The Seventh Curse is a 1986 Hong Kong action-horror film directed by Nam Lai-Choi. The movie stars Chow Yun-fat, Chin Siu-ho, and Maggie Cheung, and it is based on the novel Yuan Yeung Dai Liu Fa by Ni Kuang. The storyline follows a doctor named Dr. Yuan (played by Chin Siu-ho) who unknowingly becomes involved in a dangerous supernatural curse. When his friend, a Taoist master named Chin (played by Chow Yun-fat), is attacked, Dr. Yuan vows to help him by finding a mythical artifact called the Tibetan Lama's Magic Bell.
A pulp output for a very pulpy series, featuring the exploits of a doctor/philanthropist/novelist/adventurer whose main activity is visiting thrilling locations and solving mysteries with a science-fictional or supernatural element.
Indeed, if probably James Bond was the main spark that lit the fuse of the Wisely/Wesley novels, there is ample evidence that the stories soon slid into Doc Savage territory, and there remained for something like forty years.
And why should we complain, if we get the opportunity to see Chow Yun Fat playing the Hong Kong version of Doc Savage?
and poor Maggie Cheung doesn t fair too well here, having seemingly gone to the Temple of Doom school of sidekicks but is still cute and charming despite being lumbered with some questionable traits. Starring Chow Yun-fat Hard Bolied, The Killer, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon The Seventh Curse is a curious entry from Golden Harvest, the legendary production company which had previously bought us the stone cold Bruce Lee classics, Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon.
Yuan vows to help him by finding a mythical artifact called the Tibetan Lama's Magic Bell. As Dr. Yuan embarks on his quest, he discovers that the curse he is dealing with is more sinister than he initially believed.
The Seventh Curse
Crazy cult classic that lives up to its mad-as-a-bag-of-frogs rep, ‘The Seventh Curse’ is some delicious Hong Kong Category III madness. Based on the Wisely novels by Ni Kuang, ‘The Seventh Curse’ sees Wisely’s partner in adventure Dr Yuen (Chin Siu-Ho) take centre stage as he travels back to Thailand to undo a deadly blood curse bestowed on him a year previously. On one of his many Indiana Jones type adventures Dr Yuen had saved the life of a local beauty (Sibelle Hu) who’d been marked for sacrifice by an evil sorcerer (Elvis Tsui), who thus cursed the adventurer for scuppering his evil plans. The curse comes to collect, and Yuen sets off to free himself and thwart the sorcerer once and for all, with a plucky reporter (Maggie Cheung) in tow and the occasional assistance from his friend Wisely (Chow Yun-Fat).
So, much Indiana Jones style adventure ensues only ramped up with Category III nudity, gore and ample amounts of kung fu action. Produced by the legendary Golden Harvest (along with Wong Jing) and helmed by ‘Riki-Oh: The Story Of Ricky’s Lam Nai-Choi, ‘The Seventh Curse’ is just as much a fun, OTT, gory ride as that revered cult classic. Lam orchestrates everything with such slick and energetic verve that one barely has time to catch breath between scenes of limb-shredding violence, gratuitous nudity, and fierce martial arts action. The film rollicks along on its absurd premise spewing out scenes of exploitation goodness one after the other. There are evil ghost child puppets, kung fu kicking corpses, monster-on-monster action and in one particularly audacious moment, child sacrifice. Yikes! All ludicrously over-the-top, with a cheeky wink in its eye and heaps of great old school gooey gory practical effects.
The action is staged well with lead Chin Siu-Ho (‘Fist of Legend’, ‘Tai Chi Master’) making for an affable hero who gets to cut loose in the film’s many action scenes. Chow Yun-Fat has not much more than a glorified cameo (though gets a memorable scene with a bazooka!) and poor Maggie Cheung doesn’t fair too well here, having seemingly gone to the ‘Temple of Doom’ school of sidekicks but is still cute and charming despite being lumbered with some questionable traits. Elvis Tsui (‘City on Fire’) is great as the evil sorcerer and really the genius creativity, shocking gore, and full-on martial arts mayhem is what keeps ‘The Seventh Curse’ so entertaining and rocketing along.
So, much Indiana Jones style adventure ensues only ramped up with Category III nudity, gore and ample amounts of kung fu action. Produced by the legendary Golden Harvest (along with Wong Jing) and helmed by ‘Riki-Oh: The Story Of Ricky’s Lam Nai-Choi, ‘The Seventh Curse’ is just as much a fun, OTT, gory ride as that revered cult classic. Lam orchestrates everything with such slick and energetic verve that one barely has time to catch breath between scenes of limb-shredding violence, gratuitous nudity, and fierce martial arts action. The film rollicks along on its absurd premise spewing out scenes of exploitation goodness one after the other. There are evil ghost child puppets, kung fu kicking corpses, monster-on-monster action and in one particularly audacious moment, child sacrifice. Yikes! All ludicrously over-the-top, with a cheeky wink in its eye and heaps of great old school gooey gory practical effects.
The curse not only affects those close to him but also threatens the lives of innocent people. With time running out, Dr. Yuan must race against the clock to find the magic bell and break the curse before it becomes too late. The Seventh Curse combines elements of horror, action, and fantasy to create a thrilling and suspenseful film. The movie showcases impressive special effects and intense fight scenes, adding to the excitement of the story. The film also delves into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the battle between good and evil. Chow Yun-fat delivers a standout performance as the Taoist master Chin. His charisma and charm bring depth to the character, making him a memorable hero in the film. Similarly, Chin Siu-ho and Maggie Cheung bring their characters to life with their well-rounded portrayals. Despite being released over three decades ago, The Seventh Curse continues to entertain audiences with its thrilling storyline and engaging performances. The film offers a unique blend of genres, making it a must-watch for fans of Hong Kong cinema and those looking for an exciting and supernatural adventure..
Reviews for "The Cult Following of 'The Seventh Curse' (1986)"
1. John Smith - 1 star
I found "The Seventh Curse" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many characters thrown into the mix. The action sequences were poorly executed, with sloppy choreography and unconvincing special effects. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and filled with cheesy one-liners. Overall, I couldn't connect with any of the characters and felt no investment in the outcome of the story. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this film.
2. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars
"The Seventh Curse" had potential but failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The acting was subpar, with wooden performances that lacked any depth or emotion. The visual effects were laughably bad, and the makeup was overly exaggerated and unrealistic. Additionally, the script was weak, with a predictable storyline and cliche plot twists. While it may have its fans, I found this film to be a forgettable and unimpressive experience.
3. Michael Anderson - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "The Seventh Curse" based on the premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The film was weighed down by excessive gore and violence, which felt gratuitous and unnecessary. The story lacked cohesiveness, jumping from one subplot to another without proper development. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fate. The special effects were unimpressive, and some scenes were poorly edited, making it difficult to follow the action. Overall, I found this film to be a messy and forgettable endeavor that failed to make a lasting impression.