This week Austin Film Festival staff talks about their favorite Horror movies to gear up for this Friday’s Conversation in Film in partnership with Dallas Screenwriters Association: Writing for Horror with Mick Garris and Steve Niles. Stay tuned to this weeks Staff Picks blog and Newsletter for an announcement about our NEW Screenplay and Film Competition’s Horror Categories. For more information on this Friday’s Conversation in Film, click here.
Today, AFF’s Young Filmmaker Program Director Patrick Pryor kicks off our week of Horror with his pick: MR. VAMPIRE.

In China, Mr. Vampire became so popular that it spawned a slew of sequels starring its Taoist priest lead, Lam Ching-Ying. Vampire vs. Vampire, Crazy Safari, Exorcist Master, Magic Cop, and many more all feature Ying going toe to toe with life sucking, hopping vampires in a variety of time periods and locales. Back when I stomped around New York City, vendors in Chinatown even hawked li’l jianshi dolls. Part of what draws me to the Mr. Vampire series, and many supernatural kung-fu films in general, are the different “rules” the vampires follow. Instead of a seductive blood-sucker, the jiangshi in Mr. Vampire hop around, look festering and lifeless, and suck your soul through your breath. Mr. Vampire III even introduces a kid jiangshi hero, further endearing the pallid life suckers to our hearts .
Each time I watch Mr. Vampire, I can’t help but smile. It’s a comfort movie of the highest order — a film I like to play after a brutal day or when I want to clear my head. I became so enamored with Mr. Vampire , in fact, that I decided to dress up as the Taoist priest for Halloween. I even grew out a mustache (not a flattering look for myself) and searched for a Yin Yang robe to mirror the almighty Sifu. That’s dedication.
The more I think about it, the more Mr. Vampire rises in stock as one of my favorite films. You can keep your glossy horror yarns about ax murderers, creepy kids, and digital faces flying at the screen. Mr. Vampire is the real deal that wears its heart on its sleeve. Anyone yawning, watch-checking, or chronically falling down during this barn burner of a film must be as lifeless as the jianshi. Pity them, and rent this now.
– Patrick
Interested in checking out our staff picks for yourself? Head over to Vulcan Video where you can find all of our picks labeled as AFF Staff Picks. Go to vulcanvideo.com for location and catalogue information.
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