Rigor mortis
- stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death, usually lasting from one to four days.
Jiangshi (殭屍)
- a Chinese "hopping" vampire or zombie. A type of reanimated corpse in Chinese legends and folklore.
A (mis) interpretation:
Qing Dynasty, 1911. Numerous revolts and uprisings have cumulated in the Xinhai Revolution. Government official, the Mandarin Huang Jin Lung whom holds military position as a Major General is notorious for rampant corruptions, nepotism and involving in political intrigues for personal gains and advancements. He is brutal, ruthless, cunning whom held considerable power but proves to be a capable leader and commander. The death of Empress Dowager Cixi and the Emperor Guangxu, followed by the abdication of the last Emperor Puyi, causes extreme disillusionment and bitterness in him and the government. After the imminent defeat of the Qing army against the rebels, Mandarin Huang suffers from stroke and dies an extremely bitter man. The fate of his families are unknown. His mansion is looted and burnt to ground. There are rumours of Mandarin Huang practising black magic and engaging services of rogue Taoist priests to put curses and cast spells upon his enemies. These speculations further reinforce the fearsome reputation of Mandarin Huang.
Huang's body is desecrated by the rebels. His loyal servants manage to retrieve it back. The chaotic situation of the time causes Mandarin Huang's body to be buried hastily, without proper rites. Under the instruction of Huang's retinue, the servants move Huang's body back to his hometown in Southern China under a Taoist priest supervision. It is a long journey and they only moves at night to avoid the rebels. They cover his body within a gunny cloak. Resting at a cave before the night of the burial, his servants observe a pregnant female black cat leaps across Huang's corpse, a taboo. They also observe that the Mandarin's body doesn't seem to decompose. The Taoist priest Chung whom has served Mandarin Huang and supervising the burial seems concern. He immediately order the servants to place a weaved strings of coins as a mask to cover the lower face of Huang. The priest also prepares a talisman of yellow paper to be placed on Huang's forehead. He warn the servants not to tell anyone. Before they could bury the coffin, a group of rebels attack them. A drop of blood from one of the servants falls onto Huang's coin mask, seeping through into his mouth. The rebels kill everyone. Suddenly Huang's corpse begin to shake violently. The rebels are shocked and run off.
1944. World War 2. The Imperial Japanese Army launches the massive Operation Ichi-Go across China but fails to bring about the defeat of the Chinese forces. A platoon of the Japanese forces arrive at a densely forested area for rest after an intense fighting. As night fall, they move into a nearby cave. The next morning, a company of Chinese troops track the Japanese platoon to the cave. What they see would haunted them for the rest of their lives. Bodies are torn apart like being mauled by animals. Bloods and gores everywhere. Bullets were shot. A senior commanding officer spoke quietly to the lieutenant whom seemed pale with fear. They shout out commands to immediately leave the area. Before that, the commanding officer orders the entrance of the cave to be sealed by placing explosives and detonates it. Inside an eye looks nonchalantly.
1971. Hong Kong. Tycoon Yam owns a vast business empire including property and real estates developments, logistics and trading. He has an obsession for collecting Chinese antiques and artefacts and obtains these items through illegal channel whom he paid handsomely. However his real interest are in all things supernatural. Tycoon Yam quietly orders the search for the coffin of Mandarin Huang having learnt about the history behind the incidences involving the late Qing Dynasty officer. They manage to locate the coffin with Huang in it. With a group of Taoist priests performing rites and chanting, Yam orders the coffin to be opened. Huang's body remains intact with no sign of decay or rot. The tycoon is ecstatic. Instead of placing the coffin amongst his collection within a designated warehouse, Yam instructs it to be kept inside one of the high rise apartment units located within a densely populated depilated old cluster of housing blocks. The unit, 1351, has remained vacant ever since a double murder occurred there five years ago. Out of jealousy, a man had killed his wife and daughter before being apprehended by the authorities and committed to mental asylum. Since then, there have been reports of ghostly sightings. The door is inscribed with spells and non of the occupants would go near it. The unit is located at the end of the corridor, making it all more convenient. The entire floor units have also been unoccupied for some time due to rumours of haunted sightings. Tycoon Yam secretly places a standing instruction that a crow blood must be fed to the corpse every day.
