Fitting the story of Devil Of Rape on a napkin would make it a full fledged character-piece in the supernatural realm. No, Fong Yau's script fits the smallest surface imaginable. Somehow (saying that because with no subtitles, the "finer" points of the plot don't come through) the timed character of Charlie Cho gets possessed by the rape devil (who is manifested seemingly at one point, looking like a ginseng root with a penis) and off he goes having sex and raping for 90 minutes, in and out of body. Pauline Chan has two scenes randomly inserted and not even she can make all this engaging in the erotica department. It's tiring softcore porn, featuring Category III cinema sleazeball Cho in a genius role as it's not his fault all this. He's possessed. With no shame and dignity, Cho throws himself full steam ahead into the role and into the animated special effects that makes the spectacle even more embarrassing. But oddly fun and seeing class acts like Helena Law and Kwan Hoi-San appearing in this joke makes it even more of a curiosity.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

Ku Feng is Feng Shui expert/good sorcerer Hadi Buli who has his student Tung (Alan Chan) turn on him. Not only does Tung have sex with the very willing wife of Hadi Buli's but he stabs his master, steals his worshipping artifacts and goes on an evil wizard-rampage on his own...

Do Gong-Yue does the somewhat logical thing by following up Bloody Sorcery, a spotty genre effort, with yet another one that turns out to be even more spotty. Cheap to the max in terms of budget and filmmaking technique, unwarranted sex, shower scenes and standard grisly sights occupy the tired frame. While the latter so called grisly sights, that involves the often seen spewing up of maggots and Alan Chan's character eating centipedes, excess remains rather subdued so Devil Sorcery doesn't make much of an impression. Kwan Hoi-San, Kim Gee-Mei and Tin Ching also appear.

Some boxes with holy incantations on them should never be moved. Director of commercials Tong (Simon Yam) learns this and now he's being hounded by the spirits whose been claimed by the box...

From one-time director Tommy Chin, Devil's Box attempts a little commentary on artistic merit vs. commercial interest in filmmaking but primarily the film wants to be a showcase of atmosphere over gore. Good intentions and Chin staging's rank as fairly eerie at a few select points (most unsettling moments resides in the staircase murder) but at most others the spooky feeling of it all is rather tame. Can't blame a guy for trying very sincerely though, which is very true for Chin's only work.

TROY'S REVIEW: An evil American working alongside the queen of the underworld (who appears courtesy of a completely different film of course) hires a possessed Taoist priest to summon vampires in order to wipe out those who presumably oppose them. Hold on, there is actually more! You see, the forces of good are represented by a chap called Alex who when ever in danger transforms into - Tin Foil Wrapped, Silver Motorbike Helmet Wearing Warrior! Ok, he isn't actually referred to as such but the description is entirely apt nonetheless. Now throw into this mix a gambling champion called Steven and his buried gold, some ninjas who are killed and then resurrected as vampire ninjas and a completely odd series of scenes featuring a little boy who has an odd proclivity to dress up as a vampire and subsequently scare a little girl ghost (at least I think she was a ghost!). Yes, as you can well imagine, this is one hell of a bloody mess! On the other hand, much like the rest of Tomas Tang's/Filmark International's insane output, it is nonetheless strangely compelling in a manner not entirely dissimilar to that morbid curiosity one feels when passing a road accident in fact.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

KENNETH'S REVIEW: Leaving Shaw Brothers behind in classic fashion after directing King Boxer, Korean director Jeng Cheong-Woh turned to Golden Harvest for the remainder of his career, capping it all with Broken Oath in 1977. His Devil's Treasure sees him directing O Chun-Hung as Wang who struggles to make a future for his family to be (containing the most supportive girlfriend in the world, played by Nora Miao). Having dipped into the gangster world a bit, he takes a job that will secure him enough dough but he ends up securing a gold treasure instead. That treasure is on the radar of many and although evading the gangs, 6 years later in family and money-bliss, they turn up again at Wang's countryside home...

What blessing and what curse riches bring ya is asked and while fairly stylish and tense with the welcome addition of different environments in a Hong Kong movie, there's little sense of what makes good pace in Jeng's frame. Endless scenes of chasing at different locations and various theme-dips into morality that could possibly drive loved ones apart just doesn't cut it in the long run. What really feels like a goofy gang in goofy wear chasing the Wang's, Devil's Treasure flashes frames of interest but pretty much is one big problem overall. Sammo Hung (also co-action director) and Whang In-Shik co-stars as part of the gang.

There's a devil to be fought by the likes of Sharla Cheung and Stanley Fung but for two thirds, the script dictates that the characters care little for matters plot related. Magical, naughty hijinxs and in between magicians longing for love, it's a wonder Devil's Vindata (which is the on-screen title. Was obviously meant to be Devil's Vendetta) warrants attention. That director Cheung Hoi-Jing (The Sword Stained With Royal Blood) knows and he gleefully offers up a bunch of off the wall insanity to fun effect. You'll get weird sights such as Billy Lau turned into brown soap just to get a glimpse of female flesh, Stanley Fung possessing actual fine, dry wit for his role and an almost non-stop final act of special effects mayhem (with extravagant attempts at CGI as well). When the film does turn "plot driven" after its assaults, you definitely do not regret having been jerked around. Ngai Jan and Vivian Chow also stars.

