Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Bride from Hell Blu-ray Movie Review

The Bride from Hell is a supernatural-horror mystery with action-adventure a part of the equation. The Shaw Brothers production is a classic Hong Kong gem with plenty of surprises in store for audiences. Featuring a great mix of comedy and drama, The Bride from Hell is a fantastic Shaw Brothers film. Audiences seeking a unique Shaw Brothers film with a supernatural spin will appreciate this one. Produced by Runme Shaw (The Sword Stained with Royal Blood, The Rebel Intruders). Featuring performances by Fan Yang, Margaret Hsing Hui, and Carrie Ku Mei.

Nieh Yun Peng (Fan Yang) comes across the beautiful Anu (Margaret Hsing Hui) while she is naked and in a relaxed state of slumber. Upon meeting Anu, the two find themselves becoming intertwined in each other’s lives. A marriage is soon agreed upon. Nieh Yun Peng will marry her and the two will live a happier life. Yet things are not exactly as they may first seem – Nieh Yun Peng and his bumbling sidekick both encounter beautiful women ready to marry – but as it turns out, the pair of gorgeous ladies might be ghosts!

Nieh Yun Peng’s bride was brutally raped and murdered by her family member decades prior and left in a state of perpetual turmoil as a wandering ghost. Can Anu find peace with Nieh Yun Peng or will the terrors of her past never disappear? Can an exorcism be performed? Part horror-thriller with supernatural elements and part comedy (with the sidekick character getting into an abundance of unexpected trouble), The Bride from Hell is a mysterious and ghostly supernatural tale.

The performances are a ton of the fun in The Bride from Hell. The Bride from Hell has a fantastic cast and the characters are brought to life by the cast. Fan Yang is exceptional in the film as one of the leads of the story – a stoic and inspired performance. Margaret Hsing Hui is terrific as the ghostly Anu, with a performance showing the beauty and pain of the character in good measure. The bumbling sidekick character accompanying Nieh Yun Peng is also terrific and brought to life well by the actor – with an abundance of laugh-out-loud moments in the film.

The production looks terrific and there are incredible aesthetic elements on display throughout the feature. The film achieves an incredible aesthetic with the production values being a huge benefit expanding on the scale and scope of the filmmaking. The Bride from Hell features first-rate art direction by Yi-Chao Wang (Lu ke yu dao ke, Xin hong lou meng). The art direction showcases the spooky and eerie supernatural qualities of the film in subtle and effective ways.

The special effects are surprisingly good for the production and the photochemical effects used in the film achieve some interesting visual qualities. The ghostly appearance of Anu is something that is creatively showcased with color-tones that evoke something mysterious and surreal. A uniquely fantastic effort in the special effects realm.

The costume designs by Feng Tan are well-done and add to the production values of The Bride from Hell. The costuming is effective on both the male and female leads in the feature-film. The ghost character element highlights are well emphasized with costumes creatively done for these characters. A good effort by designer Tan.

The score composed by Eddie Wang (The Story of a Discharged Prisoner, To Kill a Mastermind) is a joy and one of the highlights of the film. Wang is a talented composer with a lot of skill and talent. The music plays a vital role in the storytelling.

The cinematography by Te-Li Hsu (The Death Player, The Modern Spy) is incredible and brings a lot of great splendor to the production. Hsu has a great visual sensibility as cinematographer. The visual lensing is top-notch and it brings the storytelling to life. The Bride from Hell walks a fine line with exploring both the visual splendor of the outdoor scenes and the haunting surrealism of the supernatural elements.

Written by Tien-Yung Hsu (Evil Slaughter, The Crocodile Men), The Bride from Hell is a lot of fun and the script does a great job with showcasing both the comedy and terror of the film. There are some dark themes explored in The Bride from Hell and some philosophical moments in the script, too. There is similarly a dramatic backdrop to the film and one that helps the characters to be more well-rounded. Alongside these elements, the comedy comes through – especially with the bumbling sidekick character – and these moments are superb fun.

Directed by Hsu-Chiang Chou (The Enchanting Ghost, A Daughter’s Vengeance), The Bride from Hell is a must-see for Shaw Brothers fans. The Bride from Hell is an example of terrific filmmaking and there is plenty of mysteriousness to the production. Director Chou has an incredible sensibility as a filmmaker and the evocative visuals are absorbing. As a spookier Shaw Brothers film, The Bride from Hell is a lot of fun.

The Bride from Hell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Bride from Hell is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2:35:1 widescreen. The high-definition video is impressive with good color reproduction and detail. The transfer looks strikingly beautiful at times. A wonderful showcase for the gothic qualities of the film. The supernatural elements of The Bride from Hell are the most visually interesting in the film and the transfer capably highlights the mood and atmosphere.

The Bride from Hell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio capably presents the dialogue and sound design. Dialogue is easy to understand. The score is emphasized well during the presentation. The subtitles were well-done on the release. A quality encoding by Shout Factory.

The Bride from Hell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Film Critic James Mudge

A More Traditional Terror – Interview with Hong Kong Film Historian Tony Rayns (HD, 56:13)

Original Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3:40)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:17)

The Bride from Hell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Bride from Hell is a terrific supernatural Shaw Brothers film with an incredible sense of style. The filmmaking is top-notch and a lot of fun. Fans of classic Shaw Brothers productions won't want to miss seeing this classic gem.

The Blu-ray release features a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. The release also comes with a nice supplemental packaging including an interview featuring Hong Kong film historian Tony Rayns. Recommended.