A Chinese Ghost Story

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A Chinese Ghost Story

1988

1h 38m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

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10 Reviews

85%

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5,000+ Ratings

In this martial arts film, Ning Choi-san (Leslie Cheung), a traveling tax collector, takes shelter for the night in an abandoned temple. When he meets the lovely maiden Nip Siu-sin (Tsu-hsien Wang), Ning immediately falls for her. Unfortunately, Ning later discovers that she is a ghost who is forced to serve a cruel demon, and he resolves to save her from the evil spirit. Enlisting the aid of Taoist warrior Yin Chek Hsia (Ma Wu), Ning ventures into a supernatural realm to save Nip's soul.

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Walter Goodman

New York Times

Aug 30, 2004

The kick you get from all this will depend on how exciting you find explosive exhibitions of extraterrestrial exercises.

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Howard Waldstein

CBR

Jul 18, 2023

In this otherworldly fable of mythical proportions, the camera zooms and glides with glee, borrowing stylistically not just from xianxia, and wuxia, but Sam Raimi's Evil Dead.

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Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Jun 6, 2007

2/5

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 31, 2005

2/5

Andy Klein

Los Angeles CityBeat

Jun 19, 2004

5/5

Nicolas Lacroix

Showbizz.net

Nov 16, 2002

4/5

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Robert P

@Superbad 3 days ago

A Chinese Ghost Story is a *4* star Movie!

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Dark D

@RT65718715 May 9, 2026

Really original and fun, but the lovers became increasingly and unbearable insufferable.

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Manda R.

@oatmeal Mar 2, 2026

Fun goofy with great costumes and a crazy story - it doesn’t get better than this!

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Oct 18, 2025

Downright cheesy from decently impressive effects to the repetitive script that paid tribute to the domestic supernatural folklore without dimensional fright in taking it seriously besides welcoming occasional humor it successfully conjured. (B-)

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xpig332 B

@RT69712065 Sep 17, 2025

After 40 minutes I was completely uninterested in this movie.

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g j

@g.username May 3, 2025

A masterful homage to the pioneering cinematic techniques of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, expertly integrated into a Hong Kong martial arts comedy with simultaneously well acted supernatural romance story holding it all together. Absolute classic, truly unique, and unlike anything else I've ever seen.

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Tony Ching Siu Tung

Director

Leslie Cheung

Ling Choi Sin

Joey Wong Cho-Yin

Lit Sin Seen

Dawei Hu

Actor

Wu Ma

Yin Chek Hsia

Wai Lam

Hsia-hou

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Synopsis

In this martial arts film, Ning Choi-san (Leslie Cheung), a traveling tax collector, takes shelter for the night in an abandoned temple. When he meets the lovely maiden Nip Siu-sin (Tsu-hsien Wang), Ning immediately falls for her. Unfortunately, Ning later discovers that she is a ghost who is forced to serve a cruel demon, and he resolves to save her from the evil spirit. Enlisting the aid of Taoist warrior Yin Chek Hsia (Ma Wu), Ning ventures into a supernatural realm to save Nip's soul.

Director: Tony Ching Siu Tung
Producer: Hark Tsui
Screenwriter: Kai-Chi Yun
Distributor: Facets
Production Co: Film Workshop
Genre: Horror
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 16, 2020
Runtime: 1h 38m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1), 35mm

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