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

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (June 2026): 88 Films have transferred Man-Kei Chin's Sex and Zen II to Blu-ray. The 1080P transfer showcases the film’s lush, colorful production design - rich reds, golds, and silken textures pop beautifully, while soft lighting in erotic sequences and dynamic camerawork in supernatural moments retain strong detail and clarity. Grain is natural and film-like, with solid black levels and minimal compression artefacts, making this the best the movie has looked for home viewing. Minor limitations from the source (occasional softness or budgetary effects) remain, but the overall image is sharp, colourful, and faithful to a theatrical experience. Cinematographer Cheung Man Po (Flashpoint) delivers lush, stylized visuals - billowing silks, flickering candles, and artful floating camerawork that elevates the erotic sequences. Erotic scenes often feature stylized mise-en-scène with flowing fabrics, warm glows, and MTV-style edit montages (especially the climactic duel), prioritizing visual seduction over realism.

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On their Blu-ray, 88 Films audio options include the original Cantonese mono track presented in uncompressed linear PCM 2.0 stereo and an English mono DUB option. The mono mix suits the era’s style well: dialogue remains clear and energetic, foley effects punchy for the comedic / grotesque moments, and the score atmospheric for horror-fantasy beats. Composers / arrangers associated with the production include contributions from figures like Angus, Yam Lok Leng Wik, Kinnie Leung Wai-Kin, and others; one track is even performed by Shu Qi herself. The score draws on traditional Chinese instrumental motifs blended with 1990s cinematic orchestration to underscore romance, action, and ecstasy. The DUB is a shade awkward but suits the film's comedy. 88 Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The 88 Films Blu-ray disc features relevant supplements. Hong Kong film expert David West (Chasing Dragons: An Introduction to the Martial Arts Film) provides an informative audio commentary covering production context, literary roots, cast careers (especially Shu Qi’s breakthrough), genre tropes, and directorial choices - insightful without spoilers. The original Hong Kong trailer offers a hype-filled glimpse of the marketing, while a brief image gallery (mostly posters) rounds out the supplements. Packaging shines with new art by Sean Longmore on the cover, a reversible sleeve with classic Hong Kong artwork, and limited-edition O-ring elements, giving it collector appeal.

This Hong Kong Category III erotic comedy-fantasy serves as a loose sequel to the 1991 cult classic Sex and Zen, shifting the tone from the original’s more philosophical, stylized bedroom romp toward a wilder blend of slapstick farce, supernatural horror, wuxia-inspired elements, and boundary-pushing softcore erotica. Produced by Wong Jing (a key figure in 1990s HK genre cinema) under Golden Harvest, the film runs about 89 minutes and was a modest commercial performer (roughly HK$8.58 million at the Hong Kong box office). It exemplifies the era’s Hong Kong Category III boom - films that exploited relaxed censorship for explicit content while mixing genres for commercial appeal. A major highlight - and one reason the film endures in cult circles - is Shu Qi (then an up-and-coming Taiwanese model - after in Millennium Mambo, The Assassin, Confession of Pain, Looking For a Star, Three Times, The Transporter, New York, I Love You) in her prominent early leading role as the dual-natured Mirage Lady/Siu-Tsui. Cast after Wong Jing spotted her in a nude pictorial, she brings sultry allure, otherworldly menace, and genuine screen presence to the succubus who seduces and destroys through erotic power. The intense girl-on-girl climax with Loletta Lee (Mr. Vampire IV, Saga of the Phoenix) - shines in a strong comic turn as the resourceful, assertive heroine, showcasing her range beyond typical sex-film roles - is frequently cited as a Category III landmark - wildly abandoned, visually striking, and narratively pivotal. Sex and Zen II is a quintessential example of 1990s HK Category III cinema: unapologetically explicit, tonally chaotic, and surprisingly thematically rich beneath the titillation. While not as refined as its predecessor, it stands out for its inventive grotesquerie, strong female leads, and especially Shu Qi’s star-making turn as the seductive, soul-draining Mirage Lady - a performance that helped propel one of Asia’s most versatile actresses to international prominence. It remains a guilty-pleasure cult gem for those who appreciate its mix of laughter, lust, and lowbrow horror. 88 Films’ Blu-ray is a strong, fan-friendly release that presents this cult favorite in its best available form - uncut, vibrant, and contextualized. The excellent transfer, solid audio options, and David West commentary make it enticing for devotees of 1990s Hong Kong erotic cinema. It captures the film’s campy, explicit charm without compromise and earns a sly recommendation for genre enthusiasts but I would lean to the original, for sure.

Gary Tooze