Esprit D'Amour (2001)

Esprit D'Amour is a return to the horror anthology genre; somewhat scarce on Hong Kong theatre screens as of late bar the occasional Mongkok morning show Troublesome Night re-run. The format is simple, with three stories brought together under a single presentation:

First up is the tale of Joe Chan (Julian Cheung), an Pay-TV office manager mourning the death of wife-to-be Winnie Tsang (Lee). Coming back to work, the business is wracked by a takeover bid orchestrated by unlikable wrongdoers Andrew and Kitty. A spirit knows they're up to nasty business and offs them while Joe comes to terms with his loss.

Story two centres on not-so-literate taxi driver Shing Wai-lin (Loui). Known to his mates as Shing, he sees girlfriend Grace (Yiu) fall for another man and in his gloom visits a tarot reader. The mystic's none too impressed with the future she reveals. Shing is set to meet a strange woman and he'll be in such danger, she says. So serious is his case that the clairvoyant requests no payment and advises Shing to never return for another reading. Later on, in the dead of night, Shing picks up Cher (Pinky Cheung) and gives her a ride to Wo Hop Shek Cemetery. Cher soon becomes a regular fare, Shing gets closer, and there is indeed danger lurking close at hand.

The final part heads into a dingy flatshare, housing nurse Mindy (Yuen), Aunt Ha (Law), an old man on his deathbed and troubled gangster Ton (Wong). The triad has rarely been spotted by Mindy until now, coming in as he does in various states of injury. When Ton comes in one night and has his latest wounds tended to, Mindy is drawn to his mysterious character. But something else is being drawn to the flat's dark hallway in the meantime; Aunt Ha knows it but the other folks carry on oblivious...

Using the familiar concept in Hong Kong film, the triptych horror presentation here is given a more serious approach in Esprit D'Amour. Though vaguely connected and providing the occasional red herring, the three plots add up to neither a wholly satisfying or cohesive film, and are likely to leave viewers more downbeat than alert and intrigued. The tales of the supernatural are presented largely without the comedy found in similar productions; at times offering creepy setpieces. Horror happenings are effectively carried by simple setups and clear sound, though a couple of brief digital effects add little except confusion about what two characters are.

Performances are consistent, though it appears some cast main members worked only a day or two on the set. I found the finer performances came in stories two and three. Loui especially buoys the film in his section, made all the more effective by an arresting introductory fantasy sequence - a moment resembling the creative flashes that can be expected from co-producers Buddy Team Creative Workshop. Pinky Cheung also maintains a creepy edge in her role. The third story benefits from Helena Law Lan's presence, once again playing the old lady who knows supernatural goings-on all too well.

The Imperial Cinema produced this hand-painted billboard to call attention to Esprit D'Amour. Note the similar Chinese title to that of Troublesome Night.

Credits:

Directed by Billy Chung
Original novel by Simon Loui Yiu-yeung
Screenplay by Simon Loui and Paul Cheung
Starring Julian Cheung Chi-lam, Loletta Lee Lai-Chun, Simon Loui Yiu-yeung, Pinky Cheung Man-chi, Dave Wong Kit, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Cheung Hok-yun, Helena Law Lan, Sherming Yiu Lok-yi and Tony Ho Wah-chiu