Mr. Vampire Saga IV (1988) User Reviews (10)

Two veteran actors make up for the loss of Lam Ching Ying

[eddax · 7/10 · 6 September 2010]

Lam Ching Ying, the original Mr. Vampire, has left the building. The comedic duo in this movie are fellow veteran actors, Wu Ma and Anthony Chan, who play rivalling Buddhist and Taoist priests respectfully. That is, until a big ol' vampire shows up and they have to join forces to defeat it.

There is an unfortunate gay stereotype in the form of a sissy eunuch played by stuntman/actor Yuen Wah who pursues Chan's nubile (male) apprentice. I imagine it must've been pretty funny to the clueless audience back in the day but it's just cringey to me now. Otherwise, the humor and fighting in this movie aren't half bad.

Aye ya!

[cauwboy · 5/10 · 31 May 2020]

It's actually a bit sad, even if it's the same director that did the first Mr Vampire, it just seems like he never got the magic back that did the first one such a good film. This film isn't as bad as the second one, but it's also not keeping a focused plot as the first one.

The film is pretty simple, two priests living next doors to each other can't get along and fight between each other over different things. 45 minutes into the film, the actual vampire plot kicks in and it's when the priests have to work together to fight the evil.

I liked Anthony Chan as the Taoist Priest in the first Mr Vampire, he was a tiny bit goofy and yet professional when it came to defend himself against vampires. We do see some of that professional vibe from him in this film again, especially in the beginning of the film when he encounters a fox spirit - that's probably my favorite bit of this film. But then there was also a lot of fighting between him and the Buddhist Priest that didn't have to be as long as it was. Im sure they could've made a tense and exciting film out of the second half of this film, about two Priests vs a very powerful vampire.

There are some scary bits in this film, the "Master Vampire" looks really scary and brings back memories to the final boss in the first Mr Vampire, but then there's also the corrupted sidekicks that our heroes fight before the final boss - their appearances is much more comedic and silly and makes it hard to take this film serious at all. And then there's also the recurring "Aye ya!" which is the cantonese way of Ouch, I presume. They say it throughout the whole film and it gets rather boring after what feels like the 100th time of another "Aye ya!".

For those that loved the first film, I'm sad to say that the rest of the Mr Vampire films isn't even close to that one. You might get some enjoyment out of this one, but I can't see myself watch this film again. Check clips on youtube of this film and seek out the better HK comedy/horrors out there instead that's worth watching. That's my recommendation.

A perfect mix of comedy and horror.

[bursegsardaukar · 25 September 2005]

It started with two rival priests (One Taoist and the other Buddhist)having a war with each other including food fighting and a voodoo doll-style control of each others' body movement. My favorite is when the Taoist priest took control of the Buddhist priest using a straw doll and made him do hilarious things including tossing away his praying items, making him dance with his female disciple and even made him pull out his own tooth while laughing! The Buddhist priest eventually retaliated by taking control of the Taoist priest as well! Both of them are forced to put their differences aside to face a super indestructible vampire that seems to be immune to all their weapons. When the Taoist priest's sword broke when fighting the vampire, he used bigger and even bigger swords! As a last resort, the Taoist priest used magic to transform into a Hulk-like fighter which proved effective against the vampire! However, as he was about to finish the vampire, he accidentally stepped on a piece of a broken plate and all his superhuman strength vanished just like how air escapes from a leaking balloon. They finally managed to destroy the vampire by pinning it down with a net and forced a variety poisons including a snake into its mouth.

More Mr. Vampire

[BandSAboutMovies · 3/10 · 12 January 2022]

Four-eyed Taoist (Anthony Chan) and Buddhist Master Yat-yau (Wu Ma) are neighbors, but engaged in a sort of humorous war of words, pranks and ideologies with each other. As a convoy passes their homes - including a vampire that is soon hit with lightning and becomes super powerful - they must put aside their dislike and work together.

You may miss Lam Ching Ying, who for the first time isn't the lead in a Mr. Vampire sequel. There's nearly an hour, however, where the two leads try to destroy one another with not a hopping bloodsucker in sight. So while the stereotypical gay character isn't fun at all, there's still the knowledge you'll gain, like eating garlic to defeat a curse.

Fourth installment in the series does not disappoint!

[Eegah Guy · 9/10 · 16 January 2004]

The original MR. VAMPIRE is considered the best Chinese horror/comedy ever and it's no surprise that it inspired so many sequels and copycat imitations back in the 80s. The first sequel was gentler and more family-oriented while the second sequel really pumped up the horror elements. This third sequel is a return to the style of the original with a perfect balance of the scary and the silly. I've seen this movie four times now and it's still as entertaining as it was the first time. A real treat for HK action movie fans is seeing Yuen Wah (usually typecast as the ultra-tough bad guy) playing a VERY effeminate character. Another unique element to the movie is its comedic take on the differences between Taoism and Buddhism as the two masters try to outdo each other, especially funny during the "voodoo" doll sequence. Another profoundly silly moment has the two masters throwing food at each other which ends up with Wu Ma blowing beans out of his nose into the mouth of the Taoist. There's comedy, action and horror! Something for everybody!

The 'Mr Vampire' series delivers again.

