Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 9, 2026

Depending on who's talking, Picture of a Nymph might be considered either a prequel or a sequel (of sorts, anyway) to A Chinese Ghost Story, though it's just as likely that both films are simply reminiscent of each other because they're both based on the same source, a 17th century tome known as Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liao Zhai Zhi Yi). There may be some who consider the similarities between the two properties to hardly be a coincidence in a "meta" sense, since there's little doubt that the success of A Chinese Ghost Story probably helped spark this particular film, one way or the other.

The tethers between the two films, already all but unavoidable, are probably further enhanced by the fact that both Wu Ma and Joey Wang (or Wong) return for this outing, and it may be pretty salient to note that Wu Ma also picked up the directing duties on this kinda sorta carbon copy ( Ching Siu- tung directed A Chinese Ghost Story). Despite the obvious "echoes" this film provides, there's still a kind of charming aspect to Picture of a Nymph that sets it at least a little apart from its predecessor, perhaps most notably in a somewhat "kinder, gentler" approach that may invite approving eyes of younger viewers in particular. This is still not an especially artfully made film, and some of the special effects work is arguably a bit on the comical side.

There's a maybe slight The Picture of Dorian Gray adjacent feel to the fact that the female ghost in this tale is being kept "safe" in a portrait. While Wu Ma is back, as mentioned above, as more or less the same Taoist monk he played in the first film, he's aided and abetted here by an acolyte played by Yuen Biao, who handles a lot of the film's action elements.

Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Picture of a Nymph is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The back cover of this release has some "fine print" stating this is a brand new 2K restoration from the original negative. The results are quite winning, especially from a palette standpoint. As is discussed in David West's commentary in particular, the use of reds to establish the bridal state of a major character provides ample opportunities for some really gorgeously suffused tones in that end of the spectrum, but other primaries also pop extremely well, especially blues. Detail levels on all the practical sets and costumes is typically excellent. There is some passing softness that can be spotted in midrange framings in particular, and the story itself has a glut of pretty dimly lit vignettes where fine detail levels can ebb. Some of the composited special effects show their age. Compression is quite good, especially considering some of the misty, dark environments, and grain resolves without any issues. My score is 4.25.

Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Picture of a Nymph features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track in the original Cantonese. The film is (maybe almost literally) awash in sound effects, including some gurgling water noises in the kind of nonsensical opening prelude that more or less recreates the Baby Moses story, Chinese style. Sound effects throughout the many VFX sequences can be on the daffy side at times, but reverberate with sufficient energy. The synth drenched score is probably not going to be to everyone's taste, and some of the other musical material, like a goofy song that introduces the Taoist monk, is also not exactly hummable. That said, all scoring boasts fine fidelity. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng


• Audio Commentary by David West


• Image Gallery (HD; 1:32)


• Original Trailer (HD; 3:35)

If the on disc supplements aren't especially bounteous, 88 Films has packaged this release pretty extravagantly, with an O ring type slipcover enclosing a nicely illustrated slipbox which itself holds a keepcase, an art card and a really nicely produced insert booklet with two great essays and a wealth of photos and other art. The keepcase sleeve is reversible.

Picture of a Nymph Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Like a lot of properties which arguably may have been made to cash in on the recent success of another property, Picture of a Nymph can't quite muster the same level of ingenuity and craft that A Chinese Ghost Story offers. There's still some affable if goofy charm on tap here, and 88 Films has provided a release with solid technical merits, appealing on disc commentaries and some really handsome packaging with notable swag, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.