Eureka Entertainment is to release ENCOUNTER OF THE SPOOKY KIND, the unique ground-breaking action-horror comedy from legendary director Sammo Hung, presented on Blu-ray (a worldwide debut of this brand-new 2K restoration on home video) for the first time in the UK as part of the Eureka Classics range from 21 June 2021. The First Print Run of 2000 copies will feature a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase, Collector’s Booklet and Reversible Poster.
We check out this defining film in Hong Kong genre cinema, that blended kung fu, special effects, and Chinese folklore to invent a whole new sub-genre of Asian cinema, the Jiangshi film, which only a few years later would spawn the iconic and hugely successful Mr. Vampire.Â
In this brand new 2K restoration on Blu-ray on the first time in the UK, Sammo Hung plays Courageous Cheung, a man well known in his local village for his lack of fear. His reputation is soon put to the test after he is tricked into spending the night in a temple full of spirits, zombies, and vampires!
This 1980 film has some great fight choreography with Sammo Hung and although it’s not packed to the gills with fight scenes the film is a pleasure to watch with some many laugh out loud moment with the supernatural comedy elements as Cheung (Sammo Hung) goes up against vampires, zombies and ghosts, all in a rather delicious looking 2k restoration.
Encounter of the Spooky Kind looks very clear and crisp, the 2K restoration has been brilliantly done, sometimes with a film from the 1980’s you get quiet a bit of grain with the restored releases, but with this release on Blu-ray it looks great and it also sounds great as well with the the many selections of audio to choose from.
You can watch the film with it’s original Cantenese soundtrack, a rare alternate Cantonese track, the original English dubbed VHS audio and the option that I went for with my first viewing of a fantastic new English dubbed 5.1 track that really gives the film more depth with great use of the rear speakers in many scene and the bass.
If you are a fan of the classic martial arts movies then is certainly one that you will want to add to your Blu-ray Collection with its mix of comedy, excellently choreographed martial arts and a twist of horror, it’s an all-out fun classic bit of Hong Kong Cinema.
SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY CONTAINS
- Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling
- Limited-Edition Reversible Poster featuring the film’s original HK artwork
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration (worldwide debut of this restoration on home video)
- Cantonese audio (original mono presentation)
- Rare alternate Cantonese soundtrack
- Optional English dubbed audio | Optional English Subtitles (newly translated for this release)
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- Archival interview with Sammo Hung
- Alternate English opening & closing credits
- Stills Gallery
- Original trailer
- Limited Edition Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver
Encounter of the Spooky Kind is being released as part of the Eureka Classics range from 21 June 2021. The First Print Run of 2000 copies will feature a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase, Collector’s Booklet and Reversible Poster and is available to pre-order from the Eureka Store and Amazon.
A Classic 80s Movie
Movie title: Encounter of the Spooky Kind
Movie description: Cheung's wife and boss are seeing each other, and decide to dispatch him with a wizard. But the wizard's rival aids and defends Cheung and a magic war rises.
Date published: June 21, 2021
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 42min
Director(s): Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Actor(s): Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Fat Chung, Lung Chan
Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
