Examining the special effects in "The Seventh Curse" (1986)

The Seventh Curse is a 1986 Hong Kong action horror film directed by Ngai Kai Lam and produced by Sammo Hung. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Joey Wong, and Maggie Cheung. The story revolves around an anthropologist named Dr. Yuan, played by Chow Yun-fat, who accidentally ingests the blood of a giant snake while on a mission in Thailand. As a result, he is cursed by an evil sorcerer who wants to use his body as a vessel for the rebirth of an ancient demon. To break the curse, Dr.

The real interesting thing about the movie is, to me and right now, this is the first movie outing of two characters – Wisely & Dr. Yuen – that first appeared in the early ‘60s in a series of novels by author Ni Kuang. Originally serialized in magazines, a total of 141 Wisely (or Wesley, depending on the spelling adopted) novels were published, and a few dozen spin-offs featuring Dr. Yuen. The characters were later featured in radio dramas, movies, TV series, comics and what not.

The plot in brief Dr Yuen confronted a deadly cult one year ago, and barely escaped with his life, but now he needs to go back and face the horrors again to get rid of a curse that s been laid on him. The Seventh Curse is the sort of batshit insane Hong Kong fuckery that is so preoccupied with showing of reckless stunts, ripped action men, naked women and gratuitous special effects insanity that you d have to try really hard to care about the nonsensical story.

To break the curse, Dr. Yuan must embark on a perilous journey to find a sacred artifact known as the "Lotus Heart." Along the way, he encounters various supernatural creatures and must battle evil forces in order to save himself and prevent the demon from being resurrected.

Import Corner: The Seventh Curse (88 Films) Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

From the director of Riki-Oh: Story of Ricky, comes a film that needs to be seen to be believed. I could describe the film to you, but that would take away some of the power it has in surprising us. Just watch the film and then buy this blu-ray.

Studio: 88 Films
Release Date: October 17th, 1986 (theatrical) / July 4th, 2022 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 23 minutes 42 seconds (Extended Hong Kong Version) / 1 hour 20 minutes 23 seconds (English Export Version)

Region Code: B (locked)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: Cantonese LPCM 2.0, English
Subtitles: English (Hong Kong version), English SDH (for both versions)
Slipcover: Yes (hardbox)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Chow Yun-fat, Chin Siu-ho, Dick Wei, Maggie Cheung, and Sibelle Hu
Written by Wong Jing and Yuen Gai-chi
Directed by Lam Ngai Kai
Rating: BBFC: 18 ( strong sexualised nudity, injury detail)

When Dr Yuen (Chin Siu-ho) attempts to rescue a girl about to be sacrificed by the Worm Tribe in the middle of a Thailand jungle, he is damned with seven ‘Blood Curses’. Though he finds a temporary antidote this will only last a year and he must return to the jungle to find a permanent cure.

Featuring a brand new 2K restoration, and presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, THE SEVENTH CURSE looks amazing. I was very impressed with the quality of this transfer the entirety of the film's runtime. Film grain is present and can be quite heavy at times as well as being a bit heavy at times. Colors and skin tones both look accurate. Everything is balanced very nicely.

The Hong Kong version contains a Cantonese track while the Export version contains an English language track. I was surprised to not see an English track for the longer version. I know that the longer version probably wasn't dubbed into English, but they could have done a hybrid track. Maybe they didn't think it was worth the trouble. Both tracks sound great.

• Commentary by Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng and Marc Walkow (Hong Kong version)
• Solo Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema Expert Frank Djeng (Hong Kong version)
• Commentary by Action Experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema (Export version)
• Interview with actor Chin Sui-Ho (2h 13m, HD, 1.78:1)
• Patricia Wong on The Seventh Curse (7m 50s, HD, 1.78:1)
• Hong Kong Cantonese Trailer (4m 20s, HD, 1.85:1)
• English Export Trailer (2m 29s, SD, 1.85:1)

The audio commentaries are worth listening to. Frank Djeng brings us the Chinese perspective while Mike Leeder and Arne Venema bring us both the outsider perspective but also the "industry insider" perspective. The interview with Chin Sui-Ho is over 2 hours long and covers so many different topics. I appreciate that this interview is here, but it was very hard to get through.

88 Films has given THE SEVENTH CURSE the royal treatment in terms of packaging. The outer box is a hard box like Arrow Video uses for their Limited Editions and the very same one that 88 Films themselves have used for their ARMOUR OF GOD and RIKI-OH: STORY OF RICKY Limited Editions. The artwork used for the outer box is a newly commissioned piece by Sean Longmore and is very striking and beautiful. The back of the box lists the special features and the film's synopsis and is printed on the box instead of using a J-card. I like this more than a J-card because the J-card can get damaged if not attached to the box properly.

Inside the box, you will find a double-wide blu-ray case. The blu-ray case features reversible artwork with one side being the newly commissioned artwork while the other side features the Hong Kong theatrical poster. Inside the case, you will find replica lobby cards and the disc.

