THE MAGE (拾荒法师) (2026)

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: The Pang Brothers
Cast: Josie Ho, Carlos Chan, German Cheung, Iman
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Rating: NC16 (Horror and Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 15 October 2026

Synopsis: THE MAGE follows Lan Pui-ching (Josie Ho), an eccentric woman who carries a large cloth bag collecting “trash”. She repeatedly appears at crime scenes where police have ruled as suicides or accidents. Officer Wong Ming (Carlos Chan) initially believes that she is mentally unstable, until he discovers that she has the ability to communicate with the dead. As the two investigate the victims, they uncover a sinister conspiracy. With the true mastermind lurking in the shadows, Lan Pui-ching must overcome the inner demons that have haunted her for 13 years and stop the next murder in a world where science and supernatural collide.

Movie Review:

One of the funniest scenes in The Mage is also one of the least frightening.

In this Hong Kong horror movie, Josie Ho’s character, a dishevelled scavenger who spends her days collecting rubbish, suddenly launches into perfect English to tell off a police superintendent. The moment becomes even more amusing with Carlos Chan’s police officer struggling to speak English to his superior.

Given that Ho, daughter of the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho, speaks fluent English herself, the contrast between her polished delivery and her character’s unkempt appearance makes for quite a sight. It is an unexpected comedic highlight in a movie that is supposed to make us jump out of our seats.

Directed by the Pang Brothers, Danny and Oxide Pang, Ho plays a woman who collects discarded objects believed to contain the souls of people who died unnatural deaths. When a series of suspicious and gruesome deaths are reported, she pairs up with a police officer to investigate, eventually uncovering a sinister connection between the cases and a mysterious ritual.

The Pang Brothers made their name in horror with The Eye (2002), the supernatural thriller about a woman who begins seeing ghosts after receiving a cornea transplant. That film demonstrated how a simple premise, carefully controlled tension and unsettling imagery could make a lasting impression. More than two decades later, one might reasonably hope that the brothers still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

The Mage does not quite deliver the same level of fright. Its editing and visual effects are flashy and choppy, seemingly designed to disorientate viewers and throw them off balance. While these techniques occasionally create an unsettling atmosphere, the film often seems more interested in showing off its visual flourishes than building the kind of sustained dread that makes a horror movie truly effective.

Ho, on the other hand, appears to relish the opportunity to get thoroughly grimy and dirty for the role. Her dishevelled appearance gives Lan an air of mystery, while the guilt and pain beneath her rough exterior provide the character with some emotional grounding.

Chan makes for an earnest police officer, even if his character occasionally finds himself in situations that are more amusing than frightening. One particularly funny moment sees Ho spit on him to open his third eye, giving the film another unexpected dose of comedy.

Iman, a relatively new actor signed to Ho’s company, has less to work with here as the police superintendent who continually snaps at his men. Still, his presence suggests that the company may be looking to build his profile through future projects.

The film’s tone is uneven, shifting between supernatural horror, crime thriller and comedy without always finding a comfortable balance. Nevertheless, casual viewers should be able to follow the story through to its finale, where a showdown provides enough action and suspense to keep things moving. The ending also leaves the door open for another instalment.

The Mage may not restore the Pang Brothers to the heights of The Eye, but there is enough here to hold your attention. Just do not be surprised if the scene you remember most vividly is the one that makes you laugh rather than scream.

Movie Rating:

(Josie Ho gets down and dirty in the Pang Brothers’ latest horror outing, which has a few tricks up its sleeve to keep you watching till the end)

Review by John Li