1985. Sam Hung, a stunt man, moves into the apartment estates after his wife left with two children due to his gambling habit and owing large sum of money to loan sharks. He is cordially greeted by Uncle Chan, the lanky bespectacled building's long time, friendly supervisor. Sam moves into Unit 1361, opposite Unit 1351. Losing his family has caused Sam to suffer from depression with suicidal tendency. After finish unpacking, Sam curiously observes at the inscribed spells on the opposite unit. In the evening, he goes to a side-walk stall for dinner, which serves only glutinous fried rice. The stall owner is an elderly man, Uncle Lam. He is assisted by two cooks, Ah Ying and Ah Ho. Seeing the newcomer, Uncle Lam lights up a cigarette and takes the opportunity to speak to Sam, introducing themselves. When Sam asks why Uncle Lam only serves glutinous rice and certain dishes, the elderly man smiles but did not reply. Uncle Lam asks Sam which unit he is staying in of which Sam replied Unit 1361. Uncle Lam's face suddenly changes expression but for a fleeting second. He then leaves Sam to his meal and continues to attend to his other customers but not before telling Sam to be careful. Puzzle, Sam finishes his meal and goes home. Being tired, he soon forgotten about what Uncle Lam said to him.
The next morning, as Sam is about to leave for a job assignment at the local studio, he sees an elderly man with gaunt face and heavily tattooed walking towards Unit 1351. The man expressionless face glances at Sam momentarily before diverting his gaze. He gives Sam the impression that he is deliberately slowing down his walk, as if waiting for Sam to leave several doors down, before producing a set of keys and open the door to Unit 1351.
Bill Lau has done this many times. Yam pays well to carry out this sort of duty. Due to his past criminal background, a former prisoner and a drug addict, this is an opportunity he couldn't give up. Bill is the latest to be assigned the job to take care of the coffin and the corpse within it. Out of the satchel bag, he produces a vial of crow's bloods and after carefully removing the coffin cover, he carefully drip the bloods onto Huang's coin mask. Suddenly he feels a cold breeze across the room. Bill looks around and sees nothing. Then without warning, the coffin topples by itself, giving out a large crashing sound. Bill begins to panic and runs toward the door but it slams closely shut by itself. Then he sees with disbelief a pair of apparitions. A woman and a child. They are hovering closer and closer to Bill. He tries to scream but no sound comes out from his mouth. The last thing he sees are the distorted faces of a woman and a child.
The shooting took several takes but it is a success. Sam feels ache all over his body. He would want to go to see an acupuncturist and get a massage but decides to go home and rest instead. As usual Sam is greeted by Uncle Chan whom is listening to the radio on horse racing. Arriving at his floor, he walks across the corridor, Sam sees a man standing with his face against the wall. Goose bumps suddenly raises across his body. The man moves a bit, and gives out a slight moan. Sam recognises him. The same man he encounters this morning. He calls out. There is no reply except for the same eerie moaning sound. Sam moves closer. Suddenly the man turns around. Sam jolts and screams at the sight. The man's face has been skinned, lower jaw removed, his tongue dangling out. His clothes and pants are soaked blood red. Sam runs to the elevator in fear and starts pressing the button in panic. He could feel his pants warm with pee.
Police sirens light up the ground floor of the housing estate. Officers has cordoned off the thirteenth floor. Crowds are gathering in numbers, muttering amongst themselves. Inspector Biao, a young promising officer is tasked with investigating the case. The coroner needs more time but he remarks no one could have survived with such amount of blood lost. Inspector Biao then asks a shaken Sam some questions. The officer said he would see Sam again if more information is required. Except for the coffin, there is no sign of Mandarin Huang's corpse. The unit is registered under the ownership of Bill and the investigation ends there. In his report, Biao writes that it is a attack and assault by loan sharks due to the numerous loans owed by Bill. Separately, Biao, through his network, speaks to numerous high ranking loan shark bosses. The bosses denied it is of their doing. The method is too extreme even for them. This heightened Biao's curiosity further. One of the bosses remark that Bill may be involved in some form of black magic as he had seen one such similar case when he was in Cambodia.
