A Chinese Ghost Story

Plot

Ning Caichen, a timid debt collector, takes shelter in a deserted temple in a forest. There he meets Nie Xiaoqian and falls in love. The next morning, Taoist priest Yan Chixia warns him he encountered ghosts. Ning returns and confirms Nie is a ghost. Nie explains she is enslaved by a Tree Demoness because her remains are buried at the tree's foot. Ning seeks Yan's help to free her. Yan fights the demoness but loses; Nie's soul is banished to the Underworld. Ning convinces Yan to open a portal to the Underworld, where he briefly reunites with Nie. He learns that reburying her remains at an auspicious site can save her soul, which he does, burning a joss stick and praying.

Production

Tsui Hark first considered creating A Chinese Ghost Story in 1978, proposing a television series to TVB, but producers declined. The film draws on elements from Pu Songling's 17th-century collection Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Tsui noted that they changed much of the stories because the originals contradicted their initial interpretation. Ching Siu-tung wanted to work with Tsui, having previously directed and choreographed action for Film Workshop productions.

Tsui suggested a love story, but Ching was not interested in a pure romance or non-horror ghost film. Tsui's bosses approached him to make a film about a female cop, unaware it was based on a book or a period piece. Tsui and Ching did not know what the film would become; Ching remained apprehensive about romance and wanted horror elements. Rumours persist that Tsui effectively ghost-directed the film.

British critic Tony Rayns stated that most Film Workshop productions were redirected by Tsui. Tsui envisioned Nie Xiaoqian as a crossover between an angel and a demon, first offering the role to Japanese singer-actress Akina Nakamori, who declined due to language barriers. Second choice May Lo was too busy. Joey Wong auditioned through Tsui's wife Nansun Shi and was cast, having been a professional basketball player and model.

Release

A Chinese Ghost Story first hit theaters on July 18, 1987, playing across Asia and Europe. That same year, it took home the Special Jury Prize at France’s Avoriaz festival and the Best Film Award at Portugal’s Opporto Festival. In Hong Kong, the film pulled in 18,831,638 HKD, landing as the fifteenth highest-grossing release of 1987. In Taiwan, it ranked eleventh, selling 187,654 tickets for US$443,515.

South Korea saw 31,639 tickets sold in Seoul after its December 1987 debut. The UK market was smaller, with 1,045 tickets sold in 1996. In China, the film earned US$328,204 in 2008 and additional revenue in 2011. To honor Leslie Cheung, director Ching Siu-tung and producer Ng See-yuen brought the film back to mainland Chinese cinemas on April 30, 2011, with a remastered color timing that took about half a year.

Premieres were held in Beijing and Shanghai, with Ching, Ng, and Lau Siu-ming attending; Wu Ma and Joey Wong were invited but did not appear. Wong’s father said she was in poor health and that acting in the film was one of her best memories. In 2025, Cinema City Enterprises created a 4K restoration, releasing it in China on March 21 in standard and 4DX formats, earning 10 million RMB in its first week. Shout! Factory put out digital and Blu-ray versions in August and October 2025.

Reception and legacy

Contemporary reviews were mixed. Walter Goodman of The New York Times noted poor subtitling and questioned the film's profundity. Kim Newman of Monthly Film Bulletin praised it as an excellent example of Hong Kong ghost/horror cinema, comparing its mythos to Universal horror or Hammer films. Variety's critic Mel commended Cinema City for original Chinese material, art direction, costumes, cinematography, and soundtrack, calling it an entertaining love story with horror and fantasy.

Retrospective reviews were largely positive. The Guardian described it as a breakthrough film of modern Hong Kong cinema, with dubious knockabout comedy and frantic stunts. Empire gave four stars out of five, noting gorgeous imagery and strangeness. Donald C Willis called it an entertaining fantasy extravaganza, inventive and occasionally poetic but not quite moving.

John Charles rated it eight out of ten, noting debt to The Evil Dead but praising cinematography, art direction, action, and the touching love story.