Also in the box, you will find a double-sided poster featuring the newly commissioned artwork on one side and the Japanese poster on the other side.

and Seventh Curses A Short Guide to Hong Kong Horror 1980–1997. By Matthew Edwards. Ni Kuang and the Seven Stars of The Seventh Curse by Matthew Edwards and The Blood, the Bad and the Ugly Getting to grips with Lam Ngai-Choi’s bizarre fantasy horror, The Seventh Curse (1986) by Andrew Graves.

I have to say that this is one gorgeous package. Pictures can't do this package any justice, no matter what angle they are taken from. It has to be seen in person in order to get the awesomeness of this thing. It may look like any other Limited Edition that 88 Films has released before, and it technically IS the same, but the way the whole package feels in your hand really makes the difference. I guess it has to do with artwork and overall coloring of the package. The artwork really works for what the film is so that helps. I really love everything about this set. I love that 88 Films used different posters for their reversible artwork. They used the Japanese poster for the folded poster and the Hong Kong poster for the blu-ray case artwork. I think that is a master stroke as there are usually more than one poster art and multiple posters can be iconic, so why not use different posters for the various items in the box instead of using the same poster over and over again? I really hope that 88 Films continues to do this and that other companies like Arrow Video and Eureka Entertainment start doing this. It helps make the release stand out from other releases.

I love that they included nudity on the cover of the book and the disc art. So many companies chicken out of including nudity on the artwork. I don't really understand why as nudity can be an integral part of a film, so why not include it. If a boutique company ever releases a film like Showgirls or Basic Instinct on disc, I would hope that at least one piece in the release contains some nudity. It would feel wrong if they didn't. MGM knew this back in 2010 when the two discs included in their Showgirls blu-ray release were breasts with the nipple covered with a pastie. Sure, it isn't nudity per se, but that is the closest you would get with a studio release.

The booklet is also a really good and interesting read. Many times, the essays written for booklets inside blu-rays come across as pedestrian, but here the information is really interesting and well written. I am actually going to research Hong Kong horror films in more detail after reading this booklet.

At the end of the day, this is a wonderful release and is one of my favorites of 2022. This should be the gold standard for these types of releases going forward.

Holy Crap. This is one bonkers film. I kicked myself quite often while watching the film for not finding this thing sooner. I loved every minute of this film and wholeheartedly recommend it to just about anyone. It's exciting, thrilling, has great fight scenes, and is gory as all hell. A wonderful flick. The blu-ray is just great as well. The picture and sound are both stellar and the special features are all informative and entertaining. I can't recommend this release highly enough. Just buy it.

"Bring the Demon!" - Horror Hunt #31 (Jan 2020): boxd.it/aya9m "Category III Horror" Worms. GAH this film rules. I love movies that never let up for the whole film. This is horror, comedy, action, witchcraft, blood and gore. all in a tight 78 minutes that feels even shorter. The special effects are super fun and I laughed at this a lot. Finding movies like The Seventh Curse is one of the main reasons I do scavenger hunts. Yes.

The Seventh Curse is notable for its blend of action, horror, and fantasy elements. The film features intense fight scenes choreographed by Sammo Hung and special effects that were considered groundbreaking at the time of its release. It also showcases the talents of its cast, particularly Chow Yun-fat as the daring and resourceful protagonist. Despite mixed critical reception upon its initial release, The Seventh Curse has gained a cult following over the years for its unique blend of genres and over-the-top action sequences. It has become known for its graphic violence and gore, as well as its dark and macabre atmosphere. In conclusion, The Seventh Curse is a thrilling and visually stunning film that combines action, horror, and fantasy elements. It showcases the talents of its cast and features intense fight scenes and groundbreaking special effects. Although it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it has gained a cult following and remains an influential film in Hong Kong cinema..

Reviews for "The cinematography of "The Seventh Curse" (1986): A visual feast"

1. Jennifer - 2/5 stars

I was really disappointed with "The seventh curse 1986". The plot was extremely confusing and I found it hard to follow along with the story. The special effects were also quite outdated and took away from the overall viewing experience. Additionally, the acting felt forced and the dialogue was cheesy. Overall, I would not recommend this film to others.

2. Mark - 1/5 stars

"The seventh curse 1986" was a complete waste of my time. The story was convoluted and made no sense to me. The action scenes were poorly executed and lacked any excitement. The characters were also uninteresting and I found it hard to connect with any of them. I would strongly advise against watching this film if you have any other options.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars

I found "The seventh curse 1986" to be quite underwhelming. The pacing was off and the film seemed to drag on. The mix of supernatural elements with action didn't work well and resulted in a messy storyline. I also felt that the film relied too heavily on gore and violence, which took away from any potential plot development. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't watch this film again.

Exploring the cultural and historical context of "The Seventh Curse" (1986)