A fellow stuntman, Ah Lok whom after reading about the news, advises Sam to see a medium. Upon reading his horoscope and other details, the medium says Sam would encounter a severe life threatening obstacle. The medium gives Sam a talisman inscribe with spells to ward off any bad luck but said he has no choice, and need to face what fate has in store for him.
Seamstress Mrs Paw lives alone since the departure of his husband two years ago. She is one of the last few generation of seamstress whom is very well skilled in making cheongsam, staying on the twelfth floor. The night after the incident, while working on a dress for a client, Mrs Paw hears thumping sounds across the corridor, akin to someone hopping around. It isn't loud and at two in the morning, most of the residences on the floor have slept. Dismissing it as teenage delinquents coming back from whatever they are doing, she continues on her work, the thumping sound stops at her closed wooden door entrance with metal shutter. Mrs Paw stops and peeks through the door peephole. No one. As she turns, a pair of arms violently tears away metal shutter and smashes the door to splinters. Mrs Paw screams but in split second, her throat is slashed. The creature, garbs in hooded cloak, hops and single-handedly drags her across the living room, smashing through the window. The commotion causes the neighbours to awaken and rush to Mrs Paw's unit. Outside in between the crevice of the building, the creature is hanging upside down, draining Mrs Paw's last remaining ounce of bloods from her convulsing body before jamming it between the water pipes. It creeps back inside the building through the garbage chute.
Inspector Biao and the police officers are silenced by the gruesome sight. Based on the blood trail, they manage to locate Mrs Paw's shrivelled, mangled body. They have a difficult time retrieving it. Forensic reports the body has been completely drained of blood. There is no explanation as to how someone could carry out such an horrific act of murder within such short span of time. Inspector Biao lights up a cigarette outside the police station. He couldn't recall the last time he has had a smoke.
Moon has been working as a hostess at a famous night club for several years. Though the money is good but she has grown weary and tired of her job. Uncle Chan, as usual, helps her to the elevator as Moon stumbles around drunkenly into the flat building wee hour into the morning. Moon is particularly happy that night. A regular client of hers has agreed to take care of her living expenses and life as a mistress. Moon stays at the same floor where Mrs Paw had been killed. As she rummages around to find her keys in her LV bag, she hears a thumping sound moving closer to her. She turns around but Moon doesn't have a chance to scream as with a single swipe, her jugular is cut opened, spurting bloods of which the creature greedily gorged on. Her neck is nearly severed. The creature then wraps around his arms around Moon, nails dig deep into her flesh, crushing her to death before dragging her into the garbage chute. Moon's decomposed body is found a week later by the garbage collectors fill with horror. Coroner again concludes that her death is the same as Mrs. Paw. The senior officers re-open the case and officially elevated the case as a suspected serial killer with Inspector Biao once again heading the investigation.
Ah Ying and Ah Ho join Uncle Lam and Uncle Chan at one of those folding plastic tables after closing the stall. They unanimously agree that the vampire must be destroyed or the entire occupants at the housing estates would be at risk of losing their lives. Uncle Chan questions whether they should seek Tycoon Yam's permission first. Uncle Lam disagrees. The contract is to ensure that Huang's body remain preserved and not re-animated as a vampire. Bill has failed to do that. Furthermore, they all agreed to undertake the jobs under the term that should things go out of hand, they would need to take the necessary steps to contain the situation. A man walks toward them. It is Tycoon Yam with two bodyguards. They shared with him their final decision. Yam is not happy. The deaths are collateral damages to him. He wants them to capture the vampire but not destroying it. Yam warns them not to do anything outside of his strict instruction and leaves. The four of them keep silent before leaving after finishing up the beers.
