THE ENCHANTING GHOST (1970, original title Gui wu li ren) is a Shaw Brothers ghost story that sits as a midway point between Shaw's 1960s-era huangmei operas and their full-blooded horror offerings of the second half of the 1970s. The storyline involves a scholar who finds himself evicted from his home by an unscrupulous landlord. He moves into an abandoned house with a haunted reputation and there falls in love with a mysterious young woman.

There's going to be a lot here that'll make modern audiences scratch their heads, such as the male protagonist being played by an actress (a convention from Shaw's opera days). The pacing is glacial and the supernatural elements kept few and far between, aside from some familiar tropes in the last ten minutes or so. For the most part, this is a romance combined with minor tragedy and revenge elements. The film has interesting things to say about gender and class, but you do wonder why Waddell picked it as part of his Shaw package for 88 Films as there are a lot more vibrant Shaw horror films out there, notably their work from a decade later.

Mandarin-language cinema across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore explores historical reflection, cultural identity, and personal sacrifice, often expressed through poetic visuals and sweeping narratives. In Mainland China, this takes the form of allegory and large-scale epics that reflect on national history. Taiwan emphasizes intimate modernist realism, generational change, and the search for identity. Singapore contributes stories of migration, multiculturalism, and the negotiation of tradition in a globalized city.

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

A young couple desperately try to keep their love alive, while living in a haunted house.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Ornella Muti, Anne Heywood, and Luc Merenda in The Nun and the Devil (1973)

The Eight Immortals Restaurant: The Untold Story (1993)

The Eight Immortals Restaurant: The Untold Story

Erika Blanc and Daniel Emilfork in Devil's Nightmare (1971)

The Enchanting Ghost

Photos

Top Cast12

User reviews4

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed