Holy Flame of the Martial World

Friday, December 21 - Sunday, December 23, 2018

DCP Projection

** PLEASE NOTE THE LATE-NIGHT SCREENINGS ON FRI 12/21 – SUN 12/23 BEGIN AT 12:15AM, NOT 11:59PM! **


“You get demons, ghosts, zombies, living tapestries, a Western demon, superpowered hermits, conspirators, monks, deadly traps, skeletons, temples, dungeons, secret magic techniques, and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing and doesn’t stop for a minute.” — “Aeiou”, Letterboxd

Drenched in eye-popping colors and energetic practical effects, this is a martial arts film for those who also want heavy helpings of fantasy and magic craziness. The mystical Holy Flame of the title — a yin-and-yang sword — is held by a couple who get murdered by some totally evil dudes. The dead couple’s kids grow up and tear up the countryside, with demons, blasting light rays and tons of acrobatic duels filing the screen.  

Tsui Hark fans will love this knockabout display of acrobatic skill and FX wizardry, a popcorn movie in the truest sense. Bring your inner kid and enjoy. 


Screening as part of our Shaw brothers retrospective, Shaw Brothers Spectaculars: Presented in Glorious Shaw-Scope through Dec 29, 2018.

  • Country Hong Kong
  • Year 1983
  • Running Time 85 minutes
  • Director Lu Chin-Ku

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.