Black Magic

"They don't make 'em like that, anymore," goes the phrase, and anyone who watches "Black Magic" will be introduced to a fine example of the CINEMATIC "that"!Twenty-plus years after Shaw Brothers released a horror film, they decided to revive the genre; no doubt, part of this must be because of "foreign" hits of the time like "The Exorcist". So it was (according to the late Linn Haynes' liner notes for this release) writer Ni Kuang inititiated the first script of what has been referred to as the "Jiangtou" sub-genre of chillers, Hong Kong style! This run of Shaw "voodoo" flicks differs from the Hollywood "voodoo" flicks in that ALL the characters are Asian, eliminating the element of racism often found in the latter productions.Directed by the versatile Ho Meng-Hua, this movie will catch many who are seeing it for the first time as unpredictable as the "dark" practitioner portrayed by Ku Feng; he winds up being part of what can be best summed up as a love PENTAGON that involves Ti Lung, Lily Lee, Lo Lieh and Tanny Tien Ni. Love potions are the hot commodity wanted by Lo and Tanny's characters, and that only begins to hint at the mayhem that soon follows. It is no great revelation to say that, after Ku Feng's "wizard" role, ANY ACTOR or ACTRESS could've played the main parts; Lung, Lee, Lieh and Ni were utilized to boost box office. (If it was Ti Lung's belief--according to Haynes--that "serious" roles would help him break away from martial arts movies, was HE mistaken with "BM"! He does manage to do his part with the straightest of faces, to his credit.)Beyond what few "clues" I've already laid out in the body (and title) of this review, no [REAL] spoilers will be mentioned because the first time of getting through "BM" will definitely leave its mark on those who survive to the end! There are BETTER Asian horror flicks, to be sure, but they can't be as FUN and WARPED like "BM" is! That ANY of this can still shock somebody (or make them go "EWWW!!", at least) twenty-five years after it was first released says something about how the talent made some HECK of a diversion! Further, that it was [initially] NOT intended for American audiences, but (back to Haynes) did wind up catching the attention of those who saw an edited version on "Black Belt Theater" is amazing, especially since there are NO martial arts whatsoever in it!Typical of many Shaw movies, there's a story present, but so much is thrown on-screen in 95 minutes that characterizations and details are non-existant as a given. Such is the flavor of Kuang's script that suspenseful moments often PALE in comparison with the twisted, romantic melodrama. Stock music cues that flavor these "quiet" interludes are unintentionally hilarious, making the domestic scenes with Ti Lung, Lily Li, etc. of day-to-day existence a horror all their own; compared to the ACTUAL horror sequences (where the music is just right), the surging hormones of Lo Lieh and Tanny Tien Ni are SCARIER than any spell cast by Ku Feng!Picture on the DVD is what's to be expected from Image's Shaw reissues; it's watchable, but it's not HD. I preferred the Mandarin dub (with subtitles), but the English dub offers more easy laughs, so the lovers of English soundtracks will get their money's worth. After the booklet, the disc has for "extras" production stills, a sampling of a media press kit and German lobby cards; more is here than on other Image/Shaw DVDs that include stills, so it's a most welcome addition.Time has not been altogether kind to "BM" by its original intentions (designed to scare Asian moviegoers), but taken with a different interpetation as a horror/comedy, irreverent as "Scary Movie" or "Shaun Of The Dead", it entertains new audiences (albeit smaller ones) by costing a fraction of today's "big-budget" gambles. Even so, this movie's not for everybody (even some Shaw fans used to their martial arts movies ONLY) due to adult material, some of which [I'd argue] would be rated "NC-17" today, NOT "R"! Finally, if anyone DOES enjoy "BM" like I did, be sure to pick up  Black Magic 2  from Tokyo Shock; knowing that their Shaw reissue IS from a HD master is reason aplenty for buying it because of the improved picture!All the best, Brother Fang.

Omg what a great gift!

