Tsui Hark is arguably one of the most influential figures in the modern history of Hong Kong cinema, having been a major figure during the New Wave movement of the 1980s. A director, producer, and sometimes actor, Hark has conjured up a wide variety of films, ranging from action thrillers to historical epics. However, in his debut feature, “The Butterfly Murders”, the director blends genres to deliver a different flavour of wuxia film.
Fong Hongye (Lau Siu-Ming) is a wandering scholar who writes of his travels to inform the populace. One journey sees him invited to Thunder Castle, where a mysterious string of murders has been taking place at the hands of butterflies. The master of the castle, Qing Shum (Chang Kuo-Chu), hopes that Fong, along with clan leader Tien Lung (Wong Shu-Tong) and lone-wolf Green Shadow (Michelle Yim), can help solve the mystery of the murders and put a stop to the bloodshed.
While a wuxia film at heart, “The Butterfly Murders” wouldn't be out of place in a fright fest line-up thanks to the many slasher elements it incorporates. The actual butterfly murders themselves tinge on the supernatural, yet the later introduction of a murderous armoured man means the movie has a mysterious villain that wouldn't feel out of place in a Giallo flick. The man in question dons an iconic garb and proves to be more tactile than the typically lumbering masked killers. All of the murder setups feel like they've been ripped out of an 80s slasher, which is quite impressive given that Hark's feature released only one year after John Carpenter re-invented the genre with “Halloween”.
The bulk of the story centres around solving the mystery behind the sudden appearance of killer butterflies as well as how to stop them. Fong and Green Shadow emerge as the leading characters of the film and make a rather charming investigative duo. Hiding from the butterflies in the castle's underground caverns, the two slink and sneak through the dark and dreary labyrinth, stumbling into hidden rooms and making shocking discoveries. The caverns themselves add to the spooky atmosphere of the film and give it quite a claustrophobic feel, particularly when a killer begins to lurk.
The mystery of the butterflies and the murderous armoured man are easily the most enticing aspects of the film, and the plot seems to peter out once both have been solved. Not only do we see the premature exit of a major character, but we're also left with a rather lacklustre finale that is jarring compared to what has come before. The ending by no means ruins the movie, but it does come across as more of an afterthought than a satisfying conclusion. However, I must confess that the stakes by the end of the film rather went over my head, so perhaps another viewer might garner more from this peculiar climax.
It wouldn't quite be classic wuxia without a little bit of magic, and we get it here in the form of a duo known as The Thunders. Li Kim, ‘The Thousand Hands', and Kwok Lik, ‘The Magic Fire', possess extraordinary abilities that make them both useful allies and formidable foes to our investigating party. The two are undeniably at their best when wreaking havoc in the caverns, as they take part in several of the film's more memorable fight scenes. Kwok, in particular, is a joy to behold as he gleefully burns hapless soldiers to a crisp.
One aspect of the film that still has me floored, and to some extent scared, is the execution of the butterfly sequences. The usually tantalising winged insects are frightening here as they swarm around their victims and slowly bite them to death. How such scenes were crafted, I have no idea, yet the flood of butterflies that attack en masse makes for an intimidating prospect. The intense close-ups of swollen hands and bloody skin make up some of the more gruesome shots in the film. Convincingly turning such alluring creatures into genuinely threatening death merchants is another surprising area in which the movie succeeds.
Complementing this bizarre film nicely is the colourful ensemble of actors that somehow sells the bonkers idea of killer butterflies. Lau Siu-Ming's Fong is easily the most relatable figure, acting as the detective of this story. Fong's calm and collected demeanour means that he is one of the more level-headed characters in the film. In stark contrast, we have Tino Wong Cheung and Eddy Ko Hung, who chew the scenery as The Thunders and revel in the carnage they cause. Great also is Michelle Yim, who is by far the most charming addition to the cast. Cool and confident, she carries the most presence in any scene that she's in.
“The Butterfly Murders” is a gloriously messy mish-mash of genres that is sure to entice even the most avid of wuxia watchers. The blend of wuxia and slasher cinema is an unorthodox mix, and while a little clunky, it mostly works well to make for a surprising and entertaining ride. The intricacies of the plot occasionally get lost in the castle caverns, but overall, the film has enough in terms of intrigue and atmosphere to make it worth seeking out.
