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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Xie" or "HEX')
Directed by Chih-Hung Kuei
Hong Kong 1980
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Asian horror cinema was already hitting
strikes by the time the1980s dawned and nowhere was more
ahead of the curve than the then-British colony of Hong
Kong. The city of neon lights and vibrant street life
was no stranger to scary movies and HEX was
perhaps the island's crowning achievement. Released in
1980, and emerging from the legendary Shaw Bros Studios,
whose knack for colourful landscapes and misty
atmosphere remains legendary, HEX tells a weird
and wonderful story of witchcraft and wanton revenge! Directed by the late, great Kuei Chih-Hung, whose output also includes the frequently censored "nasty" THE KILLER SNAKES (1974), this formidable Eastern frightener has an abused woman caught in a strange mystery of manslaughter and macabre happenings. To say anything else would be to spoil one of the Orient's most influential terror titles, but rest assured that HEX has a few spooky surprises up its sleeve. Now gaining its worldwide HD debut from 88 Films, HEX may just be the greatest ghost story you have never seen! |
Posters
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Theatrical Release:
July 9th, 1980Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review:
88 Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray| Box Cover |
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| Distribution |
88 Films |
| Runtime |
1:34:32.583 |
| Video |
Disc Size: 21,291,505,518 bytes Feature Size: 17,500,557,312 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.17 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
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Bitrate:
88 Films Blu-ray
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| Audio |
LPCM Audio Chinese 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bitt |
| Subtitles | English, None |
| Features |
Release
Information: Studio: 88 Films
Disc Size: 21,291,505,518 bytes Feature Size: 17,500,557,312 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.17 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: Second disc DVD
Chapters: 8 |
| More of the 88 Asia Collection on Blu-ray |
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Bewitched |
Black Magic |
Black Magic 2 |
The Bride From Hell |
The Enchanting Ghost |
The Ghost Lovers |
HEX |
The Oily Maniac |
The Seeding of a Ghost |
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The Dragon Missile |
Five Element Ninjas |
The Flying Guillotine |
Gifted |
Killer Constable |
The Mighty Peking Man |
The One-Armed Swordsman |
Sea Fog |
The Spiritual Boxer |
The Super Inframan |
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| Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. 88 Films' transfer is on a single-layered, Blu-ray and the beginning has colors that look muted (not dissimilar to Black Magic). But eventually things perk-up a bit although the film seems like the dark appearance is an intentional look. The 1080P presentation is fine in-motion looking thick, heavy and film-like . I wouldn't say stellar but adequate and probably the best HEX may get. While I prefer a brighter visuals, the gray-cast seems to suit the film's supernatural elements.
The audio transfer in a linear PCM 2.0 channel (24-bit) is in 'Chinese' but I can't determine if it is original Mandarin but I suspect it's the Cantonese DUB. The film doesn't have the usual whiplash sound effects but sports a creepy score credited to Eddie Wang (The Bride From Hell, Killer Constable, Return of the 36th Chamber). There are optional English subtitles (see below) and the disc is a Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.
Extras include two featurettes with Bey Logan. 'The Studio That
Conquered a Continent' is a 23-minute overview of Shaw Bros. then he
does a 6.5-minute piece on Hong Kong Movie language. There is also a
trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring an alternate
poster plus some liner notes by Dr. Calum Waddell (limited to 2000
copies). There is also a second disc DVD included. The unusual thing about Hex is the lengthy naked dance sequences at the conclusion - it is all at once misplaced, erotic, bizarre and artistically beautiful. This was another very cool Shaw Brothers genre film experience with all the simplicity and transparent effects that give it a unique charisma. 88 Films Blu-ray package has plenty of value for fans of these sexy-ghost-stories. Recommended!- Gary Tooze |
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| Box Cover |
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| Distribution |
88 Films |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