[lost-in-limbo · 8/10 · 29 December 2018]

I simply adore MR. VAMPIRE, as it's one of my favorite films --- the perfect blend of comedy, martial arts and horror. Part 2 was enjoyable, if whimsical and Part 3, a strong ensemble cast that it is almost on the same level as the original. So the odds must be promising for MR VAMPIRE 4? Must be? Sure, Ricky Lau is back and it sticks to the formula (Taoist and his clumsy pupil battling the paranormal), but after Part 3 favored horror atmospherics, this time around it was leaning heavily on lightweight slapstick comedy, like Part 2 did. But the missing link; a stoic Lam Ching-Ying with his graceful martial art talents and it really does show in the final product. Still, I got a kick out of this over-the-top, playful and downright likeable HK supernatural comedy, even if now the franchise is at its most silliest.

There's not a lot to the story with its loose arrangement, even the whole vampire/antagonist angle doesn't come into it play until over halfway through. Therefore it kind of feels tacked on when that side of the story commences. The introducing scene of Anthony Chan (who returns after being in the original) as the four-eyed Taoist, herding his hopping vampires through the nighttime forest, where he encounters Pauline Wong Yuk-Wan's seductive fox spirit (blowing bubbles and glowing red kisses) is probably the most effective moment in the film. Mainly how it balanced its laughs, and dazzling fantasy elements with its stylish use of imagery. Then it becomes grounded, spending more time on student Chai-Le (Chin Ka-lok) trying to woo pupil Ching-Ching (Rachel Lee), while four-eyed Taoist and his neighboring Buddha monk (series regular Wu Ma) constantly feud, or try to better each other in their craft like in a competing live-action cartoon. It's Chan and Ma's dynamics and psychical interplay early on, keeping the film's energy buoyant and moving. The two eventually must settle their differences when an ancient vampire (in ghastly make-up FX) is resurrected by an electrical storm in the nearby woods. From then onwards all the ingredients are there; non-stop kung-fu filtered with slow-mo, minor aerial acrobats, frenetic pacing, fluorescent visual effects, hopping vampires, magic spells, firecrackers and a huge dose of broad humor all within tight quarters.

More light-hearted, but still a scary vampire.

[OllieSuave-007 · 8/10 · 24 September 2013]

This is the unofficial "Part 4" of the "Mr. Vampire" film series. Vampire Buster actor Lam Ching Ying does not appear in this film; however, two veteran actors, Anthony Chan and Wu Ma, appear and star as the dueling Taoist and Buddhist priests. The first half of the film start off with them feuding with each other and tricking one another with magic spells, with their disciples played by Chin Kar Lok and Loletta Lee caught in the crossfires. I find the dueling scenes pretty funny and, while it does not involve any Kung-Fu or horror action, it does provide you with some great entertainment. Vampire action does not begin until the middle of the film, where you see the protagonists putting their differences aside and do battle with the menacing creatures.

The horror in this film is sometimes dwarfed by some kiddie-like jokes and the overly light-hearted and whimsical music score, which, in addition with Lam Ching Ying's absence, distances this film somewhat from the other "Mr. Vampire movies." However, the saving grace of this film are the Kung-Fu action and that the main Vampire was executive very well - very creepy and menacing looking.

If you are a fan of Hong Kong horror/fantasy movies, give this film a watch by all means.

Grade B

No Lam Ching YIng.. but still just as good sequel

[gorytus-20672 · 10/10 · 14 April 2021]

April 2021

Wow wow wow.. Mr Vampire saga IV (Mr Vampire 4) , so despite the initial dissapointment of no Lam Ching Ying, this is still one of my 3 favourite Mr Vampire style films along with Mr Vampire 3 and Musical Vampire.

This one focuses heavy on the comedy, in fact you forget the fact that vampires don't really figure in the film until halfway through.

Some truly amazing stuff here.

Fantabulous

10 out of 10.

Mr Vampire 4

[coltras35 · 9/10 · 12 January 2023]

A Taoist Priest isn't too happy when his Buddhist Priest colleague moves in next door. They are subject to constant feuds, but soon must overcome their odds towards each other when a vampire breaks loose from his coffin in a nearby procession and threatens to wreak havoc to the countryside.

Absolutely fun horror comedy which has the usual elements - hopping vampires, ghosts etc - but that's in the second half. The first half is quite enjoyable, introducing the characters ( a Taoist priest rivalry with a monk, the lovelorn assistant setting his cap for the monk's niece). It's a cosy 45 minutes with some good humour, the "battle" between priest and Taoist is fun. Then of course, the scary looking vampire gets resurrected and the priest and the monk got to work together. What you gets is some energetic kungfu, dazzling special effects and humour.

Great fun

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 19 October 2020]

The fourth instalment of the MR VAMPIRE saga is a stand-alone effort, made after Lam Ching-Ying departed the franchise. You might think it wouldn't be as good without him, but they make up for this with the tag-team pairing of Anthony Chan and Wu Ma as a bickering pair of priests, one Taoist and one Buddhist, who spend much of the first half of the running time fighting between each other and trying to get one over on the other. After a time the plot begins properly when the emperor's vampire escapes during a storm and goes on the rampage, leading to all of the fast-paced mayhem you'd expect at the climax. The small cast deliver excellent physical performances throughout, from Chin Kar Lok's athletic youthful hero to Yuen Wah against type as a camp aide, and the special effects are constantly impressive and inventive. It's great fun, with little to dislike.