From the producer of Centipede Horror, the aim and feel remains the same, only lacking a classic, climactic image such as a lead actress spewing up live centipedes (Margaret Lee, you're still our hero!). Still, Red Spell Spells Red is a fairly entertaining , irrelevant time with the horror genre, largely set in Borneo. A team of reporters from Hong Kong in their strife for the greatest report ever awakens the Red Dwarf ghost and its curse begins claiming each involved in the unearthing...

Director Titus Ho doesn't seem very interested, for probably correct reasons, to make refined cinema. It's the technique of throwing much to the wall and see what sticks that's used instead. For better or worse, the most vivid imagery concerns animal cruelty in various shapes of forms as we see pigs and chickens sacrificed (one chicken is even eaten alive at one point) and a slow motion cock fight certainly cements the not so upstanding morals of the filmmakers. But although not moving at a preferred full speed ahead, the film comes off as lively enough with a few select highlights. First off, characters of course behave totally irrationally but we wouldn't have a film had it been otherwise. So this stupidity leads into various gruesome detours such as scorpions crawling out of wounds, leaves ripping facial skin off, an arm being grounded down to a pulp and the climax features an exorcism wheel of sorts, with the lead actress transported through water as she goes round and round (which gives us gratuitous nudity to boot). With Ken Tong.

Take Kenny Ho as a not so magnificent leading man, a fair to distractingly annoying, ditsy leading lady in the form Christy Chung, copy Die Hard, Under Siege, have Yuen Woo-Ping direct and it makes sense it eventually kicks a lot of ass. While the aim for shooting on a big luxury boat was thought of as equal to a big movie, The Red-Wolf does look cheap and direction of the narrative is basic at its best. Thankfully Woo-Ping can bring a whole lot of very compelling tricks in his bag. First of all the casting that absolutely works is Elaine Lui (The Bride With White Hair, Martial Law) who's deliciously über-evil. Killing off innocents left and right, she represents quite the mean streak the movie has as it not only lets bullets fly into anyone but the brutality and gruesome nature of some latter reel violence (including a graphic sight of a burn victim) is noticeable. But it drawing attention to itself is not a bad but instead a compelling thing. Gunplay may not be Woo-Ping's forte but his co-action directors Yuen Cheung-Yan and Cho Wing do orchestrate an entertaining mix of painful stunts and hard hitting fights, in particular the one between Kenny Ho and Australian kickboxer Habby Heske. Speaking of that Westerner casting, the likes of Bobby Samuels and Mike Miller also participate as part of the G7 (Gwailo , referring to the rather derogatory term, translating to among other things "white devil" such cast members or stuntmen were often called) stuntteam Samuels formed at the time. Ngai Sing (as the main villain), Mandy Chan and Wu Fung also appear.

The sole directorial effort from frequent Jackie Chan screenwriter Edward Tang is ridiculously unfocused and you're almost thankful all sense of featuring a logical plot is ejected in favour of some actual nifty action during the latter parts of the film. With imprisoned big boss Hung (Waise Lee) and his lackeys (Valerie Chow and Lester Chan) trying to affect the justice system, we eventually get extremely far from this plot to the point where Waise Lee's character is totally forgotten. Kenny Ho and Yu Rong-Guang makes sure that there's some momentum eventually, much of it without director Tang's influence. Action highlights therefore include an entertaining chase sequence involving Ho on a bike pursuing and being pursued by a jeep and the warehouse finale flashes some good ol' acrobatic gunplay to make us happy for a select few minutes. Still, one of the most off-beat scenes has to be the solution to a ticking bomb problem. Just put it in a radio controlled helicopter. Also with Ken Lo.

Tackling the same true life crime but released theatrically after Cha Chuen-Yee's Legal Innocence, Clarence Fok's film stars James Pax as Billy Chan, a corrupter and of feeder on the weak. In this case, two desperate women, Judy (Carrie Ng) and Lisa (Jacqueline Law). They collide in his depraved world of sex and drugs, with Lisa ending up dead, hacked up and left to corrode in acid. Sentences are carried out but a retrial is on the horizon and a lawyer (Melvin Wong) re-examines the facts...

