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Though the blending of genres can often have mixed results due to the need for strong balance and a keen eye for the genre conventions, when a talented filmmaker is willing to take the risk, these boundary-bending films can be surprisingly fun and entertaining. Though the mixture of horror and comedy has been fairly common in films since the '70s, director/star Sammo Hung's combination of the two, with the added element of jaw-dropping kung-fu, is an exciting concoction of these three elements, each acutely serving its individual purpose. Though he had taken the director's chair in the past, it was Encounters that served as the springboard for countless imitations and variations, including the popular Mr. Vampire series. The horror elements of Encounters are genuinely creepy, with the arms of entities springing from dark mirrors and pulling their victims into oblivion, and an unsettling opening sequence where Hung is pursued through darkness by faceless, puppet-headed ghouls. The comedy elements are equally effective, though they often take a back seat to the ghoulish goings-on. Hung's physical abilities and lightning-fast movements are classic examples of the best of kung-fu, thrilling to watch as they giddily defy his deceptively portly appearance. This is an extremely entertaining film and one that is well deserving of the reputation it has gained as a genre classic.