For the past two years, one of the highlights of my Fantasia Film Festival was the opportunity to see the first two Chinese Ghost Story films. The desire to see new films from all around the world looms in the air. Part of the joy of festival-going is getting to see films before anyone else, but I wonder if – equally important – part of the joy should be around discovery and the films themselves.

More than anything, a film festival should be a space to celebrate film; one of the best ways to do that is to check out the rep screenings. At Fantasia International Film Festival, the classic cinema is so good it occasionally outstrips the general programming. This years’ highlights include: a restoration of Mamoru Oshii’s Angel’s Egg, a 4K restoration of classic giallo The House with Laughing Windows. And importantly, the third in the legendary Chinese Ghost Story trilogy.

As part of a recent box set, Shout Factory’s Hong Kong Cinema Classics presents this third instalment. This version brings back Joey Wong as a ghost bride, carrying forward 100 years after the events at the end of the first film. When the Demon Tree awakens, the unfortunate souls who enter Orchid Temple, will be in great peril.

As far as completing the trilogy, this third edition certainly closes off loose ends, but is perhaps the least fun of the three. It could be the fact that I’m watching on my couch at home; it could also be that the film has a bit of a harder edge than the first two do. As evidence, I submit the fact that there is no Kung-fu rap number this time. That being said, I am extremely grateful that I got the chance to see these films and celebrate their beauty.