The next day after finishing his day shift at seven in the evening at the studio, Sam is standing cautiously in front of Unit 1351. Using a skeleton key, he apprehensively enters the house. Immediately his senses are overwhelmed by smells of death. The entire floor are littered with empty tins, takeaways, plastic water bottles and beer cans. Not a single furniture. Curiously there are no cockroaches, flies nor rats. Not even the sound of house lizards. The windows are all covered up with black garbage bag plastics. Using a lighter, Sam looks around and about to leave when he sees a curtain inscribes with spells. His gut feel is to go out from the unit immediately but curiosity got better of him. He lifts the curtain and sees a fallen coffin. The entire room walls are inscribed with spells and yellow papers. Empty vials are littering the entire floors with traces of dried bloods. He felt a chill running along his spine. Like someone, or something, is standing behind him. Sam cautiously walks out from the room and then speedily exit the unit. As he exits the unit, he could feel something brushed against his back. He slams the door close and hurries to enter his unit. Sam screams out when a hand placed on his shoulder. It is Inspector Biao. He asks Sam to join him for a late supper at a stall.
Inspector Biao tells Sam that he had broken a law by entering the unit but he would close an eye if he were to share with him what he knows. Sam replies saying he doesn't know anything as he just moved in. Sam further asks if he were implied in the murders of which Inspector Biao said no. After a few beers, Sam asks Inspector Biao if he believed in the supernatural. The officer gives out a smile. He shares that when he is still a patrol officer, he comes across a case of which until today he couldn't comprehend. An infamous gangster suspected to be implicated in several murders was walking out of a massage parlour and spa when he and his partner spotted him. Attempting to question him, the gangster ran. Both the police officers ran after him into an alley. The gangster produced a handgun and fired at them. It hit his partner in the throat. Biao retaliated by emptying his bullets onto the gangster six times. His partner died on the way to the hospital. The gangster survived. Because of the gangster's affiliation with a powerful secret society, he was given a light sentencing. Two years later, Biao saw the same gangster, then looking well off with his lackeys at a steam boat stall. The gangster saw Biao, recognised and mocked him by making a gun sign, laughing. Suddenly an oncoming garbage truck's front tyre exploded and out of control, rammed into the gangster, running him over. His body was dragged for at least fifty meters before crashing into a shop, coming to a halt. Biao immediately ran toward the scene. Crowds were gathering there and the driver was shaken with fear. It was then he thought he saw his deceased partner amongst the crowds. It isn't a hallucination. It is his partner before dematerialising before him. Inspector Biao then finishes his beer and takes leave. He warns Sam not to enter the unit again as it is under investigation.
Uncle Lam, Ah Ying and Ah Ho begin to prepare items to carry out the task of containing and capture the vampire. Glutinous rice, jujube seeds, adzuki beans and vinegar. Others include a blessed ba gua sign, a wooden sword inscribed with spells made from peach tree, several rolls of thick threads saturated with black ink and blood of black dogs and a hand bell. A plastic lighter and two bottles of petrol are also prepared. A copy of I Ching and Tong Shu are also gathered. All these are put into backpacks and satchels. Uncle Chan arrives and asks if they were ready of which all of them nodded. A short prayers and rites are performed. Before departing, Uncle Lam gives a quick briefing. A person would turned into a jiangshi or vampire if that deceased individual died with extreme hatred or negative emotion, as well as couldn't give out his or her last breath. A jiangshi is impervious and extremely strong. He reminds everyone to be careful not to go the distance of three steps near the creature unless it has been subdued or weakened. Lam and Chan also add that the negative energy is particularly strong that night. They should have waited for a more favourable time and date but it would be too late.
Divorcee Ms. Hui and her six years old son have just came back from a school trip. They stays at the eighteenth floor. The elevator stops at the thirteenth floor. The door slides open but there seem to be no one there. Ms. Hui presses the close door button. Suddenly the vampire Huang drops down from the ceiling of the elevator and proceed to violently kill both mother and son, simultaneously draining them of blood.
Sam hears the commotion and runs toward the elevator but all he sees are sights of bloods and gore. After throwing up at the sight, he is jolted by the appearance of Lam, Chan, Ying and Ho. Uncle Chan looks at the elevator floor indicator. It is moving all the way to the thirtieth floor. Sam is confused but joins them using the second elevator. Ho says something about a vampire which perplexed Sam. He thought it is only myth and legends or some imaginary stories made up by movie makers. Ironically Sam even doubled up as one on a set for a stunt.
