“Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio” is a collection of close to 500 Chinese stories written by Pu Song Ling of the Qing dynasty. These fictional tales mostly touch on the themes of rebirth, reincarnation, ghosts, gods and the supernatural. Many filmmakers have adapted numerous of his works into films and TV series since then. Loosely based on a story of the same name and filmed in China, King Hu‘s “Painted Skin” was also his last film.
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One night, a reasonably well off but failed scholar Wang Shun Sheng (Adam Cheng) runs into a pretty young woman, You Feng (Joey Wong) on his way home. Since she is a runaway, he takes pity on her and takes her home. Just when he is about to have his way with her, the sun comes up and she starts to panic. Nonetheless, the disappointed and married Wang lets her stay and decides to make her his concubine.
While checking on You later on, Wang and his wife accidentally witness her taking off her facial skin mask and painting it. It becomes obvious that she is a ghost pretending to be a human. Terror-stricken Wang then rushes to the local temple and seeks help from the Taoist priests to get rid of her. However, they soon learn that she has escaped from the evil King of the Yin and Yang world and has no intention of hurting Wang or anyone. In fact, she just wants to find a way to free her soul and rest in eternal peace.
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In order to be fully free from the control of the King, the helpless You enlists the help of the local Taoist, Chang Dao Ling (Lau Shun) and his disciple Yi Ching (Wu Ma). But the almighty King of the Yin Yang world is too powerful for the both of them. Upon learning that there is an even more skillful hermit Taoist, Master Tai Yi (Sammo Hung), the threesome sets out to find him. Moreover, the King has possessed scholar Wang and together with his followers, they take on human forms and cause even more trouble in the mortal world.
Hu’s final film is a curious project indeed. For a start, it looks and feels like another version of Ching Siu Tung’s “A Chinese Ghost Story” right down to the casting of Joey Wong and Wu Ma as the protagonists. Strangely, the overall narrative plays out like three distinctive but separate subplots. A weak nobody Wang and You, the lady ghost, set the scene first. As she and the Taoist priests go on a trip to look for Master Tai Yi, scholar Wang certainly disappears completely. The final act then switches to the fight between Tai and the demon King.
Designed by Chui Jong Shin, the action and visual special effects, mainly smoke and fireballs, are average and uninspired. Also don’t expect any memorable fight sequences or real kung fu on display here. However, it is Hu’s keen eye for visuals that save the film from being unwatchable. Also his amazing use of lighting, composition and slow motion sure helps to bring the films to another level. Besides, the beautiful Mainland locations, like the Great Wall and the detailed costumes and props all help to make the production memorable.
In general, all the actors play their parts adequately well. Adam Cheng basically plays two different characters. His transformation from a timid and horny scholar to an evil person possessed by a demon is rather impressive and unintentionally funny at times. Again the attractive Joey Wong shows that she is a master and very much at home playing the usual good-hearted ghost or a spirit caught in limbo. Lau Shun, the evil eunuch from “Swordsman” plays the bumbling Taoist Chang Dao Ling while Wu Ma portrays his disciple. Looking good in his high priest robes, Sammo Hung plays the mighty and highly skilled Master Tai Yi. Elsewhere, the wonderful Lam Ching Ying turns up as the Purple Taoist in a brief cameo and shines.
“Painted Skin” looks great visually, it is atmospheric and wonderfully lit. But unfortunately, even with the fantastic cast, Hu’s final film was a box office failure and a far cry from his previous works. In addition, audiences probably don’t click with its old fashioned theme of reincarnation and weak special effects. Nonetheless, it is still worth a watch as a light entertainment.
