Ha ha ha, pretty funny ghost stories that's worth the watch. Movie is comprised of three episodes. In each episode the ghost shows up at 1 am (hence the title of the movie).
The stories are bit unusual in that none of them takes place inside a house but at various locations around town.
First story consists of Veronica Yip who's a nurse getting haunted by a ghost while on a night watch. I'm bit disappointed that there was no skin exposure here on her part, but this movie is not an erotic ghost story, so I'll settle for that. Veronica Yip just doesn't strike me as someone who gets scared at anything, and sure enough she wasn't so convincing at being scared of the ghosts.
Second story involves Anita Yuen and her new (bought used) Japanese car. The story is funny because of her miniature Do Do Cheng style acting. She could pass as Do Do's sister from the way she looks in this movie. She was just great in a bad situation of the car getting stuck at middle of the night, made worse by the presence of the ghost.
Third story is about two traffic enforcement cops consisting of Jordan Chan and Elvis Tsui. Jordan always brings incredibly funny acting while playing strait. I think he's one actor that deserves lot more recognition. Well you've guessed it, while thinking they're cool, these officers goes on their bumbling ways strait into the ghosts hands.
A sequel was made where the ghosts shows up at 2am (1997).
Grade A
Plot summary
A film that foretells three modern-day ghost stories, set in the City of Hong Kong. The first segment deals with a popular singer that mysteriously falls into a deep coma, and the public is unaware that his spirit is detained by the ghost of an obsessed fan of his. His plea for help is only recognized by his nurse. In the second segment, four college girls are assigned an unusual project, and their selected-topic is to "interview" the ghost of the "Braided Woman." When they encounter the streets where the ghost was claimed to roam, they find themselves in a mist of terror. In the third segment, two night-duty police officers stumble upon a mysterious crisis when their speed-tracking camera detects a image of an old woman. After the woman's first sighting, the officers encounter her in every place they go, and their only solution is to find out what she wants.
January 10, 2023 at 07:01 AM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEBMovie Reviews
Definitely Worth the Watch
Three Funny Ghost Stories.
If you're looking for bone-chilling, hair raising and teeth chattering movie entertainment, then this film is not for you. However, if you want some comedy relief with some ghostly tales mixed in, then this movie is for you. This film is about three separate stories, each one depicting the protagonists' encounter with ghosts. Based on the title of this film, all ghosts appear at the stroke of 1:00AM; each restless apparition looking to take care of some unfinished business before resting in peace.
The first story deals with the trapped spirit of a singer; second deals with a group of college students' encounter with a restless female ghost; and the third deals with two night-duty cops' encounter with a reoccurring phantom of an old woman.
The acting is great, the music score is haunting and the directing is good. It's a perfect film for some comedy and some moderate horror entertainment.
Grade A
Worth A Watch At Least Once!
One of popular director Wilson Yip's first films, 01:00AM is a trilogy of modern-day ghost stories set in Hong Kong, each different in their own way, and each entertaining enough to pass the time. The first is about a singer in a coma; his spirit trapped by a persistent female ghost who was a fan when she was alive. The second is about a group of college students who send Anita Yuen out to interview a ghost. And the third deals with a couple of cops on night duty who encounter the ghost of an old woman. Obviously, each of the ghosts appear at 01:00am (or thereabouts) which is what connects everything together...
While hardly enthralling, 01:00AM still makes for a fun watch, with enough comedic goings-on to help, and a great wee cast spread out over each of the tales including the aforementioned student Anita Yuen, Veronica Yip as a nurse, and Jordan Chan and Elvis Tsui as the night cops. Of course, Chan would return to work with Wilson Yip on the fun Bio Zombie a few years later which was a much more energetic entry. Each of the main stars bring their own little charm to their 30 minute segment, backed by a great score and some nice camerawork, with the three tales supposedly based on true stories.
Its not as glossy as today's horror fans would probably want, but 01:00AM still provides enough spooky moments and is far from terrible, but overall, I'd say the film was made with more of a comedic tone than serious horror.
01:00AM is middle-of-the-road stuff for me, but definitely not a waste of time. Given the fact that Wilson Yip is such a praised director today after his success with the Ip Man series, its good to see where these film makers began and the progression of their journey. Gives me some inspiration with my own career!
Overall: Watchable horror-comedy that has enough going on to entertain, although I'd probably never need to see it again...