review for Human Lanterns on AllMovie

Shaw Brothers produced some memorably bizarre genre hybrids in their time but Human Lanterns has to take the cake. This bizarre fusion of period swordplay film and Texas Chainsaw Massacre-style "rural horror" is not likely to suit all tastes: the two apparent protagonists are (deliberately) unsympathetic, the plot has a grim and brutal edge to it, and, despite some obvious last-minute trimming, the film packs a lot of brutal violence into its slender running time. That said, Human Lanterns can't be dismissed as a genre-blending oddity because it is surprisingly well made. The clever script combines its swordplay and horror elements with skill in a well-structured storyline with more on its mind than exploitable shocks. At its core, Human Lanterns is really a story about how pride and senseless cruelty can be the downfall of even the mightiest characters. The performances of the leads reflect this: both Chen Kuan-Tai and Tony Liu bring arrogant authority to their roles as the bickering, headstrong noblemen who drive the story and Lo Lieh's crazed killer burns with the half-crazed anger of someone who has let his grudge drive him insane. Behind the camera, Sun Chung directs the proceedings with a sharp sense of pacing, skillfully-edited outbursts of action, and a flair for creating a gothic atmosphere through photography and set design. Ultimately, Human Lanterns is probably a bit too grim and eccentric for a mass audience, but Shaw Brothers fans are likely to be impressed by its high level of artistry.