Written by: Carroll Jenkins on July 10th, 2009
Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1988
Director: Ngai Kai Lam
Writers: Jing Wong, Gai Chi Yuen
Cast: Ken Boyle, Maggie Cheung, Siu-hou Chin, Yuen Chor, Chow Yun-Fat, Joyce Godenzi, Kara Hui, Sibelle Hu, Yasuaki Kurata, Kuang Ni, Elvis Tsui, Sau-Lai Tsui, Lung Wei Wang, Dick Wei, Jing Wong, Tung-Shing Yee, Nina Li Chi
DVD released: April 24th, 2008
Approximate running time: 72 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: IIB (Hong Kong)
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo Mandarin, Dolby Digital Stereo Cantonese
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
DVD Release: Joy Sales
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC (Hong Kong)
Retail Price: $9.99
Synopsis: A doctor was cursed exactly a year ago when he saved a native girl from a tribal sacrifice. Seems his blood vessels have started exploding again and he must return to Thailand to find salvation or death.
This roller coaster ride was directed by Nam Lai-Choi (Her Vengeance, Erotic Ghost Story). It boasts an early pre-stardom role for Chow Yun-Fat in a rather minor supporting part, and Maggie Chung is likewise pre-stardom but rather irritating. Of course, the wrong headed lady reporter that repeatedly throws caution to the wind certainly didn’t begin here (Glenda Farrell in the 30’s horror cycle comes to mind as an early example).
Did you ever feel the opening segment of Raiders Of The Lost Ark was the best part? The producers of Seventh Curse obviously thought so. Instead of beginning with the tomb raid segment and then returning to civilization the bulk of this picture takes place in the jungle environment.
A flashback sequence recants the original expedition and the gruesome massacre perpetrated by the Worm Tribe upon the intruding party. The Skull Island tribe (in the remake of King Kong) doesn’t have anything on these guys for sheer viciousness. The head priest grinds up 100 children from the neighboring village for a blood potion to raise his familiar. And the resulting spell only lasts for 3 years!
So how to you fight such devastating black magic? By killing more animals, of course! Dogs, snakes, nothing is off the ritual ingredients list here. Fortunately, no animals appeared to have been harmed in this particular film.
The DVD:
Another quality Joy Sales release. Anamorphic in Cantonese or Mandarin, with Chinese or English subtitles. Rated IIb. The nude swim and the cutting the breast with a blade scenes are both intact. No reason not to get this one if you dig Nam Lai-Choi’s brand of crazy.
If you don’t think this film has it all, check it out: flesh eating zombies, aliens, monsters, worms, exploding blood vessels, human sacrifices, ethnic cleansing, tomb raiding, naked ladies, massacres, black magic rituals,SWAT team attacks on terrorists holding hostages, and poolside cocktail parties. Plus Maggie Chung with a machine gun and Chow Yun-Fat with a rocket launcher.