There is a slight drizzle, occasional lightning and thunder. The roof top of the depilated apartment is crisscrossed with electrical wirings and antennas. They move quietly while keeping an open eye for the vampire. A lightning blazes across the cloudy dark sky. And there it is. Standing motionless in a catatonic like state. Sam accidentally trips on one of the wires and stumbles. The jiangshi jolts into motion and turns. It hops and leaps with supernatural strength towards the group. Uncle Lam quickly drew out the wooden sword and stabs at it. The jiangshi bounces backward and crashes against a wall. Lam then scatters the glutinous rice at it. The jiangshi screams out an unholy sound no living being would make. Uncle Chan then uses the adzuki beans and throws it at the vampire. The jiangshi is now trembling all over, growling with pain. Ah Yin then lights up the two bottles of petrol, throws it on the creature with precision, lighting it on fire. The creature howls. Unfortunately, the fire burns the gunny cloak away but not the vampire. Sam stands up and looks at the event unfolding before his eyes with mix of fascination and horror. And for the first time, sees for himself a real life jiangshi.
It is still garbed in a faded Qing Dynasty officer uniform. One of the eyes is swollen shut, and the left portion of its lips has been cut opened nearly up to its ear, exposing rows of sharp fangs. It is bald and its skin is that of a dead person, purplish blue black like gangrene. All fingers ended with razor sharp talon like nails. They quickly unfurl the thread balls and moves deftly like gymnasts and acrobats, creating a net pattern based on the ba gua stance, tying down the monster. It squeals and cries. Ah Ho then takes out the jujube seeds to nail it into the vampire's acupuncture points at the back. Growling with anger, with sudden tremendous strength it slashes out at Ah Ho, cutting deeply into his right arm across his tendon. As Ah Ho staggers back and screams in pain, the thread net loosen. The jiangshi frees itself, ripping through the net. Uncle Lam uses the ba gua to incapacitate it. The vampire retreats with a lunged backward. Uncle Chan grabs the wooden sword and thrusts at the creature once more. But the impact snaps the sword into two. The jiangshi pushes and thrusts itself forward with deadly momentum at Uncle Chan whose sword holding arm is instantly snapped into two, bones jutting out with sickening cracking sound. It then impales Uncle Chan through the chest with it hands. Uncle Chan died instantaneously. Ho has lost too much blood and died. Uncle Lam shouts for them to retreat but the vampire leaps and blocks them at the exit door. Instinctively, Sam reached out for the vinegar and splashes it at the face. The creature shrieks and temporarily distracted. Uncle Lam grab Sam and Yin and push them out of the exit door and then locks it from outside. Sam and Yin attempt to re-enter but the metal door gives out a violent thud as Uncle Lam screams out in his death throes. The vampire then slams itself against the door repetitively as Yin grabs Sam and run down the stairway.
The bodies are taken one by one out of the apartment rooftop. Crowds gather and are shaken with fear as rumours reached feverish height about supernatural occurrence. Sam and Yin are detained at the police station for questioning. In the interrogation room, Inspector Biao shared with Sam that Chan, Lam and Ho's bodies had been severely mutilated and mangled, and again severely drained of bloods. Sam told Biao everything. In a separate room, Yin said the same thing. They are detained for forty eight hours but without much evidence to implicate them, Sam and Yin are released. After the funerals of Chan, Lam and Ho, Sam and Yin meet up. At least six more residences have been found dead with two more reported missing.
Inspector Biao arrives at Unit 1351. The lightings at throughout the corridor are out except for a few fluorescent lightings which one was flickering. Biao put on a pair of gloves, switch on an LED torchlight and entered the unit. It was a nightmarish sight. There are pieces of torn clothes, bones and decomposing flesh. Dried bloods everyway. Biao pulls out his handkerchief to cover his mouth and nose. Something moves. Biao flashes the torchlight at it. The jiangshi is standing as still as a statue, facing Biao. Its jaw is biting on a large chunk of flesh, which looks like a piece of headless human neck. Biao freezes on the sight. Suddenly a hand grabs him. Biao instinctively pulls out his gun. Yin and Sam grab the inspector's hand and signal him to be quiet. They exit from the unit.
