Bless This House (1988) User Reviews (5)

Turned out to be just another generic comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 22 June 2020]

Granted, I hadn't heard about "Bless This House" (aka "Meng gui fo tiao qiang") from 1988 before in 2020, when I was given the chance to sit down and watch it. Needless to say that I took the time to do so, given my love and fascination with the Hong Kong cinema. Plus, the movie had Bill Tung on the cast list.

Well, this was fairly generic for a late 1980s Hong Kong movie, to the point where it just faded into mediocrity. The movie didn't really manage to stand out and make itself noteworthy. As such, then I wasn't overly impressed with the storyline, nor was it an impressive array of entertainment value that director Ronny Yu was throwing at me.

The movie had an adequate cast that performed well enough, but they were somewhat stunted and hindered by the generic storyline.

There are far better Hong Kong comedies available, and even for that era you can easily find something more outstanding than "Bless This House".

My rating for "Bless This House" settles on a very mediocre and bland five out of ten stars.

While not the best, still has the unique Hong Kong element

[The-Sarkologist · 5/10 · 28 October 2011]

Not really all that much to say about this movie. It was okay but basically your typical horror flick with the typical Hong Kong twist. A man was put into a wheelchair and because of this his wife had an affair so he killed them all. Now he haunts the house as a ghost. A one eyed man, who happens to be a sorcerer, lives nearby and warns the unlucky family who is about to move in about this ghost, but of course they think that he is mad and tell him to get lost.

The movie mentions the Chinese idea of geomancy: which I building the house in a correct position so that it will bring luck. Very mystical idea and of course the lead character doesn't believe it. This is not really about geomancy but rather to define the character as being sceptical about all supernatural stuff so that they can throw him into a haunted house.

The movie is quaint but dry and long. The magical battles at the end though are quite good and it is what raises this movie above the rest. The effects do look very bad, but at least Hong Kong filmmakers play around with things like this to make the magical battles much better.

One of the more scarier comedy/horror films from Hong Kong.

[OllieSuave-007 · 8/10 · 7 October 2013]

The filmmakers in Hong Kong are known to produce scores of horror and fantasy movies with a comedic twist. This film, however, is what I think one of the more scarier of these movies from that genre.

This story is about Bill Chang who moves to an old, two-story house in the Hong Kong countryside after Bill gets a job promotion. However, they start experiencing the paranormal as an evil ghost plan to take over the family - giving this movie an Amityville Horror-style approach.

The acting is pretty good and the music score is catchy. The plot is compelling and has many scary moments. The filmmakers did a good job executing the ghost parts of the movie, which slowly graduates as the family are living in the house longer, making the movie eerie, frightening, and bone-chilling, which makes you forget at times you are also watching a comedy movie.

The only issues I have with this movie are that I think the scenes with the exorcist are pretty goofy and that the battle scene at the end is a little on the short side. Other than that, it is a well-done and exciting horror film, and does not drag the plot. Go check it out.

Grade B+

Best Movie ever made

[batman_811 · 7 August 2003]

I loved it, it is everything I want in a movie. The acting was some of the best work I ever say in my life. The music was perfact for the movie, and it made the movie even more enjoyable. So that is why I have to give this movie, 10 out of 10 stars!!!! If I could of gave it a better grade I would.

imdb rating only 4.6..scandalous

[gorytus-20672 · 8/10 · 15 April 2021]

April 2021

Why such a low IMDB rating. This is a very likeable film from Hong Kong, featuring likeable stars, Bill Tung and Loletta Lee.

Horror with comedy and i like it a lot, the stars really make it.

8ish out of 10.