A Chinese Ghost Story III

A Chinese Ghost Story III returns to the haunted Orchid Temple a century after the original film, hoping to recapture its blend of supernatural romance, martial arts and extravagant Hong Kong fantasy. Tony Leung Chiu-wai brings an appealing innocence to the young Buddhist monk, while Joey Wong once again lends the ghostly heroine an ethereal presence. The energetic swordplay, bizarre demonic transformations and ambitious visual effects preserve something of the series' wonderfully unpredictable identity. Yet this third installment struggles to justify its return to familiar territory, recycling the possessed temple, the forbidden romance and the monstrous Tree Demon without finding a sufficiently compelling new perspective. The narrative grows increasingly crowded and disorienting, shifting between broad comedy, Buddhist mysticism, action and romance with little opportunity for the emotions to settle. Even its most spectacular moments can feel exhausting rather than enchanting, especially when compared with the delicate melancholy that made the first film so memorable. There is still pleasure in its outrageous imagination and unmistakable early-1990s Hong Kong craftsmanship, but the trilogy concludes with a sequel whose technical enthusiasm cannot fully disguise its creative repetition.

— Matty, Curator of the Vault