Kung Fu Zombie—a film that boldly declares, “Why settle for just martial arts or zombies when you can have both, with an extra side of nonsense?” This 1981 Hong Kong horror-comedy is a fever-dream fusion of kung fu madness, supernatural shenanigans, and a plot so haphazard it feels like it was assembled on the spot by people who’d only vaguely been told what movies are.
Billy Chong stars as Pang, a martial arts master with a knack for fighting zombies and a face that screams “I didn’t sign up for this.” Pang gets embroiled in a bizarre tale involving a hapless villain, a Taoist priest, and a vengeful ghost, all culminating in kung fu battles against reanimated corpses that are as hilariously chaotic as they sound. It’s a genre mash-up that no one asked for, but I, for one, am glad someone delivered.
The fight choreography is surprisingly solid, even when it’s buried under layers of slapstick and supernatural absurdity. Billy Chong’s martial arts prowess is impressive, and he dispatches his undead foes with the kind of fluidity that makes you wonder if zombies should always have been part of kung fu cinema. Why punch a human when you can kick a zombie into a wall and call it a day?
Of course, the zombies themselves deserve a mention. These aren’t your shambling, moaning Romero-style zombies. No, these are hopping zombies (a classic in Chinese folklore), and they hop with such gusto that you almost expect a referee to pop in and declare it a trampoline competition. Add to that the fact that many of them seem as confused about their role in the story as the audience likely is, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for unintentional comedy gold.
The film’s humor is delightfully lowbrow, with plenty of exaggerated facial expressions, cartoonish sound effects, and over-the-top antics. It’s like watching an episode of Scooby-Doo after everyone’s had a bit too much sake. The ghostly antics and Taoist priest rituals are equally ridiculous, often veering into “so bad it’s good” territory.
The plot? Oh, it’s there, somewhere, buried under layers of kung fu chaos and supernatural mayhem. Something about revenge, mistaken identities, and probably some cosmic misunderstanding about how the afterlife works. But let’s be honest—you’re not watching Kung Fu Zombie for the story. You’re here for the absurdity, and it delivers that in spades.
Would I recommend it? With great enthusiasm, provided you’re prepared for a film that leans hard into its campy ridiculousness. Kung Fu Zombie is a gloriously unhinged romp through the wild world of Hong Kong genre cinema, and while it’s far from polished, it’s undeniably entertaining.
Rating: 4 monocles out of 5
For its impressive fight scenes, hopping zombie hilarity, and sheer commitment to its madness. A must-watch for fans of martial arts and the undead—or anyone curious about what happens when those worlds collide.