Film Name: 凌晨晚餐 / Vampire’s Breakfast
When discussing the golden age of Hong Kong horror films, Lam Ching-ying stands tall like a towering monument.
Yet beneath his brilliance, a host of veteran Hong Kong stars—including Chan Yau, Fung Chui-fan, Wu Ma, and Cheng Che-shih—also produced numerous outstanding genre works during that era.
Each of these actors, blessed with distinctive appearances, carved out uniquely memorable Taoist exorcist personas.
Unlike Lam Ching-ying, who became synonymous with the role, they weren’t confined to it, instead excelling in diverse roles within the horror genre.
Among them, actors like Cheng Che-shih demonstrated remarkable versatility—convincing as Taoist priests yet equally compelling as cowardly, ordinary citizens.
Take today’s featured film, the 1987 modern urban ghost thriller Vampire’s Breakfast starring Cheng Chee-sang. Here, he portrays a “demon-exorcising” journalist.
Cheng Chee Sing plays Fei Biao, a newspaper reporter investigating a serial murder case dubbed the “Midnight Beauty.”
For days, women have been dying mysteriously at night. Not only has the police been unable to solve the case, but society at large has also become intensely focused on it.
Whoever could secure exclusive firsthand information would reap both fame and fortune. Fei Biao was assigned by his editor to cover the case.
The film reveals early on why the police investigation stalled: the killer wasn’t human at all.
Every victim had been drained of blood by a vampire. Naturally, the police, tasked with apprehending the culprit, were powerless against such supernatural phenomena.
Given the case’s sheer strangeness, authorities chose to suppress information to prevent public panic.
Throughout the film, Fei Biao faced immense pressure: not only did he need to unravel the case’s mysteries and gather evidence, but he also had to break through the media blackout to expose the truth.
During the investigation, Fei Biao discovered that the crime scene contained not a single trace of blood. Coupled with the police’s overly intense and sensitive reaction afterward, he realized this case was clearly far from straightforward.
Progress finally came in the course of one incident, as Fei Biao located two crucial eyewitnesses.
The first witness was Lin Anzhi, portrayed by Zhu Baoyi. She had once accidentally struck a fleeing vampire with her car while driving home late at night.
Though she hadn’t seen clearly, the creature that flew through the air after being hit and then immediately fled was clearly no ordinary human.
During the questioning, Fei Biao and Lin Anzhi developed feelings for each other and began dating. In later plot developments, Lin Anzhi also provided Fei Biao with significant assistance.
It should be noted that during the 80s and 90s, Zhu Baoyi, with her sweet, girl-next-door looks, starred in numerous films, including the role of Leslie Cheung’s wife in “A Better Tomorrow.”
The second witness was Ah Mao, the thief played by Kwan Chiu-chung.
Kwan Chiu-chung was a rather unique actor. Being of mixed Chinese and British heritage, his slender, distinctive appearance often landed him roles in horror films, earning him the nickname “Ghost Boy.”
Tragically, he contracted AIDS and passed away in 1995 at the age of 36. He remains the only Hong Kong entertainer known to have died from AIDS.
On the night of the incident, Ah Mao was picking car locks by the roadside when he stumbled upon the victim’s body inside a vehicle.
Being a close witness, Ah Mao was also the first to notice the bite marks on the victim’s neck.
After synthesizing multiple intelligence sources, Fei Biao demonstrated impressive reverse-engineering thinking.
If the vampire required blood, the hospital’s abundant blood bank reserves made it a likely haunt.
Sure enough, on the very night they launched their search, Ah Mao and Fei Biao encountered the bloodthirsty vampire with a long criminal history.
But two ordinary people simply couldn’t apprehend him.
Amid the commotion, a large contingent of police arrived. After unleashing a barrage of revolver and shotgun fire, they realized the bulletproof vampire was completely immune to such tactics.
Though they managed to scare off the vampire with their numbers, they still couldn’t destroy it—at least not with the police’s scientific methods.
During the investigation, Fei Biao accidentally discovered that Christian power could counteract the vampire. He gathered his exorcism tools and prepared for a life-or-death battle with the vampire.
Overall, the film embodies the style of Hong Kong’s popular lighthearted ghost comedies from that era. Its narrative rhythm is crisp and lively, delivering an enjoyable viewing experience with strong entertainment value.
Even without overt supernatural battles, the film offers several noteworthy elements worthy of discussion.
Personally, I’ve always believed that the existence of supernatural beings serves as a constant warning to humanity. As an artistic medium, cinema’s fusion with the supernatural realm undoubtedly provides an optimal channel for cautioning future generations.
Take Fat Biao, the journalist in this film—his unwavering pursuit of truth is genuinely moving.
After all, ordinary citizens deserve the right to know the truth, a right that inherently requires external forces to grant and uphold.
What we increasingly pursue today was already explored over three decades ago in this film, presented through entertainment.
The notion that truth may cause turmoil often leaves the public with little choice.
The film’s handling of the “Midnight Beauty” incident, while reducing unnecessary public panic, indirectly led to a rising number of victims.
The most intriguing aspect of the film unfolds after the case’s resolution, when Inspector Cheung pulls Fei Biao into a compromise of sorts. Ultimately, the two adversaries find a way to resolve their conflict.
The exact nature of their reconciliation remains undisclosed here to avoid spoilers.
If you get the chance, I encourage you to watch this film and see where your own stance lies.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Vampire’s Breakfast 1987 Film Review: Journalists vs. Vampires, this classic ghost film starring Cheng Che-shih, is quite avant-garde at its core.