Horror films come in all forms. Many moviegoers who are interested in horror would be very familiar with the conventional stuff. Movies such as Halloween, Friday the 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street. However, in every region of the world, they put in their own marks on the horror genre. Take for instance China's brand of horror films, with its own unique style. Some of it reaches immense horror while others mix it with other genres.
This list isn't representative of the entire genre of Chinese horror films, of course, as not all have Rotten Tomatoes rankings. Nevertheless, it represents a good starting point for anyone who might be interested in the genre— including helping to know which ones to avoid.
The Era Of Vampires - 31%
The plot of this film is fairly straight forward, as four warriors are ordered to take on zombies who can transform into vampires. Although the film is a martial arts horror film, which is somewhat interesting, it is riddled with problems.
For starters, the film was criticized for being cheesy. With the choreography and stunts to be somewhat uninspired. It was also criticized for having poor character development and the narrative not having a lot of thought. Although viewers are open to watching it out of curiosity.
The Legend Of The 7 Golden Vampires - 40%
This martial arts horror film was a financial failure, but it brought in some interesting conventions that have made it memorable in its own right. In 1804, the titular vampires were resurrected by Dracula, and it's up to Abraham Van Helsing to stop them a century later.
In spite of the legendary performance by actor Peter Cushing, the film was heavily criticized for not being very well thought out. In spite of this, some have found the blending of the horror and action genres fascinating.
Re-Cycle - 43%
An interesting film that originally premiered in the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, it follows fictional author Ting-yin who wants to follow up from her trilogy of romance novels. Deciding to go for horror this time, she began witnessing weird things in her real life directly from the novel she is writing.
Although the film was received well in certain instances, critics found the character development and its handling of some very sensitive issues to be a bit tactless.
Ab-Normal Beauty - 67%
This 2004 Hong Kong film is directed by Oxide Pang. The story follows an artistic teenager named Jiney who is known for her great photography. After taking pictures of a gruesome car crash, she bebcomes obsessed with the concept of death, taking her to a much darker path afterwards. Although some critics really liked the film for its mood and dark psychological themes, others found it convoluted and boring.
A Chinese Ghost Story - 67%
A Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 romantic horror film that follows Ning Choi-san as he decides to stay at an abandoned temple for the night. Meeting and falling in love with a ghost girl named Nip Siu-sin, Ning ventures off to save her from an evil spirit. The Guardian has claimed the film as a breakthrough in Hong Kong cinema while also praising the imagery and set design. It went on to earn multiple awards in its native China.
Rigor Mortis - 68%
One of the more recent films on the list, Rigor Mortis is a 2013 Hong Kong horror movie that focuses on a suicidal actor named Chin Siu Ho, and is considered a tribute to the film series Mr. Vampire. He attempts to kill himself in an apartment complex full of supernatural creatures. Critics have called the film flashy yet kind of predictable retreading of tropes. However, some have also claimed the film as being quite creepy.
Dream Home - 76%
Dream Home is a 2010 slasher film that is directed and written by Pang Ho-Cheung, focusing on Cheng Lai-Sheung as she attempts to get enough money to get her dream home. However, after a spike in the market, she kills people out of anger and frustration. Although the film was praised for its dark premise and critique on capitalism, some found that the commentary gets lost by the slasher elements.
Vampire Cleanup Department - 78%
Another recent horror film, Vampire Cleanup Department is a 2017 Hong Kong horror comedy directed by Yan Pak-wing and Chiu Sin-hang. Split between a prologue and main story, it follows Tim Cheung, an intern vampire sweeper whose blood is resistant to infection. Later in the film, he falls in love with a vampire named Summer Yik Siu-ha. Critics found the movie to be quite enjoyable, although also being somewhat forgettable overall.
Mr. Vampire - 80%
One of the most legendary Hong Kong horror films, Mr. Vampire is a horror comedy directed by Ricky Lau and produced by Sammo Hung. The film focuses on Master Kau and his students as they fight to stop the Jiangshi, corpses within Chinese folklore.
The film was very well received within Asian shores, with Japan in particular getting inspired and creating lots of vampire merchandise. What's more, the film went on to be a part of Hong Kong's official "100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies" list.
Three...Extremes - 84%
Finally, the last and highest-rated film on the list is Three...Extremes. Releasing back in 2004, it is an anthology film that contains three distinct segments. Dumpling, Cut, and Box. While Cut was done by a Korean director and Box a Japanese one, Dumpling is courtesy of Hong Kong director Fruit Chan.
This film was well-received, with each story being praised for its brutality and strong writing. Not only that, but Roger Ebert claimed the film to be quite creepy and has said that the film had elements reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King.