Episode 306 - Vampire vs Vampire
For the month of April, Not A Bomb shines a spotlight on Hong Kong cinema. This week, Troy and Brad take a sharp turn into horror-comedy with Vampire vs. Vampire, a wildly inventive entry in the jiangshi (hopping vampire) subgenre that blends folklore, slapstick, and supernatural mayhem.
Joining Troy and Brad this week is Sophia from the Moviestruck Podcast, who brings a deep well of knowledge to the discussion, having even written about Hong Kong cinema during her college studies. Her insights help ground the conversation in the cultural and historical context of the jiangshi genre, while also highlighting what makes this film such a unique crossover oddity.
The hosts dig into how Vampire vs. Vampire balances tonal extremes, shifting from genuinely creepy moments to outright absurd comedy without losing its footing. They explore Lam Ching-ying’s iconic presence as the stoic yet resourceful priest, and how his performance anchors the film even as things get increasingly ridiculous. There’s also plenty of discussion about the film’s practical effects, choreography, and how it stands apart from more traditional vampire stories.
At its core, the episode examines why this film endures as both a cult favorite and a fascinating cultural mashup, one that reflects Hong Kong cinema’s willingness to experiment, collide genres, and embrace the unexpected.
Brace yourself—this episode is spooky, hilarious, and full of unexpected turns.
Vampire vs. Vampire is Lam Ching-ying and stars Chin Siu-ho, David Lui, Sndra Ng, Billy Lau and Maria Cordero
Want to support the show? Check out the Not A Bomb TeePublic store for merch, featuring designs by Ted Blair.
We’d love to hear from you—send your feedback, suggestions, or film recommendations to NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy, Sophia
For the month of April, Not A Bomb shines a spotlight on Hong Kong cinema. This week, Troy and Brad take a sharp turn into horror-comedy with Vampire vs. Vampire, a wildly inventive entry in the jiangshi (hopping vampire) subgenre that blends folklore, slapstick, and supernatural mayhem.
Joining Troy and Brad this week is Sophia from the Moviestruck Podcast, who brings a deep well of knowledge to the discussion, having even written about Hong Kong cinema during her college studies. Her insights help ground the conversation in the cultural and historical context of the jiangshi genre, while also highlighting what makes this film such a unique crossover oddity.
The hosts dig into how Vampire vs. Vampire balances tonal extremes, shifting from genuinely creepy moments to outright absurd comedy without losing its footing. They explore Lam Ching-ying’s iconic presence as the stoic yet resourceful priest, and how his performance anchors the film even as things get increasingly ridiculous. There’s also plenty of discussion about the film’s practical effects, choreography, and how it stands apart from more traditional vampire stories.
At its core, the episode examines why this film endures as both a cult favorite and a fascinating cultural mashup, one that reflects Hong Kong cinema’s willingness to experiment, collide genres, and embrace the unexpected.
Brace yourself—this episode is spooky, hilarious, and full of unexpected turns.
Vampire vs. Vampire is Lam Ching-ying and stars Chin Siu-ho, David Lui, Sndra Ng, Billy Lau and Maria Cordero
Want to support the show? Check out the Not A Bomb TeePublic store for merch, featuring designs by Ted Blair.
We’d love to hear from you—send your feedback, suggestions, or film recommendations to NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy, Sophia
Episode 305 - The Blade
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift from contemporary action to a raw, visceral reimagining of wuxia as they explore Tsui Hark’s 1995 film The Blade — a brutal, expressionistic take on revenge and identity that strips the genre down to its bone structure.
Set in a bleak, rain‑slick world where honor and survival collide, The Blade follows a young swordsman whose life is shattered by betrayal and violence. Tsui Hark abandons glossy spectacle for something harsher and more immediate: jagged editing, stark production design, and fight choreography that feels dangerous and unpredictable. The film trades polish for pulse, and the result is a movie that looks and sounds like it was carved from steel.
Troy and Brad dig into how Tsui Hark’s direction reframes wuxia tropes: rather than romanticizing violence, the film interrogates it. Long, disorienting sequences and a willingness to linger on aftermath make the emotional stakes feel earned.
The Blade is directed by Tsui Hark and stars Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hung Yan-yan, Song Lei, Austin Wai, Chung Bik-ha, and Valerie Chow.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift from contemporary action to a raw, visceral reimagining of wuxia as they explore Tsui Hark’s 1995 film The Blade — a brutal, expressionistic take on revenge and identity that strips the genre down to its bone structure.
Set in a bleak, rain‑slick world where honor and survival collide, The Blade follows a young swordsman whose life is shattered by betrayal and violence. Tsui Hark abandons glossy spectacle for something harsher and more immediate: jagged editing, stark production design, and fight choreography that feels dangerous and unpredictable. The film trades polish for pulse, and the result is a movie that looks and sounds like it was carved from steel.
Troy and Brad dig into how Tsui Hark’s direction reframes wuxia tropes: rather than romanticizing violence, the film interrogates it. Long, disorienting sequences and a willingness to linger on aftermath make the emotional stakes feel earned.
The Blade is directed by Tsui Hark and stars Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hung Yan-yan, Song Lei, Austin Wai, Chung Bik-ha, and Valerie Chow.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy