The practical effects and props are swell broadly, but sometimes a tad modest (with post-production visuals being notably outdated). For that modesty, in the way these are employed sometimes the incidence doesn't come off well, and may stop just short of laughable. This impression isn't helped by the curtness that occasionally comes across in the editing, or the directness of the storytelling both as written and as it is executed. Alongside some music cues that are overly dramatic, tawdrily on the nose, and/or repetitive, one unfortunate effect of the concatenation is that one is reminded of B-grade fare of the prior decade. None of this is specifically to speak ill of 'The black magic with Buddha,' but compared to some of its contemporaries including Golden Harvest's 'Mr. Vampire' series, or especially horror flicks from The Shaw Brothers like 'The boxer's omen,' there are perhaps rougher edges here, and lower overall quality. Even at that it remains enjoyable, however, and is worth checking out if one has the chance.
Despite how the cues are sometimes employed, in general I think Chung-Cheng Su's original music is actually one of the definite highlights of these ninety-odd minutes. From those striking themes that employ more conventional chords of strings, horns, and woodwinds, to those that are dominated by synthesizers or distorted guitars, the music makes a mark here in a way that may not be consistently true of other facets. On that note, there are perhaps some weaknesses in Chih-kien Chao's screenplay, or at least Lieh Lo's interpretation as director or Kwok-Kuen Cheung's assemblage as editor. Nonetheless, though the tale may bear imperfections and some familiar strains there is a great deal to like here in a story of greed, arrogance, overreaching self-confidence, and death and odd goings-on after protagonist Ben absconds from a temple with a relic in pursuit of his own ends. With the subsequent partial focus on black magic, not to mention the stunts and effects on hand, one indeed recalls kindred titles, and the result is some splendid genre fun. The scene writing and the narrative at large are filled with terrific ideas and details - ranging on a spectrum from quite dark to maybe just silly - and though the final product may be somewhat uneven, more than not it's engaging and entertaining all the while.
Even with rough edges everything is mostly done very well. I include the effects, and stunts, and even the editing and direction I've mentioned before - the plot is complete and cohesive, and the movie simply carries some flaws or shortcomings along the way. Some splendid sound effects help lend some atmosphere along with the music, and the cast perform admirably, with Kuan Tai Chen naturally standing out for his prominence and intensity as protagonist Ben. Some imagery herein is delightfully disturbing (including blood and gore, naturally), and those working on the sets, costume design, and props turned in splendid contributions. 'The black magic with Buddha' certainly leans toward "fun-scary" rather than "scary-scary," but it ably and amply offers the genre flavors we crave, with firm satisfaction when all is said and done. At length this may not be a total must-see, and one should be well aware of those manners in which the film stumbles or falls short. Yet not every feature needs to be an untarnished revelation; this only wants to have a spooky good time, and it handily achieves that goal. Don't go out of your way for 'The black magic of Buddha,' but if you appreciate the weirder and schlockier side of horror, then it's worth watching on its own merits if one happens to come across it.
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