Despite not getting to dress-up, I didn't totally miss out, as Halloween is a fairly popular export around the world and Hong Kong-ers seems to really like it. And the export makes sense, because it's just a holiday that celebrates dressing up, partying with friends and exchanging candy with strangers (the last one sounds weird written out...).
I went to Ocean Park (like a Sea World), which during the month of October turns into a haunted amusement park featuring a few rides, games, and "scary" food, but mostly numerous haunted houses.
This was my first introduction to what whities call "Chinese vampires," which hop on both feet with arms stretched like mummies but have none of the sexiness of American vampires or the creepiness of American zombies. That said, Chinese kids seemed afraid of them, so I think that I'm missing something terrifying in their slow hop.
Here's an example of a game show, my ladies with a traditional horror character and a traditional Chinese horror character. I was pretty impressed with the sheer number of performers walking around trying to scare you and the variety of costumes.
My favorite costumed employees were these "serial killer" guys (see guy holding knife to my throat) wearing kneepads that create sparks, who would run and then slide on their knees towards you...or take you hostage and try to seduce you.
Hong Kong haunted houses use the "jump out at you" scare tactic, which focuses more on shock than the thing jumping at you actually being scary. As a horror connoisseur, it was fun, but not scary (minus a mirror maze, which was awesome). I'm clearly jaded from growing up with Ohio's haunted houses, which can take 45 minutes to get through and where you come to scary scenes and have to psyche yourself into walking towards the scary people/things waiting for you, knowing that they're going to do something. Plus, some of them take place in abandoned asylums, corn fields or woods. I've seen grown men run through and crawl on their stomaches to avoid being near things, *cough* grown men that I know well.
If you want to have an Asian horror film night (China isn't known for them), here are some recommendations. There are endless Asian horror films with disturbed killers (Audition, The Chaser, The Vengeance Trilogy, Ichi the Killer, etc.), but I'm going to give two recommendations with supernatural elements:
(Korea) A Tale of Two Sisters
One of the most popular Korean horror films and most successful abroad, this film is visually gorgeous. I don't lie when I say it's a beautifully-made film with talented actors. The plot could be tighter and the twists might not be surprising enough for those versed in the genre, but it is definitely worth the viewing and has a few scenes that will haunt you when you're lying in bed.
(Japan) Ringu
The original movie that inspired a remake into the Naomi Watts vehicle, The Ring, about a creepy little girl and a curse. But like most things that are the original, they're better than any interpretation, and this holds true in this film. It's much scarier; the Japanese know what they're doing.
Hmm, I don't think I knew Halloween had exported to Asia. Neat!
Also, a beautiful horror film? That's possible? I am super intrigued...
Posted by: Kristan | November 14, 2009 at 03:32