A connection cast-wise exists between Devil's Woman and The Eternal Evil Of Asia (meaning Elvis Tsui and Ben Ng returning) in addition to their respective Cat III ratings. Calling it some form of sequel seems a bit steep though even though director Otto Chan (Diary Of A Serial Killer) includes another wicked wizard into the mix. Tasty enough with its inclusions of softcore sex, gore and deadly spells, Chan keeps a pace to his proceedings that means it's not this kind of Hong Kong cinema on autopilot but don't mistake it for class reincarnated. Elvis Tsui's psychological problems as a character is very well suited for the rating, leading to rather unwelcome sights of his nether regions and his given direction is really laugh-inducing when designed to be dramatic. Or it's designed as satire or parody, who knows. Also with Marianne Chan, Cammy Choi, Helena Law, Ivy Leung and Benny Chan.

Buy the DVD at:
HK Flix.com

May (Maggie Poon) and her brother (Woody Chan) are separated as young when she is adopted by a family (mother and father are essayed by Carrie Ng and Hui Siu-Hung). However the bond is strong and the two won't be apart for long, even if it means crawling into and living in a confined, dark place the rest of your life...

Soi Cheang (Love Battlefield) occupied himself early on directing Digital Video movies, achieving acclaim for his debut Our Last Day. Diamond Hill represents the step forward as most of the production is shot on film with the DV look being reserved for flashbacks.

The premise is slightly far fetched (as you will find out by watching the film, not just by reading my synopsis) and the low-budget look for a while feels like a hindrance. Soi does grasp the audience quickly, giving us ventures into horror but primarily, a sweet little tale of poignant bonds of love between sister and brother. That's really the only thought that runs through Diamond Hill but it doesn't have to be anything else than that. With quirky touches visually and generally affecting performances, Diamond Hill succeeds (also thanks to composer Tommy Wai and DOP Lam Wah-Chuen's splendid work) in giving us something fresh at almost no cost.

Cheung Tat-Ming co-stars as a thief who shoots all his break-in's on DV and the late Joe Lee briefly appears.

Buy the VCD at:
HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

TROY'S REVIEW: Here's a veritably 'What the hell?!' movie if ever there was one! You'll be guaranteed left scratching your head in utter disbelief and quite possibly consternation as the screen is filled with a lurid combination of sex, ghosts, a child called Bobo (I mean, who the hell calls their child Bobo?!) and of course, ninjas. Yes, it could only be the work of Godfrey Ho who strikes once again with this demented cut & paste offering featuring an understandably embarrassed looking Richard Harrison (in full mascara no less) as the head of the Diamond Ninja Force and custodian of the mighty Golden Ninja Warrior statue. As such, he is apparently contractually obliged to battle the evil black ninja leader and his decidedly gormless cronies. What's more, the evil ninja master has been further busying himself tormenting an innocent family by summoning and setting upon the poor wretches, the dreaded ghost ninja who appear courtesy of a completely separate Asian ghost flick. But what is said despicable fellows intrinsic rational for such decidedly, antisocial behaviour? Well, it's eventually revealed that he wants to scare the family off of their land in order that he may excavate some ostensible magical artifact from it that will subsequently enable him to rule the world. Although quite how is never actually explained (like so much else in the movie). If all this sounds insane on paper then believe me, it's nothing compared to the baffling spectacle that transpires on film but then again, with Godfrey Ho at the helm, what else would you expect?

Otto Chan's true calling became glaringly obvious with this seemingly true life re-telling and his San Francisco set Gates Of Hell the same year. Being interviewed from his prison cell after having killed 14 women, Lau Shu Biu (Chan Kwok-Bong) in voice-over tracks back to his 1992 persona. An intense one that eventually starts murdering prostitutes. His reasoning being that they're now allowed to reincarnate. Still, Lau isn't to be considered a saint as he stuffs dynamite up his victim's privates, plays with them post-death like puppets, cuts off body parts for his scrapbook and has sex with them...again post-death. All taking place in his private loft while the unknowing wife (Farini Cheung) works in the field at their village home every day. The one he couldn't kill as Lau claims is Jade (Strawberry Yeung), a relative of the family who's in Guangzhou to seek out her boyfriend and start a marriage. Lau and Jade strike up an unlikely bond where the fragile, actually kind side of Lau's is allowed to breathe but the urges to kill aren't taking a step back...

Certainly adhering to what Category III aficionados witnessed again and again during the 90s Hong Kong exploitation craze but Chan provides more skill and subtext than one of its closest comparison pieces, the Danny Lee/Billy Tang co-helmed Dr. Lamb. Being quite extraordinary cruel, graphic and with a lead performance where singing, giddy laughing and twitching is key, exaggerated aspect, Otto Chan has more control over his moods. For one the movie attempts and succeeds well with its darkly comical touches. One being that Lau's family almost eats fish caught in the waters where he dumped his first victim and the mentioned dynamite scene wanders the line of cruel and comical in terrific fashion. But it's when putting Chan Kwok-Bong and Strawberry Yeung at center that the dramatic magic happens. Their shared emotional story is a melodramatic but a very effective piece of Diary Of A Serial Killer, maintaining momentum and even poignant beauty all till the end. The couple would register required emotions equally in Chan's Gates Of Hell the same year.