Mr. Vampire IV, also known as Mr. Vampire Saga Four () is a 1988 Hong Kong comedy horror film directed by Ricky Lau and produced by Sammo Hung and Jessica Chan. The film is the fourth of a series of five films directed by Ricky Lau in the Mr. Vampire franchise. Mr. Vampire and its sequels were released as part of the jiangshi cinematic boom in Hong Kong during the 1980s. The Chinese title of the film literally translates to Uncle Vampire. The film’s story has two distinctive halves, the first part emphasising the slapstick comedy produced by the rivalry of the quarrelling neighbours, a Taoist monk and Buddhist priest. The second half is more action orientated as a vampire is released, causing mayhem.
Plot In the rural countryside, a bespectacled Taoist priest (called Four-eyed Taoist) is always at odds with his neighbour, a Buddhist monk called Master Yat-yau. Their respective students, Kar-lok and Ching-ching, are friendly towards each other. The Taoist and Buddhist play pranks on each other.
One day, a convoy of soldiers escorting a coffin passes by their houses. Inside the convoy is Four-eyed's junior, Taoist Crane, and Crane's four disciples, as well as a young prince and his bodyguards. Four-eyed and Yat-yau learn from Crane that there is a jiangshi (Chinese "hopping" vampire) in the coffin, and the convoy is on its way to the capital to let the emperor inspect the jiangshi.
During a thunderstorm that night, rainwater washes away the magical charms on the coffin and the vampire breaks out, becoming more powerful after being struck by a bolt of lightning. The vampire starts attacking everyone in the convoy and infecting them with the "vampire virus", causing them to transform into vampires as well after a short time. Taoist Crane remains behind to hold off the vampire while the prince and his attendant flee towards the houses.
At this critical moment, Four-eyed and Yat-yau both decide to put aside their differences and focus on destroying the vampires.
Cast
Home media VHS Release date Country Classifaction Publisher Format Language Subtitles Notes REF Unknown United States Unknown Rainbow Audio and Video Incorporation NTSC Cantonese English
Laserdisc Release date Country Classifaction Publisher Catalog No Format Language Subtitles Notes REF Unknown Japan N/A Pioneer LDC CLV / NTSC Cantonese Japanese Audio Mono 1989 Hong Kong N/A Unknown SEL0133H89 CLV / NTSC Cantonese None Audio: Stereo, 2 Sides
VCD Release date Country Classifaction Publisher Format Language Subtitles Notes REF Unknown Hong Kong N/A Deltamac (HK) NTSC Cantonese, Mandarin English, Chinese 2 VCDs 1 April 2000 Hong Kong N/A Joy Sales (HK) NTSC Cantonese, Mandarin English, Traditional Chinese 2 VCDs
DVD Release date Country Classifaction Publisher Format Region Language Sound Subtitles Notes REF Unknown Japan N/A Universal Pictures Japan NTSC 2 Cantonese, Japanese Dolby Digital Mono Japanese Digitally Re-mastered Box-set 19 December 2002 Hong Kong N/A Deltamac (HK) NTSC ALL Cantonese, Mandarin Dolby Digital English, Chinese 19 February 2004 France N/A HK Video PAL 2 Cantonese Dolby Digital French Box-set 15 March 2008 Hong Kong N/A Joy Sales (HK) NTSC ALL Cantonese, Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
Blu Ray Release date Country Classifaction Publisher Format Language Subtitles Notes REF 22nd May 2023 United Kingdom 12 (the film is paired with another film, making the disc a 15) https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/mr-vampire-saga-4-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0znda1mjy Eureka Entertainment N/A Cantonese English Part of the Hopping Mad box set
References
External links
Mr. Vampire IV at Hong Kong Cinemagic