NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (February 2026): 88 Films have transferred Wu Ma's Picture of a Nymph to Blu-ray. This is presented in a new 2K restoration from the original camera negative, delivering a high-definition 1080P transfer that significantly elevates the late-80s Hong Kong fantasy's visual splendor. The restoration brings out vibrant colors in the misty blues and ethereal greens of the supernatural sequences, sharp details in flowing silk costumes, intricate period set designs, and the grotesque textures of puppetry monsters and special effects, while maintaining natural film grain that preserves the era's cinematic texture without excessive digital scrubbing. Previous home video versions suffered from softer, murkier presentations, but this disc showcases the efficient cinematography of Raymond Lam (Magic Cop) with impressive clarity in wire-fu action, candlelit interiors, and dreamy forest atmospheres - making the film's enchanting, boundary-blurring visuals pop in a way that feels fresh and faithful to its dreamy, high-energy aesthetic. Visually, the film excels in dreamy period aesthetics: lush cinematography captures misty forests, candlelit interiors, and balletic wirework sequences that blend wuxia elegance with Raimi-esque chaotic horror-fantasy energy. The special effects, though dated by modern standards, remain imaginative - grotesque transformations, possession gags, and explosive Taoist battles feel deliriously creative rather than rote. The dual-layered transfer is strong with a very max'ed out bitrate.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use a linear PCM dual-mono in the original Cantonese language. It highlights the film's playful yet atmospheric sound design, including eerie ghostly whispers, explosive magical bursts, whimsical effects during comedic interludes, and the energetic scoring that punctuates Yuen Biao's acrobatics. The legendary Cantopop theme "Like a Dream, Like an Illusion" by Anita Mui shines through with clear, emotive delivery, while Wu Ma's quirky rapping Taoist incantations and ambient winds retain punch without distortion. The score is credited to James Wong (Robotrix, Once Upon a Time in China, A Chinese Ghost Story, Peking Opera Blues) The mono presentation suits the era's production style perfectly, offering solid dynamic range for the chaotic supernatural mayhem and tender moments alike. 88 Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The 88 Films Blu-ray extras content Extras are solid and fan-focused, headlined by two insightful audio commentaries from HK cinema experts: Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) brings contextual depth on the post-A Chinese Ghost Story boom and production trivia, while David West offers detailed analysis of the genre tropes, performances, and visual influences. An image gallery compiles stills and promo art, and the original trailer teases the film's blend of romance and action. Included is a double-sided art card and 40-page booklet with essays by Paul Bramhall ('More Ghost and Gremlins, Less Golden Harvest') and Fraser Elliott ('Ghost, Scholars and Spirits; The Legacy Behind Picture of a Nymph') and color photos. The reversible sleeve (see below) boasts striking new artwork by Sean Longmore alongside classic Hong Kong poster art.

Picture of a Nymph directed and co-written by Wu Ma and produced by Sammo Hung under Golden Harvest, stands as one of the most prominent and creatively ambitious entries in the wave of Hong Kong supernatural romances that flooded theaters after the massive success of Tsui Hark's A Chinese Ghost Story (1987). While undeniably a close stylistic and thematic derivative - reprising Joey Wong as the ethereal, tragic female ghost, Wu Ma as the rapping, exorcism-performing Taoist master, blue-tinted dry-ice atmospheres, flowing silk costumes, wire-fu grace, grotesque puppetry monsters, and doomed human-ghost love - it carves out its own identity through several inventive choices and a slightly gentler, more family-oriented tone compared to its predecessor's intense melancholy. A standout narrative innovation is Mo Chiu's ability to hide inside an ink portrait painted by the scholar to evade the possessive, sensually malevolent female Ghost King (Elizabeth Lee - Web of Deception - delivering a juicy, vampiric performance that hints at unspoken queer undertones in her abduction of brides-to-be). This "painting as sanctuary" conceit adds a meta layer about art, idealization, and the blurring of reality and fantasy, turning the scholar's devotion into both salvation and peril as boundaries between canvas and corporeal world erode. Joey Wang (City Hunter, Green Snake, A Chinese Ghost Story,) on something of auto-pilot yet still mesmerizing with her sad, watery eyes and headscarf looks, embodies the archetypal tragic beauty, while Yuen Biao (Knockabout, The Prodigal Son, Righting Wrongs, Dreadnaught) brings surprising tenderness to what could have been a stock action role. Ultimately, Picture of a Nymph succeeds not by surpassing its inspiration but by remixing familiar ingredients into an affectionate, action-infused love letter to the genre. 88 Films' Blu-ray release is a highly recommended upgrade for admirers of Hong Kong fantasy cinema, transforming Picture of a Nymph from a fuzzy cult curiosity into a visually breathtaking showcase of its whimsical charms and inventive supernatural spectacle. The 2K restoration alone justifies the purchase for those who appreciate the genre's dreamy aesthetics, with reliable audio, worthwhile commentaries, and attractive packaging making this a strong entry in 88 Films' catalog - especially as one of the best-preserved looks at this affectionate A Chinese Ghost Story riff, now looking and sounding better than ever on Blu-ray.

Gary Tooze