Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Bio Zombie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 21, 2023

1998’s “Bio-Zombie” takes viewers into the Hong Kong “shopping arcade” culture of the decade, where merchants of debatable reputation sold whatever they could to make a living, including the murky legal world of video compact disc releases. An exploration of the VCD industry, which favored the sale of bootlegged movies and pornography, is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the picture, with co-writer/director Wilson Yip creating an evocative understanding of daily business and the atmosphere of such mall activity, giving viewers a glimpse into this strange way of life. And there’s a zombie feature included here as well, with Yip looking to pay tribute to beloved genre highlights with a frenzied take on the spread of the undead. He certainly has enthusiasm for gruesome encounters, but not much of a game plan when it comes to story and character, offering a one- note understanding of obnoxious characters dealing with an unbelievable situation of survival, and he takes his time to reach his offering of ultraviolence, making for a somewhat tedious sit.

Woody Invincible (Jordan Chan) and Crazy Bee (Sam Lee) are two habitual underachievers trying to make some money in the VCD market, running a shop where they often downplay the unscrupulous nature of their business. The young men are undersexed and quite dim, living to make life unpleasant for others, including Rolls (Angela Tong), a fellow con artist using her feminine appeal to get what she wants, including free food from sushi chef Loi (Emotion Cheung), who’s deeply in love with her. While Woody and Crazy Bee dream up wacky plans to make some quick cash, including murdering Rolls, the men are soon distracted by their discovery of a sick man on the side of the road, unaware the stranger was recently involved in a disastrous bioweapons test, with a dangerous chemical added to a popular soft drink. Accidentally triggering a zombie outbreak in the shopping arcade, Woody, Crazy Bee, and Rolls team up to survive the nightmare, using their limited intellect and video game training to do battle with the relentless ways of the undead.

Woody and Crazy Bee aren’t likable guys, which isn’t necessary for the picture to work, but Yip has trouble portioning out their mischief. While zombies are eventually identified as the enemy force in the feature, Woody and Crazy Bee are more frightening, with the duo touring the arcade area, openly lusting after most women they encounter, and they’re not above taking lives to collect some money, targeting Rolls in a bathroom, where Crazy Bee is ready to plunge a knife into her head. Heroes? No, and they’re not fun either, with Yip mismanaging such behavioral extremity, turning time with Woody and Crazy Bee into a grand test of patience, especially when they tease “Three Stooges” mode as the idiots often work against each other when trying to help each other.

“Bio-Zombie” doesn’t indulge undead business for quite some time, spending the first half teasing horrific developments with the arrival of the bioweapon, which is added to soda to help spread it as fast as possible. A test of zombie might goes wrong, and a lone survivor manages to get hit by Woody and Crazy Bee’s car, connecting certain doom to two buffoons who unknowingly trigger an outbreak in the process of trying to help a fallen man. And yet, even after this turn of plot, it takes an unusually long time for “Bio-Zombie” to get going with survival sequences. Yip is too invested in goofballery from Woody and Crazy Bee to really pay much attention to horror happenings, following the men as they struggle with their masculinity, eventually making nice with Rolls (after robbing her, of course), bringing the threesome to a date night at the sushi restaurant, where Loi’s heart is broken. The chef plays a larger part in the unfolding disaster found in the second half of the feature, but even Loi’s tango with terror is delayed, as Woody and Crazy Bee also have to deal with arcade security, generating more unfunny, overlong asides for Yip, making one suspect he’s not all that interested in doing much with zombie cinema.

Bio Zombie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "studio supplied master with additional restoration performed by VS." It's unusual language from Vinegar Syndrome, but the viewing experience remains approachable, detailing the gruesome particulars of the zombie outbreak, with underwhelming makeup work on display, examining decayed skin. Human textures are equally accessible, along with fibrousness on costuming. Interiors are perhaps most interesting here, with plenty of decorative additions in various shops. Colors are inherently enhanced, with nuclear blues and pinks found around arcade areas, and clothing choices favor bold primaries. Deep reds on blood are a common sight. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like.

Bio Zombie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is a Cantonese-language track, and dialogue exchanges are clear throughout the listening event. Matters of life and death are reasonably balanced, without distortive extremes. Scoring offers decent support, with clear instrumentation and more potent emphasis when necessary. Sound effects are appreciable.

Bio Zombie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (18 pages) includes essays by Rod Lott and Ariel Esteban Cayer.

• Commentary features film historian Frank Djeng.

• Interview (18:59, HD) is a 2020 discussion of "Bio-Zombie" with director Wilson Yip, who claims the feature is the first zombie movie made in Hong Kong. Looking to make a movie about the "shopping arcade" culture of the era, the Yip elected to indulge his love of genre entertainment with the story, which was created during a tumultuous time in the region. The interviewee is candid about the makeup efforts found in the picture, and he shares his directorial influences, turning to George Romero for inspiration. Technical challenges are identified, and BTS relationships are explored, with Yip's time with producer Joe Ma offering a true business education. The film's box office performance and cult longevity are also assessed.

• "Video Games, Contaminated Lucozade, and Human Sushi" (12:37, HD) is a video essay prepared by Chris O'Neill.

• Alternate Ending (3:17, HD) is offered.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Bio Zombie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Bio-Zombie" eventually gets to some hellraising in the final act, unleashing monsters inside the arcade, forcing the living to battle the undead. Yip offers a few creative shots, and the material's introduction of video game training is amusing, but makeup efforts are lackluster, with most of the ghouls looking like average trick-or-treaters, not powerfully cinematic creeps on the hunt for blood. Things get crazy in the movie, but such broadness is generally muted by Yip's unwelcome choice to add a little sincerity to the adventure as Woody and Rolls get close (keep in mind, he also participated in nearly killing this woman earlier in the day), inching the film away from the wackiness it previously invested in. Such a dip into emotion isn't welcome here, and it adds to the unevenness of the endeavor. There are bursts of insanity to enjoy in the picture, but "Bio-Zombie" isn't all that inspired, with more care put into the story's setting than its violent payoff.