Even for a horror film, and recognizing that this made of, by, and for another culture, there are some facets that won't sit well with all viewers. There's no mistaking that this is a title made without modern, western conceptions of humane treatment of animals, and there are no few scenes that involve deliberate animal injury and death. In a broader sense, one should be aware of an element of exploitation; American and European filmmakers have more heavily explored notions similar to some that are touched upon here and have been lambasted for stereotypical and negative portrayals of other cultures that are deemed "primitive." And even setting all this aside, while 'Red spell spells red' fits in neatly with other contemporary horror flicks out of Hong Kong, it may not necessarily meet the preferences of all genre fans as the flavors here are, strictly speaking, less outright visceral and thrilling. On the other hand, as the picture leans considerably on notions of mysticism and black magic, and general supernatural flourishes, it's flush with ominous airs and gnarly imagery to satisfy our cravings. In some capacities it may even exceed some like-minded fare from more famous production companies like The Shaw Brothers or Golden Harvest, and for whatever distinctions one may make about the presentation, the overall experience here is delightfully sinister and fun. In fact, while it isn't wholly perfect, as far as I'm concerned this 1983 flick is a blast, and I think most anyone who appreciates its brethren will find a lot to love here, too!
There are points where the narrative feels a tad loose, or even divided, with thin connections between multiple ideas that add a needless measure of convolution. But by and large Suet Ming Chan penned a tale that's at once wonderfully dark, yet cheekily and grimly entertaining - the best of both worlds. The story is complete and compelling in depicting a film crew afflicted by the evil they unwittingly unleashed, and the scene writing is surely more robust still in providing the framework for a cavalcade of violence and bloodshed, and a wide variety at that. Just as much to the point, the narrative quite serves as a vehicle more than anything else, for 'Red spell spells red' is nothing if not a showcase of the terrific imagination of filmmaker Titus Ho and all those operating behind the scenes. With each passing moment we're treated to superb, inventive stunts and a panoply of practical effects, including blood, gore, and special makeup, that are earnestly creepy and gruesome. At the same time that Ho shows a keen sense for orchestrating scenes to maximize the impact of each beat and inclusion, he also illustrates a fine eye for shot composition, and some moments are weirdly beautiful in how they present. That is certainly made easier with beautiful filming locations, gorgeous and detailed art direction, and equal artful care applied to costume design and props. Sharp editing, and Wing-seung Chan and Yung-Lung Wang's smart and dynamic cinematography, are likewise outstanding in helping to shape the spectacle, and I could hardly be more pleased with just how well made this is in all regards.
This is definitely not to count out the cast, as from one to the next the roles are all rather demanding in terms of physicality and sheer intensity. No one necessarily stands out above another, but all the actors are firmly committed and give excellent performances befitting the overall tone and the needs of each scene in turn. Really, I'm hard-pressed to identify any specific flaws here, save for that the plot could have been tighter. It seems to me that the writing splits its attention a little too much in terms of giving an explanation for the course of events, and in the process it loses some cohesiveness. One might also imagine how, if the writing were tighter, the saga could have plausibly been taken on a more expansive path - but then, even if imperfect, it ultimately works just as well exactly as it presents, which again speaks well to the screenplay here. Otherwise I had a fantastic time watching, reveling in all the creative stunts, effects, scene ideas, and complex sequences. Him and haw all one wants about the particulars, at the end of the day this serves up horror that is both ghastly, and enjoyable in a somewhat playful way. As a matter of personal preference it won't appeal to all, yet when all is said and done I think 'Red spell spells red' is a marvelous slice of Hong Kong genre cinema, and I'd be happy to recommend it to just about anyone. As far as I'm concerned this deserves much more recognition!
