Back in the ’90s, when it was almost impossible to find foreign and cult films, people turned to the black market for videotapes and to the ads in the back of Fangoria. The ads served as my introduction, leading me to discover the 1985 Hong Kong horror comedy Mr. Vampire. It was a blend of creepy visuals and hysterical tomfoolery that was a massive success upon release.
It spawned several sequels and rip-offs trying to cash in on the fad. One such film was The Haunted Cop Shop (1987), a success in its own right, yet still a product of what Mr. Vampire began. The one and only 88 Films has released the film on limited-edition Blu-ray. Is it worth viewing?
During World War II, a Hong Kong police station served as a Japanese military clubhouse, where numerous soldiers committed ritual suicide following the war’s end. Decades later, the building remains haunted by restless spirits, and when small-time crook Sneaky Ming (Billy Lau) finds himself behind bars, he becomes entangled in a supernatural nightmare.
Tricked into resurrecting the ruthless General Issei (Rico Chu), Ming unleashes a bloodthirsty vampire upon the city. Now, police officers Kam Mark-K (Jacky Cheung) and Man-Chill (Ricky Hui) must confront an ancient evil in a wild supernatural showdown where the living and the dead collide.
The film isn’t perfect, but it delivers a few laughs, fun effects, and solid acting. Jacky Cheung and Ricky Hui have great chemistry and are genuinely funny together. As with many Hong Kong films from this era, some of the humor may aggravate younger viewers who are easily triggered.
What I didn’t know was that The Haunted Cop Shop was co-written by the legendary arthouse filmmaker Wong Kar-Wei, who directed films such as Chungking Express (1994), Ashes of Time (1994), and several others. You have to start somewhere, right?
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88 Films is never one to skimp on the bonus content, so this release is brimming with goodies like:
- O-Ring Slip Case With New Artwork by Sean Longmore
- 2K Restoration From the Original Negative
- Remastered Original Cantonese Monoaural Soundtrack
- Newly Translated English Subtitles
- Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng
- Hauntings and Hollerings – James Mudge on The Haunted Cop Shop
- Alternate and Extended Shots
- Image Gallery
- Original Hong Kong Trailer
- Reconstructed Tai Seng Trailer
- Reversible Sleeve
The Haunted Cop Shop may not be perfect, but its sense of humor, practical effects, and expert casting make it a hauntingly whacky tale for Halloween.
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