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The Three-Headed Monster
Ginseng King / Three-Head Monster
Taiwan 1988
produced by Liu Sheng-Chung
directed by Wang Chu-Chin
starring Chen Ying-Chieh, Cynthia Khan, Chien Shun (= Kim Fan), Wang Shao-Chun, Chi Ming-Yu, Li Chih-Ming, Lai Tang-Chang, Lin Kuan-Fang, Pan Chih-Cheng, Li Hsi-Ku
written by Chu Yu-lin, Kuo Chun-Ming, music by Hsi Yu-Lung
review by Mike Haberfelner
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When little Hsiaoming (Chen Ying-Chieh) goes to the woods to collect
some ginseng to cure his ailing mother, he stumbles upon the 1000 year old
Ginseng King, whose whiskers can grant eternal life. He's friendly enough,
but then chased away by the Little Princess (Cynthia Khan) and her goons,
who are after the Ginseng King for their master, the Three-Headed Demon.
Unfortunately one of the Ginseng King's whiskers falls onto the grave of a
Nazi, who now returns as a zombie, and soon enough comes after Hsiaoming
and his mum, and if it wasn't for the swastika (a symbol of peace in
China) on the bag of the monk (Chien Shun) who treats mum that causes the
zombie to constantly salute "Heil Hitler", they wouldn't even
remotely have the time enough to come up with a plan to destroy the
zombie. However, soon after that, enter the Little Princess and company,
who abduct the mother in order to lure her son to the lair of the
Three-Headed Demon which in turn they figure would lure the Ginseng King
in. For protection, Hsiaoming is accompanied by the Eternal God, an old
and mischievious drunkard, but still it seems the Three-Headed Demon's
plan works out fine and soon enouch Hisaming, the Eternal God and the
Ginseng King are all incarcerated - but then unexpected help comes from
the Little Princess, who only does the Three-Headed Demon's bidding
because he holds her mother hostage. Still, to break free Hsiaoming and
the Little Princess's mothers and set the Ginseng King free, our heroes
might be a bit out of their league ...
Now this is nothing if not a wild movie, pretty much throwing
fantasy and horror elements onto its main narrative rather at will - but
that said, don't expect a special effects spectacle even remotely
resembling the previous year's A
Chinese Ghost Story, as this film is strictly low budget, with not
really convincing monster-suits and below average action - and exactly
this is what gives this movie its (at least for grindhouse enthusiasts
like me) irresistible B-movie charms where big ideas don't always match
execution, but an enthusiasm to tell an outlandish story easily shines
through, in the most endearing way.
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