With less time spent with the young christian (Rachel Lee and played in Cha's film by Cecilia Yip) that falls in love with the manipulative Billy, Fok's film can be argued to be the least focused of the films. Yet neither Remains Of A Woman or Legal Innocence have perfect track records. Style is Fok's forte though, especially in the flashback sequences set in Billy Chan's decadent world. Of course his colours and sounds are escalated tenfold for the sake of cinema but it's thoroughly captivating in quite the distressing way to be part of Fok's vision of the crime. Much also thanks to Carrie Ng's intense, deep, deep descent as a character, effort that gave her a Taiwan Golden Horse Award. Melvin Wong, Dennis Chan (also co-writer) and Kenneth Tsang also appear.

It seems a little too short to be relevant but this Raymond To scripted drama is well-conceived and executed. It's a coming of age story celebrating both with the joys of growing up, newly found friendships and dreams of breaking free to pursue dreams. But director Cheuk Lei also throws in the sadder and darker consequences of wanting to rebel against the adult world and the Remember M Remember E is a rare balanced experience because of that inclusion. Broad comedy finds its way into the film but is usually a hoot, especially Lau Shun's priceless cameo. Lead Chu Kin-Kwan is a little to blank to carry the movie competently but he strikes up well-honed chemistry with Nicky Wu and the adorable Athena Chu. Lee Fung however brings superb dramatic weight as the strict mother of Athena Chu's Ching while O Chun Hung and Bonnie Fu appear in support.

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HK Flix.com

Not too far away from his favourite movie and justifiably critical high A Home Too Far, Requital sees Taiwan's "finest", Chu Yen-Ping emulate /steal unashamedly yet again. The heroic bloodshed movie, the gangster movie and a mish-mash of various American ones (including Once Upon A Time In America and State Of Grace) are all run through Chu's filter and the results are predictably familiar therefore. Predictably as well, Chu somehow avoids irritating the crap out of this viewer and his ultra gory take on matters is enjoyable. We're not far from fountain like manifestations of bloodshed, all within the spiral of events lead Tok Chung-Wa is part of. A quality cast in minor to large appearances includes Jack Kao, Amy Yip, Alan Tang, Chan Chun Yung (as a character obsessed with having sex with virgins), Blacky Ko, Lung Si-Hung, Wu Ma, Lo Lieh, O Chun Hung and Jimmy Wang Yu.

There's few that can rival the goofy horror mayhem of 80s Hong Kong cinema but very few who could make it extremely insane in a very compelling way. Clearly director Wong Ying (yes, that's NOT schlockmeister Wong Jing) is no Nam Nai Choi when it comes to this, even though what's on offer is has all the opportunities to rival the likes of The Seventh Curse.

The various set pieces probably do go on for a bit too long (such as the one where Charlie Cho turns into a dog) but it's nonetheless unique Hong Kong entertainment, one that maybe new viewers won't be so critical of. While it's really a small nugget of momentum on offer, much of it is lost in the latter stages and the finale becomes much of a chore to get through. The last few minutes amps the gore and excitement however, ending Return Of The Demon on a slightly better note. The Seventh Curse should be your first stop if you want an experience like this, Wong Ying's movie...roundabout spot 12 on that list, if you have one. Starring Shing Fui On, Robert Mak, Emily Chu, Wu Ma, Dick Wei, To Siu Ming, Nat Chan (who along with Charlie Cho for once that does not play a happy, horny character) and Chui Sau Lai.

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Yesasia.com

Largely unimaginative gangster tale and the production also seems to get itself in trouble when the action directing in a semi-contemporary environment leans more towards the new wave Wuxia films of the 90s, post-Once Upon A Time In China. It's no Ching Siu-Tung level in terms of the wirework either but the action directors compensates with a high level of energy and creativity within their own lower standards. Especially the ending is a full on blast of sheer ridiculousness but by being bathed in blood and bullets, this climax cements a fine, fun reputation for Revanchist. Zhang Fengyi flashes little charisma or talent (you are considered notable when you have Farewell My Concubine and Sun Valley on your resume) and unashamedly goes for the acting overdrive, with pleasing, gory results. Also convenient that he wears white throughout and in the finale, as you will find out. The Category III rating should be taken lightly as it has more to do with a gratuitous sex scene rather than with the violence.