Film Name: 生化寿尸 / Bio Zombie / 生化壽屍
The best domestic zombie film.
Over two decades later, revisiting this film reveals just how thrilling and gripping it remains. Compared to today’s blockbusters with budgets reaching hundreds of millions or even billions, this film’s depth and substance surpass those so-called big-budget productions by a mile.
The entire cast features familiar faces: Brother Chun and Sir Lee, veteran triad members; the young Boss Fu selling sushi; TV King Sir Lai; Miss Fong, girlfriend of Mr. Jiang from the triad; the familiar Miss Tong; the ever-supporting cast member, the crazy, burly security guard; and the perennial second-rate character actor playing the first zombie (he’s either a villain or a second-rate character whenever he appears—never portrayed in a positive light). That concludes the cast introductions. Now, let’s get down to business.
Spring Brother and Sir Lee are two carefree gangsters. Their boss lets them run a shop to make ends meet, but they sleep in until noon every day. Sir Lai and Miss Fang are a hardworking married couple running their shop diligently. Though they sound like honest folks, Sir Lai is anything but—he’s a seasoned veteran who picks on the weak and fears the strong. Miss Tang is the newest hire at the beauty salon. Boss Fu, an employee at the local sushi shop, has a crush on her. Calling it a crush is a stretch—his intentions are practically written on his face, though he hasn’t made a move yet. So, if you like someone, you really should speak up early and be straightforward. It’s better for both parties. Then there’s our Mr. Two-Fifth, tagging along with his boss to buy zombie virus (who knows what use that even has?). The seller brought samples and finished product for the deal, but one got out of control and bit the middleman and the crime boss to death. Scared out of his wits, Mr. Two-Fifth took the virus and ran. (Seriously, could this virus be any more carelessly handled? Storing such a dangerous substance in a random soda bottle?) While crossing the street in a daze, he got hit by Chun and Li Sir, who were on a mission to pick up a car for the boss. Even after the crash, he kept muttering about the bio-virus bottle. Somehow, Chun and Li Sir ended up pouring it straight into his mouth, Then they tossed him in the trunk and headed back to the shop. (Honestly, I didn’t get why they dumped him in the trunk instead of the nearby woods at first. But then it clicked—it fits their thug mentality perfectly. They figured he wasn’t dead yet, could still talk, and might just be out cold after a nap.) So they brought the zombie back to the building. That’s pretty much how the whole mess started.
The next part involves some friction among the main characters. The boss’s car got damaged, and the two needed to compensate him. They sold the phone belonging to the traitor who had turned into a zombie, but a phone alone couldn’t cover the cost. Just then, Miss Tang appeared in their sights. It was like a dream come true—they seized the opportunity and kidnapped her. Little did they know she was even poorer than they were. Fuming after the robbery, Miss Tang suspected the duo but lacked proof. She devised a plan to get them drunk and extract evidence. (Friendly reminder to all ladies: Don’t try to get a guy drunk unless you’re confident in your drinking prowess.) She ended up getting drunk herself and nearly had a moment with Brother Chun in the bathroom. Fortunately, Boss Fu arrived just in time to stop them. Of course, minutes earlier, Boss Fu had already been bitten by a zombie. The zombies had already begun moving and bitten several people, though it hadn’t caused much panic—probably because there were few people out at midnight. Zombie Guy casually retrieved his phone while out shopping—though I have no idea why he felt the need to get it back. The stolen phone sparked an argument between Officer Li and Chun Ge, but neither wanted to escalate things, so nothing came of it. The four who should’ve gone home smoothly were all detained in the building because of that crazy security guard who called the cops. Fu Lao Da, now a zombie yet still obsessed with Miss Tang, imprisoned her. Police and security reviewed footage, suspecting Chun and his partner of robbery. They detained the pair and headed out to find Fu Lao Da, the alleged victim. The officer who left the building was immediately taken by Fu Lao Da. Zombie Brother, using his keen sense of smell, tracked down the security office, biting and killing both the security guard and the officer before being shot in the head by police. Spring Brother and his partner, Miss Tang, and the beauty salon attendant—six people in total—were forced to gather. Unable to call for help, they resolved to break out. During the escape, Mr. Li’s actions led to the death of the beauty salon attendant, causing the others to abandon him in disappointment. The remaining four began coordinating their efforts, but Miss Fang accidentally got separated and was bitten to death by zombies alongside Mr. Li. While fleeing back to the security room, Li Sir was bitten. With no other choice, Chun Ge killed him before he turned into a zombie. Then, Chun Ge, possessed by Shan Ji Ge, charged alone toward the parking lot and broke through the encirclement with Tang Miss.
Believing the worst was over, Chun drove to a gas station. The news on TV revealed zombies weren’t confined to the building—they were still roaming outside. Everyone should remember the middleman and crime boss who met their end at the deal site. The report also warned against drinking beverages due to the risk of zombification. Chun Ge turned to find Tang Xianshi already sipping a drink from the car. He returned to the vehicle with a wry smile, thinking he’d escaped one hell only to plunge into another. He grabbed the drink and downed it in one gulp.
This film is a classic worth studying for contemporary Chinese directors. Beyond its logically coherent plot, the sound design and occasional shaky camera work alone make it worthy of analysis. Of course, the actors’ performances are crucial—being familiar faces on screen, their acting leaves nothing to criticize. My favorite scenes involve Chun Ge and his partner bullying the four-eyes student, and the two getting bullied by mechanics at the auto shop. Though seemingly superfluous, these moments flesh out the characters’ thuggish personas. The repeated references to “Titanic” and Inspector Lee’s birthday are both subtle details that reveal how, despite his rough exterior, Inspector Lee is genuinely loyal and values friendship. As his brother-in-arms, Chun Ge probably isn’t far behind. The attention to detail is truly excellent, and the horror scenes aren’t half bad either—one sequence genuinely scared me.
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