It is the simple tale of boy loves girl, but other girl also loves boy so she doesn’t the most logical thing finds a black magician who can cast a love spell along with a few choice ingredients, blood, hair, breast milk, because of course this is a grindhouse movie, corpse snot, some teeth, and a severed finger. She steals her man away from his wife on their wedding day and then tries to kill the bride with more magic. Luckily the Asian Wilfred Brimley arrives to use the power of the moustache and a flute to do battle with the evil wizard leading to a showdown of good and bad magic.The work, which becomes a new genre itself. This is the first of Shaw Brothers several Black Magic movies, named after this film. It has all the hallmarks of the later films, evil wizards, hideous potions, bug eating, revenge, wild psychedelic scenes, and gory set pieces that challenge even the most jaded horror movie fans. This movie is definitely the tamest of them, later films especially Boxer’s Omen and Seeding a Ghost ramp the bug eating and gore up to levels that would easily carry Evel Knievel over the Snake River. Ti Lung plays the good guy, Lo Lieh plays the lesser bad guy, Lily Li the love interest, Tanny Tien Ni is the femme fatale, so fans of kung-fu will be comfortable with the casting. Ho Meng Hau, who later directed Shaw’s version of King Kong, Mighty Peking Man, does a good job, not as good as Shaw’s main horror director Kuei Chih Hung who made some of the most insane movies ever. I love a good Hong Kong Black Magic movie they are always good for a seriously wild time. While Black Magic isn’t as over the top as later entries and the special effects are very 70s it is still a thrill a minute horror movie that gives you an Asian view of magic and the horrors it brings.

I first got this flick in around 2007 when Image was in the process of releasing all the old Shaw Bros. movies. I was deep into old, goofy Kung Fu movies at the time so I found out about this release pretty quickly (not because it was a kung fu flick, it isn't, but because Image put little flyers of upcoming releases in their DVDs)Anyway, this film was released with a flyer for a repro of the original movie poster. I bought the movie just to get the free poster (which is amazing, and is still hanging, framed above my TV and will ALWAYS without fail get a compliment from a guest who is just seeing it for the first time)The movie is what you would expect. Goofy, cheaply made, cheesy and 100% Shaw Bros. I don't exactly remember the story line because I only watched it once then let a friend borrow it who promptly lost it. That is why I recently decided to buy a new copy. Just to have.All I can really say about it is that if you are into the Shaw Bros chances are very good you will like it. If you can manage to track down one of those movie posters though....

I was shocked and delighted at this incredibly entertaining and bizarre spectacle that goes way over the top but in some weird way also seems restrained.I'm not into blood and gore or the recent glut of Cinema de Sadism, but this retro classic does not flinch from the story it's telling.Not for all tastes. Actually, on second thought, it's probably not for most tastes.The print looked better than I expected and I liked the rather tight editing that keeps the story moving.

Where all relationships are controlled with Black Magic. This Hong Kong film from 1975 does just that. Off the wall, fun and entertaining. Don't analyze it, just sit back and enjoy it.

One third soap opera, one third funky 70s action flick, and one third gorey terror picture. Sexy rich b*tches, groovey soundtrack, tons of weird esoteric rituals, and exhumed corpses abound. Definitely worth a watch, but it's not quite as awesome as its sequel "Black Magic 2" which just ups the anty.

Keep in mind this was back in the 70's, I'm a Ti Lung fan, so in my eyes he can't make a bad movie. Once again you have to like this kind of thing.

An entertaining tale of lust and devious magic courtesy of the Shaw Brothers studios. This one sees a Black Magicians services put to bad use granting love and death spells to those who desire to win the affections of the ones they love. And for the right price and a bizarre concoction of ingredients this master of the black arts will grant love-seeking youngsters their wish, though his shenanigans haven't gone unnoticed by a local do-gooding Witch who sets up a showdown finale with some hilariously outdated special effects.Sex, nudity, breast-milking and the odd grisly moment are to be endured in this enjoyable and at times unsettling little Hong Kong movie (though filmed in Malaysia). It also features a young Ti Lung before he heroically shed blood with Chow Yun Fat in 'A Better Tomorrow' 1 and 2.This 88 Films blu-ray release may disappointingly lack any special features but more than makes up for it with the brilliant HD transfer, which I really didn't expect to look this good. The movie is watchable in the original mandarin language with English subtitles, or in the English dubbed audio.

1975 film set in Malaysia.

Crazy 70s Magic film not a classic Shaw Bros Martial Arts film at all but still bizarre cult movie.

They don't make movies like this anymore. With many good actors and actress, good old creepy atomosphere without any CGs. How I long for that!

Looks good can not wit to watch