Hong Kong Horror Cinema

The first book-length English-language study of Hong Kong horror films Dumplings stuffed with diabolical fillings. Sword-wielding zombies. Hopping cadavers. Big-head babies. For decades, Hong Kong cinema has served up images of horror quite unlike those found in other parts of the world. In seminal films such as A Chinese Ghost Story, Rouge, The Eye, Dumplings, and Rigor Mortis, the region's filmmakers have pushed the boundaries of genre, cinematic style, and bad taste. But what makes Hong Kong horror cinema so utterly unique? Why does it hold such fascination for "serious" cinephiles and cult fans alike? Hong Kong Horror Cinema is the first English-language study of this delirious and captivating cinematic tradition, offering new insights into the history of Hong Kong horror through case studies of classic films and through a detailed consideration of their aesthetic power, economic significance, and cultural impact in both the global and domestic market. Contributors Gary Bettinson, Lancaster University Felicia Chan, University of Manchester Kenneth Chan, University of Northern Colorado David Scott Diffrient, Colorado State University Andrew Grossman, Independent Scholar Enrique Ajuria Ibarra, Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico Vivian Lee, City University of Hong Kong Liang Luo, University of Kentucky Daniel Martin, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Lisa Odham Stokes, Seminole State College, Central Florida Raymond Tsang, New York University Andy Willis, University of Salford