Out of the Dark (1995)
After being haunted by his late mother for days, a landlord seeks help from a mysterious exorcist, who turns out to be an escaped mental patient.
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Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
OUT OF THE DARK is a typically slapdash and knockabout comedy from star Stephen Chow, here directed by Jeffrey Lau who also wrote the script. The story is in part a throwback to the 1980s comedy horror genre and sees Chow playing a lunatic who decides to help a disparate bunch of characters in their efforts to exorcise a haunted apartment building.The whole thing is an excuse for lots of ludicrous and low brow comedy in which all kinds of things kick off. There are references to THE EVIL DEAD throughout and scenes of characters being chased around by chainsaw psychos. Chow's character is inspired by Jean Reno in LEON and he even carries a pot plant around while Karen Mok wears Natalie Portman's outfit from that movie. There are criminals, gangsters, murderers, gore, and severed head spirits, and a super-fast pace that means things never become boring. It's not one of Chow's best movies, but it does the job well enough.
Having fond memories of seeing Stephen Chow in Justice,My Foot for the first time recently,I was thrilled to spot a rare Chow Horror about to go from Netflix UK,which led to me looking into the darkThe plot:Starting their new job as security guards to a luxury apartment building with a shopping centre on the lower floor,the guards soon begin to fear that it is they who needs security,due to the peculiar inhibitions of the building being joined by headless ghosts out for revenge. Wanting to help rid the building of the ghosts, ghostbuster Leon decides to train the security guides and some residence of the building in the best way to fight out of the darkness.View on the film:Flying into the dark on a pillow of warm shot on Video fuzz,writer/director Jeffrey Lau & cinematographer Chi Wai Wong turn the light on to an atmosphere of pure kitsch,which bounces along with playful, rubbery gore being drenched in stylish filters Lau slices into to crack open the absurd state of Leon's ghostbusting. Pitching the Comedy chops broadly,Lau makes the kitsch mood run deep,with gleefully extended comedy sequences exposing Leon's lack of real "skills",and also allowing Leon to push the Horror Comedy into over the top Fantasy.Drawing the most basic outline for the characters,Lau makes this basic sketch one that is easy to forgive,thanks to Lau never pausing for breath,as the film leaps from hilarious overripe Soap Opera Comedy to kitsch,chainsaw-welding ghosts making sure that for Leon and the guards,bustin makes 'em feel good. Chasing after ghosts with sexy Karen Mok,Stephen Chow gives a fantastic performance as Leon,brimming with an arrogant wit that allows Leon to casually hold dynamite,as the ghosts come out of the dark.
Truly, one of Chow's best efforts to date. The first twenty minutes or so is pretty uneventful save for a few scenes with the now well-known crew, but the moment Leon (Stephen Chow) enters the stage hilarity ensues. His appearance (black round glasses, a plant by his side etc) as well as his name is an obvious parody of Leon the Professional, especially if you add the silly outfit Kwan (Karen Mok) sports later on, deliberately reminiscent of Natalie Portman's garment in the said cult movie. Make no mistake, this is a ghost movie, the kind only Stephen Chow could make. Wui wan yeh is a must for any fan of Chow's and beyond.
Stephen Chow plays an "insane" person who is not afraid of anything. He also appears to be parodying Leon (the professional). Carrying his trusty plant and bag of cling wrap and chocolates he helps a young girl to rid her building of a couple mean ghosts.This is a must see for any Stephen Chow fan, and at least a renter for any fan of chinese comedy. This ranks up there with Shaolin Soccer and God Of Cookery on my list.