The three of them arrives at Ah Lok's house at outskirt. Biao is shaking and pale. Sam and Yin decides to finish up what the late Uncle Chan, Lam and Ho did. Before that Yin gives Sam and Biao a crash course on all about jiangshi and the methods to counter it. Yin and the late Ho are students of Uncle Lam, a master Taoist whom hailed from the last line of pure Taoist grandmasters. Uncle Chan is Uncle Lam's brother in practise. Yin shares that he possesses the gift of the third eye. He sees three malicious spirits within the jiangshi, making it impervious and powerful, something which is not recorded nor reported in any ancient texts or scrolls. He deducts that they must have gathered within the corpse due to extreme negative energies and unresolved anger. The number of victims the vampire had claimed have also elevated its qi to unprecedented height.
They began to prepare the necessary tools and equipment based on old texts and scrolls kept by the late Uncle Lam. Ah Lok wants to join in but is forbid by Sam. Biao suddenly laughed and said that why not just use bullets, grenades and kill the vampire instead of relying on ancient method. He half jokingly said that killing a black dog, regardless even if it was a stray, it is against the law and inhumane. As Sam, Yin and Ah Lok prepare, Biao goes to his Mercedes four wheel drive and produced two semi-automatics, grenades and bullets. Yin then comes out with the idea of engraving each bullets with spells and scriptures. Biao also chips in, improvising several self made gadgets which he thought would be more effective as well as procured SDU tactical body armours and helmets for them. There are also flare gun and sticks. Ah Lok gives them two machetes, inscribed with spells. Yin then asked Sam and Biao to stripped to their briefs, much to their bemusement. He then uses the black dog blood and inscribes Taoist protective spells on them. They then departs for the housing block. The wind howls.
It was the seventh lunar month. The Hungry Ghosts Festival is in full swing with people praying, burning joss sticks and giving offerings. The strategy is to lure out the jiangshi in the open, subdue it through the ba gua stance using the black dog blood drenched ropes and decapitate it. But the issue are the three malevolent spirits - Huang's, the mother and the son - making it difficult. Yin would need to exorcise the spirits first. Biao radio his squad to stand by at the apartment without revealing the supernatural aspect, just saying that the murder suspect has been identified. He orders them to be on high alert.
Through a spell, Yin stirs the jiangshi actively, which roars with hunger. It hops and exits unit 1351. The other end of the corridor has been inscribed with spells and scriptures. Sam, Biao and Yin look at Mandarin Huang hopping out. It growls and leaps at them. But they are prepared. First, they unleashed the net against it. Trapped, Biao used his improvised stunt gun and shot at Huang. It bounced off its body. Sam then threw glutinous rice at the vampire. Biao unloads his semi-auto gun at the jiangshi. Each bullet enters its body and each wound starts to ignite with flicker of flame. The jiangshi staggers but still stand. Yin succeed in inserting the jujube seeds onto its back. Although howling from pain, the vampire proves too strong by then. Its talons like claws would have slashed Yin to ribbons but thanks to the body armour, Yin is saved from grievous injuries. It thrown Yin off, hurling him into the air and landed on the floor, bones broken. Sam then leaps onto the jiangshi seemingly without any concern of his own safety. Yin, despite the injuries, begins to chant, summoning the spiritual powers of the late Uncle Chan and Lam. Sam goes into a stance. A battle of good and evil ensue. Sam moves and deftly wrap the thread around the jiangshi but is overwhelmed. The monster opens his jaw wide open, going for Sam's neck when Biao aims and shoots a flare gun right into the vampire's gaping maw. Sam punches the monster away, his eyes nearly blinded by the flare. Yin then begins another chant and performs exorcism. Huang's convulses, its jaw burning from the flares. Yin uses all his might to pull out the malicious spirits of the mother and son, separating from Huang's own. He trapped both malicious spirits within himself, falling unconscious. The jiangshi leaps at Biao, but Sam, possessed by the spiritual strength of Uncle Lam and Chan, jumps and pull it down mid-air as it is entangled in the threads, falling with a strong impact upon the concrete pavement. Biao takes the opportunity to produce a flask containing liquid nitrogen. He throws it at the vampire, and shoots the flask with such precision. The flask breaks and liquid nitrogen splashes all over Huang, and begins to freeze. Sam quickly grabs the two machetes and severe the vampire's head from its shoulder. It staggered backward, yet still stands. With a mighty kick, Sam pushes Huang and it falls over the corridor balcony. It breaks apart upon impact on the ground floor from the thirteenth floor. The police squad on standby is perplexed and amazed at the sight. They thought it is a statue which has fallen from above. Sam convulses as Uncle Lam and Chan's spirits leave. Biao and him help carry Yin. They have finally manage to destroy the vampire.
