Introduction: A Time Capsule of Hong Kong’s Cinematic Soul
While Western audiences flock to J-horror or Korean thrillers, Hong Kong’s Troublesome Night series (阴阳路) remains one of Asia’s most underrated horror franchises. Among its 21 installments, the fifth chapter – The Right Way to Make Money (一见发财, 1999) – stands out as a masterclass in blending social satire with supernatural dread. Directed by Herman Yau (邱礼涛) and starring a young Louis Koo (古天乐), this film captures Hong Kong’s post-handover anxieties through a lens of ghostly metaphors.
- Director Herman Yau’s Subversive Vision
Known as the “godfather of Category III films,” Yau crafts horror that bites deeper than jump scares. In Troublesome Night 5, he dissects late-90s Hong Kong’s obsession with wealth through three interlinked stories:
- A taxi driver (Koo) haunted by a vengeful ghost bride
- Greedy businessmen cursed after desecrating graves for land deals
- A lottery winner’s descent into madness
Yau’s genius lies in making capitalism itself the villain – a bold stance during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. The film grossed HK$6.7 million (US$860,000) despite releasing amid economic turmoil, proving audiences craved this cathartic mirror.
- Louis Koo’s Career-Defining Dual Role
Before becoming a megastar, Koo delivered his most nuanced performance here as:
- Cheung, the everyman cabbie tormented by guilt and supernatural debt
- The Ghost Bride, a jiangshi (僵屍)-like entity with tragic eroticism
His transition from comedic relief to psychological breakdown in Story 2 remains unparalleled. Critics note how Koo’s trembling hands and darting eyes convey terror without CGI – a masterclass in physical acting.
- Cultural Codex: Understanding Chinese Horror
Western viewers might miss layered symbolism:
- Red Threads binding the ghost bride: Represent fatalistic love (姻缘线) in Taoist beliefs
- Hell Bank Notes burned in opening scene: Link to Hungry Ghost Festival traditions
- Feng Shui Disasters: The land development subplot mocks disregard for spiritual geography
The film’s original Cantonese title 《一見發財》 – literally “See Once, Get Rich” – parodies get-rich-quick mantras that dominated 90s Hong Kong.
- Why Global Audiences Should Watch in 2024
- Social Resonance: Replace “Hong Kong” with any modern metropolis, and its critique of wealth obsession remains urgent
- Genre Innovation: It predates but predicts the elevated horror trend (e.g., Hereditary) by 20 years
- Historical Lens: Captures the city’s identity crisis pre-1997 handover through ghostly allegory
- Viewing Tips for International Fans
- Language: Seek Cantonese original with subtitles – Koo’s vocal shifts between characters are crucial
- Context: Research 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and Hong Kong’s “Lucky Money” superstitions first
- Double Feature: Pair with Fruit Chan’s The Longest Summer (1998) for socio-political parallels
Conclusion: More Than a Ghost Story
-Troublesome Night 5* isn’t just about scares – it’s a requiem for Hong Kong’s capitalist soul. As Koo’s cabbie ultimately learns, some debts (spiritual or economic) can’t be repaid with paper money. In our era of cryptocurrency and AI-driven greed, this 1999 gem feels prophetically alive.
Where to Stream: Available on Hong Kong Movie (English-subtitled) and iTunes.