Film Name: 人吓鬼 / Hocus Pocus / Hogus Pogus / 人嚇鬼
The highly anticipated 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards unveiled all its major prizes on April 14, with the Best Action Design award going to renowned stunt coordinator Dong Wei—marking his seventh win in this category.
Surprisingly, the film that earned Dong the award was Bursting Point. While the movie itself was mediocre, its action sequences were notably impressive.
Now 70 years old, Dong Wei entered the industry in the 1960s, starting as a stuntman. He has served as action director on numerous classic films and is now widely regarded as one of the top action choreographers in Chinese cinema.
In his early career, he also appeared as an actor in several films and TV series, though mostly in cameo roles. He rarely took on leading male roles.
Today’s featured film, “Hocus Pocus,” stands as one of his rare lead roles.
Throughout the 1980s, supernatural films enjoyed immense popularity, with Sammo Hung and Lam Ching-ying as iconic figures of the genre.
Supernatural films distinctly differ from traditional ghost movies, appealing to a broader audience demographic.
Released in 1984, Hocus Pocus was directed by Qian Yuesheng, produced by Sammo Hung, with cinematography by Lau Koon-wai. The cast featured Dong Wei, Lam Ching-ying, and Qian Yuesheng.
The film opens with a supernatural sequence: a residential house transforms overnight into a chaotic graveyard—a common trope in spirit-themed films of the era.
The entire story unfolds within a theater. Beyond their mischievous pranks, Ah Kui (played by Dong Wei) and his troupe constantly face harassment from wandering spirits and attacks by malevolent ghosts.
Numerous scenes depict theatrical performances on stage, reflecting the actors’ theatrical backgrounds. Dong Wei and Lam Ching-ying, both possessing strong stage acting skills, personally performed these roles.
While ghostly elements appear throughout the film, the true battle between humans and spirits occurs at the climax. At this point, Lam Ching-ying has not yet channeled Uncle Nine, so he lacks advanced ghost-fighting abilities. Ultimately, the malevolent spirit is subdued by divine intervention.
The film grossed HK$6.95 million at the box office that year, ranking 28th on the annual box office chart—a respectable achievement.
However, director Dong Wei also delivered a standout performance in 1998. That year, his action film The Contract Killer grossed HK$10.29 million, securing the 8th spot on the annual box office rankings.
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