Rating: NR
Genres:
Action
Fantasy
Horror
Release Date: 06/16/2009
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English/Mandarin
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 92 min
Distributor/Studio: Tokyo Shock
In this horrifying martial arts film, a young hero takes on an evil sorcerer with the help of a good one. Together the good guys take on hungry alligators, zombies, and other fearsome creatures.
~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This is a memorably odd example of horror done Eastern-style.
Ni Kuang's script mixes soap opera and horror elements in an odd but effective way and moves at a fast clip that is punctuated by all sorts of bizarre spells and weird supernatural occurrences (like an unnerving moment where one victim of a spell is revealed to have worms crawling under her skill). It also boasts a strong cast of
Shaw Brothers regulars:
Ku Feng turns in a typically effective performance as the sorcerer villain,
Ti Lung is likeable as the beleaguered hero and
Tien Ni and
Lo Lieh add extra color as schemers whose machinations fuel the plot. Best of all,
Ho Meng Hua directs the the events with vigor, piling on the old school horror atmosphere and crafting the shocks with gut-punch effectiveness. His best creation is the finale, a duel of magic that delivers all the wild, exotic action a fan of b-movie horror could want. In the end,
Black Magic is a solid choice for Western horror fans who want to sample an accessible Eastern variant of the form.
~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
;)
