piece of film-making that it's almost impossible not to find hugely enjoyable. Hung is as amazingly athletic as ever, once again proving that fat guys can flip and fight with the best of them; the silly scary moments are surprisingly atmospheric; the antagonists are boo-hiss horrible in the extreme; and the fight filled finale is stunning, with both good guys and bad guys being possessed by the spirits of Chinese gods and battling to the death (Hung doing his monkey style kung fu is always a winner).

And for a little extra fun, try and spot the similarities between EOTSK and the Evil Dead movies: I know it sounds unlikely, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that Sam Raimi is a fan of this classic of HK cinema.

Spooky KInd 1...just brilliant

[gorytus-20672 · 10/10 · 15 April 2021]

April 21

Another of Sammos best along with part 2 and Dead and the Deadly, all 3 being similar style ghostly comedy with horror elements.

Lam Ching YIng is there but a different role for him to what you may expect and Chung Fat has a bigger role than usual.

Just fantastic, now check out number 2 and Dead and the deadly

10 out of 10.

Animal cruelty

[marisajourneyveronika · 1/10 · 6 November 2023]

I don't like when movies use animal cruelty just for a scene a chicken gets its head cut off and it's still flapping its wings with its head cut off it's so cruel and unnecessary I don't like it it was horrible to watch all that just for a scene in a movie it wasn't needed. I wanted to like this movie but I can't when it has animal cruelty that ruined it for me I like sammo hung but I'm disappointed in him for that I would have enjoyed it if they had used a fake chicken or even just did another ritual or something that would have avoided animal cruelty if you are like me and want to avoid movies with animal cruelty in them don't watch this 😢

Great comedy from Hong Kong!

[Fat Dragon · 3 October 1999]

This movie is really great! I was really caught by surprise because before I saw this movie, I thought all Hong Kong movies were hyper-violent actions with "rock hard" characters. The characters in this movie are actually very funny. They're not all cold, hard murderers who go around shooting or beating people up.

There's lots of great humor in this movie, mixed with the standard Hong Kong stunts. I bet you would have to look for a long time to find a Western stuntman who can do all the stuff Sammo does here. And he's fat!!! There's really not much I can say without giving up too much of the story, so I suggest you just see it. It's incredible, and matches even the best American comedies.

Masterful Mix of Horror and Kung Fu

[coconutkungfu-30704 · 10/10 · 19 February 2020]

Another Sammo Hung Masterpiece, Encounters of The Spooky Kind is a very successful blend of genres, It manages to be both a comedy horror film and an expertly choreographed kung fu film. Filled with unforgettable moments, this one is an absolute joy to behold.

10 out of 10

Great!

[dworldeater · 9/10 · 23 November 2018]

Encounters Of The Spooky Kind is a groundbreaking effort from director/actor/action choreographer Sammo Hung and as such is one of his most memorable and enjoyable efforts. This film successfully blends together horror, comedy and martial arts for a very unique and entertaining experience. The plot involves a cheating wife and a rich guy that attempts to plan Sammo's demise which involves witchcraft and sorcery that has Sammo doing battle with the undead. Of course, the fight scenes are incredible and the special f/x look great and are well above average for a Hong Kong film. The ending fight sequence is insane and must be seen to believe with some seriously impressive kung fu and a battle between two wizards. The tone throughout is mostly light and the movie moves along at a fast and furious pace while maintaining a solid story with good performances and solid directing.

Chinese Evil Dead

[Azzy · 9/10 · 24 February 1999]

This is a funny and inventive movie. its plot centers around a fat feudal peon named Couragous Cheung (Sammo). He has a reputation for never turning down a bet for money, no matter how foolish. The problem is that his wife is cheating on him with his master. His wife and and master conspire to have him knocked off by having a man dare him to sleep in an abandoned temple overnight while a hired sorcerer raise zombies to take care of him. Two problems stop them. First, Cheung is highly skilled in Kung-fu, and second, the sorcerer's brother is giving him advice on how to survive. The two sorcerers head toward a final magical showdown while cheung takes on his master in a duel.

There are many brilliant scenes in this film. at one part Sammo's right hand becomes possessed by the sorcerer and begins beating him and everyone around him ala EVIL DEAD. The Scene is well choreographed and hilarious to watch. There are numerous fights throughout the film. all extremely fast and furious.

Kung Fu Horror

[eibon09 · 9 April 2001]

The first real successful horror feature in Hong Kong to mix action with horror. Even though there were similar films before this like The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, it was this movie that laid the groundwork for many future horror films in Hong Kong. Gui Da Gui/Encounters of the Spooky Kind(1980) sports a physical incredible performance from Sammo Hung Kam Bo as Courageous Cheung. The special effects are some of the best ever seen in a Hong Kong film. Sammo excells in the role of writer, star, and director.

The fight sequences involving the Inspector and his men are wonderfully choreographed. Influenced many American filmmakers including Sam Raimi. Sam Raimi uses scenes from this film as inspiration for Evil Dead(1983) and Evil Dead 2(1987). Courageous Cheung is a model for the character ofAsh in the Evil Dead films. Gui Da Gui/Encounters of the Spooky Kind(1980) along with Eastern Condors(1987), Pedicab Driver(1989), and Prodigal Son(1983) are my favorite films by the director.

Good Hong Kong comedy-horror

[alecwest · 8/10 · 23 February 2005]

I was very impressed with both the letter-boxed version and subtitling that didn't interfere with the active picture. And the film itself is a masterpiece mix of Martial Arts and slapstick comedy. However, I only rated it 8 out of 10 because it was a bit _too_ slapstick for me. During the battle scene between Cheung and his first opponent near the end of the film, I admit to being turned off by dialog between the two that seemed as if it was dubbed in from an "Alvin & the Chipmunks" show (in Cantonese, however). And in the next fight, Cheung's master infused the spirit of the "God Of War" in him ... but this god apparently has a lot in common with Curly of the Three Stooges, mannerisms included. However, speaking as a divorced man, I must admit I loved the ending scene (which I won't give away) and suspect a lot of other divorced men will appreciate its sentiments as well (grin).

Funny on a stick

[secrective · 10/10 · 13 November 2002]

if they sold hilarity on a stick, it would be called Spooky Encounters! Sammo Hung plays "Courageous Chueng" in this great chinese vampire/ghost and all around general supernatural movie of DOOM! Sammo gives us PLENTY of great kung fu, and even becomes possessed as the monkey king!

as always, sifu is in here, but strangely enough, he doesent play taoist priest here, hes chief inspector! but dont despair, in the sequel, he plays the charecter we all know and love. too bad i havent seen it yet!

If you like the Mr. Vampire series, be sure to grab this one too.

Pure Entertainment

[cheekyfilm · 9/10 · 3 August 2021]

I watched this on a whim and the first 20 minutes hooked me. It's the right mix of comedy, horror, magic and martial arts - with excellent pacing. The fight sequences and monster scenes are extremely memorable and the ending is literally the best ending to any movie I've ever seen.. I cheered and laughed for minutes after it happened.

The Fortune Star/Kam & Ronson Blu-ray looks and sounds amazing, but this is almost better enjoyed on an old crusty VHS. My advice, go in blind and enjoy one of the most entertaining movies ever made.