These all-time classic Cantonese horror movies will get your heart racing (and possibly put a smile on your face with their cheesiness).
Calling all movie buffs! We love all forms of entertainment, from the small screen (you’ve got to watch our fave binge-worthy TV shows) to 90s movies and LGBTQ movies, but we especially love scary films that keep us on the edge of our seats. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of the best Cantonese horror movies for those who’re bored by the Western haunted mansions and exorcism and want to check out something new!
Check out our top five Cantonese horror movies
1. Mr. Vampire (1985)
Mr. Vampire is a renowned Hong Kong comedy horror movie about the mythical hopping corpses, aka the hopping vampires in Chinese folklore. When people discovered that the body of Yam’s deceased father stayed intact after years of burial, and had resurrected into a violent Chinese vampire, they hired a Taoist priest and his two disciples to help evict the evil spirit. No doubt Mr. Vampire is one of the most beloved humorous Cantonese horror movies.
2. Troublesome Night (1997)
One of the most unbeatable Cantonese horror movies has to be Troublesome Night. The story takes place on the haunted streets of Hong Kong, formed by four stories that are interconnected – including a teenager’s encounter with a shady woman near a grave during a camping trip, a missing husband at his wedding anniversary, a romantic affair between a girl and a ghost, and a visit to the haunted theatre. Warning: This movie is definitely going to keep you up at night, as childhood nightmares come to life.
3. Three (2002)
Three is a horror film collaboration that includes three omnibus segments – Memories, The Wheel and Going Home – created by directors from Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong. Involving a missing wife, a puppeteer with cursed puppets and a policeman being held in confinement by his next-door neighbor, the movie will give you intense goosebumps.
4. Dream Home (2010)
If you’re one of those bloodthirsty movie watchers, then Dream Home will be to your liking. Following the lives of Cheng, who is eagerly trying to buy herself a dream home in Hong Kong after a not-so-satisfactory childhood, she goes on a rampage to kill those who are living in the new flats – as a means to lower their prices. Tackling local problems, like exorbitant rents, this is a truly horrendous film that’s guaranteed to freak you out.
5. Rigor Mortis (2013)
As a tribute to 80s horror classic Mr. Vampire (above), Rigor Mortis illustrates the peculiar encounters that a formerly successful actor had before he commited suicide, including his neighbour trying to resurrect his dead husband with human blood. This movie was hugely popular when it was released in 2013, and even sees some of the actors from Mr. Vampire coming back to take part.
6. Out of the Dark (1995)
What do you get when you mix horror with funnyman Stephan Chow? Well, you’d get something like Out of the Dark, a comedy-horror for the ages. Loosely parodying characters from Léon the Professional, Chow leads an adventure of a ghostbuster teaming up with a young girl to rid a spirit from an apartment building in Hong Kong. Loaded with dark humour and violence, the film will have you laughing then grimacing all in the span of a few minutes.
7. Dumplings (2004)
Heed our warning: Dumplings is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomachs. Extrapolated from a segment from the horror compilation film Three… Extremes, Dumplings tells the story of a woman who consumes dumplings made from aborted fetuses in order to stay rejuvenated and look younger. This film is definitely worth a watch for any horror fan, but keep in mind that it is rated Category III in Hong Kong and quite gruesome.
