Romance of the Vampires
This is a film I have always been curious about
ever since reading a blurb in Asian Cult Cinema, but I have to admit up
front that it was a huge disappointment. This is surprising especially
when you consider that the director, Ricky Lau, did most of the Mr. Vampire
series. This film though is far from that series both in content and quality
as it plays out more like a sex soap opera than a comic horror film. Other
than some – hmmm . . . interesting visuals dealing with one of the
actresses rather large breasts, there was little here worth hanging on
to. The vampires in this film are not your traditional HK film vampires
– but updated to be more in the Western tradition with a strong sexual
bent. Or to put it simpler, these vampires are more humping vampires than
hopping vampires!
Yau Yuet Ching and her lover Ben Lam have just
arrived in HK – but as the song goes “They only go out at night”. Usang
tells Ben, who came to HK in a glass coffin, that HK is a great place for
them because HK people “like first grade food, but see third grade films.
All are fat and hot for sex. Their blood is sweet.” When this loving couple
talks about going out for dinner, the chances are they will not need a
Zagats guide to find good dining. Usang picks up a man at a bar and leads
him into an alley where after some steamy squirming around, she gets down
for the main course. There seems to be a connection between sexual arousal
and a feeding frenzy for these two vampires.
Ben Lam goes to the home of a call girl (Yuen
King Tan – in a few humorous cameos), but before he works up an appetite
he sees a picture of Yuen with another girl – Yvonne Yung Hung – who reminds
him of a woman he loved in his past. Unfortunately, as shown in a flashback
he could not control his hunger pangs one evening – but has regretted this
momentary lapse (for him – for her it was eternal) in judgement. Yvonne
Yung Hung is of course a bit infamous for her roles in such Category III
classics as Chinese Torture Chamber Story and Ancient Chinese Whorehouse.
This is my first sighting of her and I must say it’s good that she has
rather lovely proportions because to put it kindly her acting ability all
resides below her neck! Here she plays a blind call girl that is in the
business only to raise money for an eye operation – but clearly doesn’t
enjoy it. Not until she meets Ben that is.
He saves her from a gang of hooligans (led by
Billy Chow) and it is love at – well I can’t say first sight can I – first
touch. This causes all sorts of dilemmas as Yau is clearly not pleased
with the situation and Ben loves Yvonne – but he knows when he gets aroused,
he also gets hungry. And then when Yvonne tells him “I wish I could live
with you forever” and bares her neck (along with a few other things), it
is perhaps more temptation than even a good vampire can withstand.
It may or may not sound interesting – but it all
plays out in slow motion and is very dull for the most part. The Category
III sections have some alluring moments, but not nearly enough to save
this film from a life of eternal boredom.
My rating for this film: 5.0
DVD Information:
Distributor - Ocean Shores
Again this is another Ocean Shores release
with what looks to be the same transfer as for the LD - with no menu or
extras. No logo popping up on this one though.
NOT Letterboxed
Subs - burnt on English and Chinese
Subs are manageable - not great, but not terrible
either in terms of being able to read them.