Overview: The Haunted Cop Shop is a wildly entertaining Hong Kong horror-comedy that blends supernatural chills with slapstick humor and irreverent genre mashups, marking an early screenplay credit for Wong Kar-wai long before his rise as an arthouse auteur.

Directed by Jeffrey Lau, the film taps into the late-1980s boom of ghost comedies, combining eerie folklore with outrageous comedy and energetic performances from stars Jacky Cheung and Ricky Hui.

Set in a police station built atop a former wartime site once occupied by Japanese soldiers, the film unleashes a wave of restless spirits who return to haunt the living. When a group of bumbling, underachieving cops find themselves assigned to the precinct, they must confront increasingly bizarre and dangerous paranormal encounters.

As the hauntings escalate, it becomes clear that surviving the night will require more than courage--it will take luck, ingenuity, and a willingness to embrace the absurd.

Drawing clear inspiration from genre hits like Mr. Vampire and Encounters of the Spooky Kind, the film thrives on tonal whiplash, shifting effortlessly between spooky set pieces and broad, often outrageous comedy. Lau’s stylish direction and the film’s chaotic energy make it a standout example of Hong Kong’s unique ability to fuse horror and humor into something wholly original. While far removed from Wong Kar-wai’s later work, the script already hints at his playful subversion of genre expectations.

This Blu-ray edition from 88 Films presents the film in a new 2K restoration from the original negative, preserving its vibrant visuals and atmospheric lighting. The original Cantonese mono soundtrack has been remastered, accompanied by newly translated English subtitles. The release also includes an audio commentary by Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, offering valuable context on the film’s production and place within Hong Kong cinema.

Additional special features include Hauntings and Hollerings, a critical appreciation by James Mudge, alternate and extended shots, image galleries, and both the original Hong Kong trailer and a reconstructed Tai Seng trailer. The package is completed with an O-ring slipcase featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore and a reversible sleeve, making this a definitive presentation of a cult favorite.

Celebrated for its offbeat charm and genre-blending madness, The Haunted Cop Shop remains a fan-favorite entry in Hong Kong’s supernatural comedy canon--equal parts spooky and silly, and a fascinating early chapter in the career of one of cinema’s most distinctive voices.

Blu-ray Verdict: THE HAUNTED COP SHOP is your typical fun knockabout Hong Kong comedy horror packed with action and intrigue. The storyline involves a police station with a haunted past and the return of one or two ghosts intent on wreaking mayhem in the vicinity. Only a couple of upstanding young cops and their pretty superior have the power to prevent catastrophe.

You know what you’re getting with a film like this and THE HAUNTED COP SHOP doesn’t disappoint. It features the great pairing of Jacky Cheung (BULLET IN THE HEAD) and Ricky Hui (MR. VAMPIRE) as the two cops who are variously scared out of their wits as the storyline progresses. As is usual for a Hong Kong film like this, the first half is a little slow and more rooted in reality, while the second kicks off with near-constant action and hijinks.

This time around the villain duties come from a random Japanese Dracula guy and his army of the undead. It’s not quite as effects-fueled as some of the other Hong Kong horrors I’ve watched from the same era (such as the two POSSESSED movies), but it has plentiful action, comedy, and horror, so it makes for a very easy watch. [L.D.].

Bonus Materials:
O-RING SLIP CASE WITH NEW ARTWORK BY SEAN LONGMORE
2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL NEGATIVE
REMASTERED ORIGINAL CANTONESE MONOAURAL SOUNDTRACK
NEWLY TRANSLATED ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng
Hauntings and Hollerings - James Mudge on The Haunted Cop Shop
Alternate and Extended Shots
Image Gallery
Original Hong Kong Trailer
Reconstructed Tai Seng Trailer
Reversible Sleeve

The Haunted Cop Shop | Original 1987 Trailer

Official Purchase Link