No one is allowed to enter the site of the incident and sealed up. The Chinese Ministry of State Security has taken over the case. All evidences of the jiangshi are confiscated. Witnesses, including Sam, Biao and his CIB team are forced to signed official documentation of confidentiality. Biao and his team are highly commended for solving the case, officially reported as a serial killer murders. The murderer is shot and fallen to his death. All three are threated for their wounds by specially assigned doctors from MSS. Sam half jokingly asks if they would turn into a jiangshi like in the movies. Tycoon Yam comes under investigation from the Chinese authorities for smuggling of antiques and national artefacts. He tries to use his vast network of connections with politicians and prominent individuals, but the Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong personally confronts him saying that he has crossed the line. Yam later disappears. He is found murdered two years later in Malaysia. Yam's body is found by the Royal Malaysia Police cut into pieces, buried in cement. Apparently the case involves a medium and her assistant with Yam seeking power of obtaining invincible body from weapons through black magic which gone horribly wrong. Sam continues his job as a stunt person but obviously finds himself another place to stay. He later becomes an acclaimed action choreographer. Yin carries out the ultimate sacrifice of using his spiritual strength to contain the two malicious spirits. Catatonic, Yin is committed to the sanatorium. Biao is promoted and rises through the ranks quickly, solving many cases. He and Sam sometimes meet up. They also visits Yin from time to time. Years later, Biao writes a supposedly fictional short novel based on the entire experience with input from Sam. The apartment complexes occupants continue their lives as usual but the thirteenth floor remains off limit except for officials from MSS entering and leaving occasionally.
2013. A famous scriptwriter comes up with a script based on the novel. A movie, with financial back up by a reputable production company and directed by well-known Japanese horror director based on the script is released to critical acclaim. The casting are offered and accepted by veteran actors and actresses from 80s horror movies. Ironically, the action choreographer is Sam Hung, whom also doubles up as the vampire in action sequences.
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Rigor Mortis is a 2013 Hong Kong horror film directed by Juno Mak, multi-talented artist but whom once became infamous for an incident involving ICAC investigation, and also produced by Takashi Shimizu, famous for being the creator of the Japanese Ju-on series and American The Grudge franchise. The film is a tribute to the 80s popular Mr. Vampire film series. Many of the former cast are featured in this film: Chin Siu-ho, Anthony Chan, Billy Lau, Richard Ng as well as Chung Fat. Lam Ching Ying, popular for his iconic role as Taoist priest in nearly every Mr. Vampire franchise, unfortunately has passed away in 1997 before this movie is made. Additionally, Chung Fat, who starred in Encounters of the Spooky Kind, is also featured. This is Storm Collectibles 1/6th scale version of the vampire featured in the movie, played by Richard Ng, a departure from his signature comedic role. This is my first figure from Storm Collectibles of which I purchased directly online and was delivered earlier. The figure is good, capturing the feel of the celluloid version, with the exception of course, the colour, which I feel a tad too flesh like. A touch of more greyish tone would be nice. The figure comes un-clothed, so I need to insert those pesky Chinese buttons which took me nearly two hours. Like those pesky military figures. The figure joints are a tad loose but alright. However, my expectation for the Chinese coins mask is not met as I was hoping for individual, perhaps, die-cast pieces. Now that would be awesome. Putting on the mask also needs adjustment and, I might be wrong here, fits only the first headsculpt (there are two headsculpts). I shown it to Chloe and Dylan but they just brushed it off, not what I expected. Kids nowadays are so different from my generation. I would run off if I seen this figure.
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