So many countries, so many customs and that goes for vampires too. Steeped in traditional Chinese culture and folklore tales, the delightful Hong Kong horror comedy Mr. Vampire is a perfect introduction to the world of jiangshi, or the hopping vampires. You see, Hong Kong’s walking dead are not suave or debonair, in fact, they don’t walk at all – they hop around like bunnies! And you can forget about stakes through the heart, garlic and crucifixes; instead get your sticky rice and Taoist incantations ready. Set primarily in and around a mortuary, Ricky Lau’s film, which was a huge hit in Asia, never slows down for long, piling one comic and stunt-packed set piece on top of another, blending horror, action, and slapstick humor with effortless ease. Rest assured, that when the All Souls’ Day Shockproof Special is over, you won’t be walking home, you’ll be hopping!
