HumanoidOfFlesh A deranged transvestite killer stalks an murders women wearing white stockings. A couple of detectives are investigating the case.The next potential victim of murderous transvestite will be a Radio DJ Sissy."He Lives By Night" blends silly comedy with slasher sub-genre.The script is obviously influenced by Dario Argento's colorful horror movies and De Palma's "Dressed to Kill".The first killing is an obvious nod to masterful "Suspiria".The killings are stylish and tame.The performances by Simon Yam,Kent Cheng and Sylvia Chang are great.I don't particularly like blending comedy with horror,but I enjoyed "He Lives By Night".7 out of 10.

chaos-rampant If there's one thing you can't criticize HE LIVES BY NIGHT is that it takes itself too serious. A campy slasher flick that revels in its own silliness, the movie chronicles the efforts of a radio deejay and a fat police captain trying to apprehend a crossdressing shoe-salesman with a murderous silk stocking fetish. The sexual handicup at the root of the killer's problem and the flashback that explains it, an opening murder that recalls Argento's PROFONDO ROSSO and a generally more refined stylish bravado than its American counterparts from the same time, all point to a certain Italian giallo influence. The film ends however with a long chase scene between victim and killer that seems plucked straight from American slasher. For a movie walking a tightrope between two traditionally horrific subgenres, He Lives By Night is oddly enough defined more by its comedy. I guess a lot is lost in the translation, but what is left is typical HK antics, a general buffoonery that is as sure to make you cringe as it is to get you hooked with its peculiar charm. Accompanied by one of the goofiest casiotone synth scores you're likely to listen, He Lives By Night is an odd but entertaining slice of goofball hack and slash that deserves more attention,

BLC88 HE LIVES BY NIGHT would be considered a cult classic if only it were better known. Unfortunately, most Hong Kong films (horror films in particular -- just check out the *amazing* SEEDING OF A GHOST or DEVIL FETUS) have been completely ignored by Western audiences, and that, my friends, is a damn shame!!!Now, the first thing you need to know about this film is that it's very tongue-in-cheek. Like many Hong Kong films (but not all of them!), there's lots of humor injected into the story. At times, you'd even think you were watching a romantic comedy. But thankfully, the horror is played completely straight, and some of the murders are quite brutal (but not particularly bloody or explicit).The plot goes a little something like this: A killer is stalking the streets of the city at night, killing any woman he/she finds wearing white fish-net stalkings. Thanks to a witness left behind at the scene of a crime, the police think it's a woman -- but in reality (and note that this is NOT a spoiler -- it's revealed early on) it's a man DRESSED as a woman, driven insane after finding his wife in bed with another man (wearing women's clothing, complete with white fish-net stalkings). Meanwhile, late-night radio host Sissy has to contend with not only a bunch of weird prank calls from a freaky fan, but also the undying affection from a goofy fat police inspector trying to crack the case. In the end, he decides to use Sissy for bait, and the poor girl finds herself trapped in the abandoned radio station at night with the killer. First thing's first -- HE LIVES BY NIGHT is a very strange film. Those expecting Friday THE 13th will be let down, as will those expecting a stylish crime thriller in the vein of Dario Argento. HE LIVES has its own style, its own quirkiness -- which, naturally, makes it all the more interesting. The characters are loud, brash and constantly cracking jokes and making funny faces at the camera. The killer isn't the dark cipher you'd find in, say, DEEP RED (1975), nor is he the raving lunatic like the one seen in BLACK Christmas (1974). He's, simply put, a troubled, desperate man who wants to live a normal life but can't control his thirst for blood.Like most Hong Kong films, the photography is great, filled with neon lighting and stylish camera work. HE LIVES also makes for a great time capsule -- just check out the hilarious early 80's "new wave" fashions and see what I mean. The music is fabulous too, a bizarre score that fits the film like a glove.And, finally, HE LIVES is a great little horror film in its own right. There are some great set pieces here, including the murder of a young woman in her apartment that veers brilliantly from slap stick comedy (!) to blood-splattered intensity. And, oh yeah, the final chase scene between Sissy and the killer puts the end of HALLOWEEN (1978) to shame -- it even goes as far as spoofing that film's final shot! I love this movie. If you're interested in checking out the wild world of Hong Kong cinema, but don't know where to start, then this is the place. HE LIVES BY NIGHT ranks up there with SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE and HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP as one of the best, quirkiest B-movies from the early 80's. Check it out.

firefly2 This is a great fun slasher comedy. Unlike 'Scream' the comedy is not dependent upon knowledge of modern horror films but effectively makes its own humour. The killings remain horrific despite the comedy, although the film is more serious at the start, more comedic at the end and there is a great scene in the middle where we successfully get both because the victim and her girlfriend are trying to scare each other as the killer prowls about.