Tales from the Occult 2022 In the year 2022, the world was both fascinated and terrified by the unknown. Countless tales of the occult emerged, captivating the imagination and sending shivers down the spine. These stories ranged from ancient curses to supernatural beings, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible. One such tale spoke of a cursed artifact that had been unearthed in a remote village. Rumors circulated that anyone who possessed the artifact would be consumed by its dark powers. Locals claimed to have witnessed strange occurrences, such as ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena.
While Tales from the Occult: Body and Soul is fun to watch, it is neither profound nor imaginative enough to leave an impression. However, given the lack of moderately watchable movies of this kind to emerge from Hong Kong, it does at least serve as a small relief for the city’s genre fans.
Distressed and driven to the edge, she can t tell whether she is suffering a relapse of her depression, or if she is being haunted by a menacing ghost. Distressed and driven to the edge, she can t tell whether she is suffering a relapse of her depression, or if she is being haunted by a menacing ghost.
Locals claimed to have witnessed strange occurrences, such as ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena. Many believed that the artifact held the key to unlocking unimaginable power, while others warned of the dire consequences that would follow. Another chilling story revolved around a mysterious cult that practiced black magic.
TALES FROM THE OCCULT (失衡凶间) (2022)
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Fruit Chan, Fung Chih Chiang, Hoi Ip Sang, Wesley
Cast: Jerry Lamb, Cecilia So, Cherry Chung, Yeung Wai Lun, Monnie Li, Richie Ren, Sofiee Ng, Peter Chan, Paul Che, Baby Bo, Cherry Ngan, Ng Wing Sze, Kelvin Kwan, Van Chan
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Mature Content & Violence)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 15 September 2022
Synopsis: Fear lives inside everyone’s hearts. Do you think you’re immune? You just haven’t found yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Produced by John Chong and Mathew Tang, Tales from the Occult features three eerie stories about spooky happenings in tight spaces: Dead Mall by Fruit Chan, The Tenement by Fung Chih Chiang and The Chink by Hoi Ip Sang, Wesley. They will take you into a terrifying world in which human nature is driven to extremes by twisted environments. Do you have the guts to go inside?
Movie Review:
Remember a time when we were spoilt (and scared silly) by movies like The Eye (2002), Three…Extremes (2004) and more recently, Rigor Mortis (2013)? Seeing ghosts after a cornea transplant operation, stuffing aborted fetuses in dumplings to achieve eternal youth, and spirits possessing a human’s body after a failed suicide attempt – these are the concepts behind these truly chilling horror flicks.
In this reported first instalment of Hong Kong production company and film distributor Media Asia’s new omnibus series, we are treated to three stories which remind us of the chills derived from the good ol’ Hong Kong horror genre.
The first segment directed by newcomer Weley Hoi tells the story of a pop singer (Cherry Ngan) who experiences scary events in her new apartment. We learn that she came face to face with a rotting corpse when she was a teenager. Are the creepy things she’s experiencing a result of the unsettling episode she went through as a young girl? Elsewhere, her uncle (the ever reliable Lawrence Cheng) is the psychiatrist trying to calm the terrified celebrity down.
Titled “The Chink”, this tale sets the tone for the 111 minute feature film. There is an unsettling atmosphere throughout, and there seems to be a repressed plot development waiting somewhere. You anticipate an outrageous twist, so when the segment ends on a straightforward note, you can’t help but wish there was something else cleverer instead. But on another level, the ending reflects a dread that traumatised individuals have to live with for the rest of their lives.
Fruit Chan, whom many of us are familiar with, is on form with the second segment “Dead Mall”. People are facing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the economy is in the dumps. We are introduced to an online influencer (Jerry Lamb) who hosts the popular “The Gate To Wealth” series. He is in a mall that seems to be thriving with business – until the camera pulls back and we realise the crowd is made up of paid actors. Retail spaces are empty, and business is non existent. Things get interesting when another online influencer and a mysterious figure show up in the mall.
This story boasts the strongest concepts, and we are not surprised because it is helmed by the critically acclaimed Chan. There is plenty to think about as the handheld camera shots assault the senses. Everything seems to be in a mess, yet poignant themes such as consumerism, greed, pandemic panic and real estate scams are constantly being explored.
The last segment directed by Fung Chih Chiang has the most structured story. Five strangers come together after a water ghost appears in the dilapidated building they stay in. Richie Ren and Sofiee Ng headline this tale that scores in entertainment value, with Ren delivering an unexpectedly hilarious performance as a gangster who had seen better days.
"The Tenement" is the easiest tale to follow. You’ll be kept intrigued as the characters share their back stories, face their fears to confront the water ghost, and scramble to get rid of a corpse. The plot thickens and you’ll be pulled into a murder mystery before the episode ends on a disturbing note. We can't wait for the second instalment of the series to hit the big screens.
Movie Rating:
(The spooky tales in this Hong Kong horror omnibus are competently told and provide old school scares)
Review by John Li
Now, the last movie is the best of the bunch as it has a group of apartment block strangers working together to deal with this strange wet figure blocking the stairway that seems to be kill anybody trying to leave the block. This movie had Richie Ren in it and it was so great to see him in a cantonese acting role doing his best to speak canto, and most of the funny and scariest moments were here as well, but sadly the ending was too abrupt due to the time constraints of the anthology.
This secretive group was said to have made a pact with a malevolent force, sacrificing innocent souls in exchange for supernatural abilities. Whispers of their dark rituals and eerie chants filled the air, as people wondered if they truly possessed the power to control the unseen. But perhaps the most spine-tingling tale of all was the legend of a haunted mansion that appeared and disappeared at will. Witnesses claimed to have seen the eerie mansion materialize out of thin air, only to vanish without a trace. Those brave enough to venture inside spoke of ghostly encounters and unexplainable phenomena, leaving visitors questioning their sanity. In these chilling tales from the occult, the line between reality and the supernatural was blurred. They served as a reminder that even in the modern era, there were still mysteries that could not be fully explained. These stories fueled the human fascination with the unknown, inviting individuals to explore the depths of their own fears. Whether these tales were mere folklore or rooted in truth, the impact they had on the collective imagination was undeniable. They provided an escape from the mundane and allowed people to embrace the thrilling, albeit terrifying, unknown. And as the world continued on its journey through time, the tales from the occult in 2022 would forever be etched in the annals of folklore and imagination..
Reviews for "The Occult and Quantum Physics: Unlocking the Mysteries of 2022"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I have to say that "Tales from the Occult 2022" was a huge disappointment for me. The stories lacked depth and the plotlines were predictable. There was no real sense of suspense or horror in any of the tales. To make matters worse, the writing style was quite clunky and awkward, making it hard for me to connect with the characters or the stories. Overall, I found this collection to be underwhelming and not worth the time.
2. John - 1/5
I was incredibly bored and unimpressed with "Tales from the Occult 2022". The stories felt cliché, the characters were one-dimensional, and the writing lacked any sort of impact. I was hoping for a collection of truly haunting and chilling tales, but all I got were weak attempts at horror. The overall theme of the occult was poorly executed and failed to capture my interest. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a good scare.
3. Anna - 2/5
I was expecting so much more from "Tales from the Occult 2022", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The stories lacked originality and failed to create any sort of atmosphere or suspense. The writing style was dull and tedious, and none of the characters were memorable or relatable. I felt like I was reading the same recycled ideas over and over again. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with this collection.