A Chinese Ghost Story (1987): A mythic supernatural love story

1987 • Ching Siu-tung • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark, A Chinese Ghost Story draws on classical Chinese literature, particularly the Strange Tales tradition, reinterpreting it through late-1980s cinematic techniques. The film follows a timid tax collector who encounters a mysterious woman in a haunted location, which leads to a romantic connection that is complicated by supernatural forces.

Set in a foggy forest and around a crumbling temple, where the boundary between the human and spirit worlds is permeable, the film moves seamlessly from one realm to the next, as it does between genres. Balancing romance, horror, and action, it employs a stylised visual approach, using cool blues and greens to signal supernatural presence and contrasting these with softer, diffused lighting for romantic moments. The action sequences prioritise visual dynamism over realism, employing wire-assisted flight, exaggerated movement, and fluid, gravity-defying choreography that reinforce the film’s supernatural aesthetic.

A landmark of Hong Kong‘s genre-blending cinema, A Chinese Ghost Story played a key role in popularising the supernatural romance-action film. It is a high-energy, tonally fluid piece of filmmaking, defined by its inventive wirework, effects, and performances.

Technical Specs:

• The Story: A timid tax collector seeking shelter in an abandoned temple falls in love with a beautiful ghost, only to discover she is bound to a tree demon and trapped in a realm between life and death. Read my review of A Chinese Ghost Story.
• Actors: Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma, Lau Siu-ming, Lam Wai, David Lam, Hoh Kan-yee.
• Director: Ching Siu-tung
• Year: 1987
• Cinematographer: Ng Yuen-fai
• Origin: Hong Kong Cinema
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Genre: Horror Comedy / Supernatural