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US 4K Blu-ray with Extended Cut |
The UK Blu-ray from 88 Films was compared to the 2026 US Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, which includes an extended cut.
Lung commissions the mysterious lantern artist Chao Chun-Fang to create an extraordinary lantern so he can outshine his rival Tan at the annual Lantern Festival. What he doesn’t know is that Chun-Fang was severely humiliated by Lung years earlier and is now plotting a cruel revenge. As more and more people from Lung’s circle disappear without a trace, the rivals Lung and Tan begin to suspect each other. Eventually, Lung discovers Chun-Fang’s secret workshop and uncovers a horrific truth: the artist crafts his lanterns from human skin. Human Lanterns from Shaw Brothers Studios combines gory horror elements with kung fu fights and a story of retribution. The unusually dark atmosphere gives the film a unique character. Highly recommended for horror and Eastern fans. The film has an interesting censorship history. The HK DVD from IVL / Celestial was heavily edited in the violent scenes at the time. The British, US and German DVDs were significantly longer, but cut in a different scene instead. On May 16, 2022, 88 Films released an uncut version on Blu-ray. As part of the Halfway to Black Friday Sale, the film was unexpectedly announced by Vinegar Syndrome on Blu-ray/UHD and has been shipping since May 26, 2026. The standard retail edition follows on July 28, 2026. Notably, Vinegar Syndrome discovered a 35mm theatrical print containing additional previously unreleased scenes. The release was announced with: Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to bring HUMAN LANTERNS to 4K UHD, newly and exclusively restored from its original camera negative and presented in its longest and most complete version ever on video, including extended gore sequences never before available on disc, along with a never-on-video alternate ending present only in the Cantonese export version! On Instagram, Vinegar Syndrome clarified once again: We’ve received lots of inquiries asking how exactly our new 4K restoration of HUMAN LANTERNS differs from the version you might have seen before. Well, it differs A LOT! 1. Every -and we do mean EVERY - previous home video release (including VHS) was heavily cut. And not by just a shot or two...No, the notorious skinning sequences were, well, mangled so much that we were genuinely shocked by just how much more gruesome the unedited version on our release is. 2. Maybe even more exciting: we discovered a long unavailable alternate/extended ending unique to the Cantonese version which significantly changes the outcome of the film while also adding EVEN MORE CARNAGE. Even if you’ve seen the film before, this alternate ending makes a major difference narratively and tonally. No other company has the exclusive footage present in our edition, and the versions we are presenting will remain exclusive to our release. In total, the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray runs just under two minutes longer than the 88 Films Blu-ray and includes various extensions, primarily in the skinning scenes, which were restored from the aforementioned 35mm print. The quality of these scenes is slightly lower, and occasionally, hard-coded subtitles appear on the screen. However, the difference is truly minimal and hardly noticeable. The new material is quite something: there are more gory details to marvel at during the skinning scenes and additional nude scenes. Lee Chin’s rape scene is also longer. It stands to reason that Human Lanterns was pre-censored for its original release. The Vinegar Syndrome release is based on a new transfer from the 35mm camera negative and looks spectacular. A skinning scene where the 88 Films Blu-ray relied on a lower-quality master is also presented in very good picture quality on the Vinegar Syndrome release. Here and there, the shots are slightly longer on the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray. If it’s only a matter of a few frames, this isn’t mentioned in the report. Vinegar Syndrome offers the option to watch the film with both the regular and the alternate ending. In the alternate ending, you see how Lung and Chun-Fang ultimately fall victim to the flames. The film ends with Poon and his men turning toward the lanterns. This ending is significantly more depressing, as Lung meets his death here and is unable to repent for his actions, unlike in the regular ending.
Runtimes:
[00:00:31][00:00:30]
After the Shaw Brothers logo, the black screen lasts longer.
Extended: 3 sec. [00:00:49][00:00:52] The extended version has an additional title fade-in, while in the 88 Films version, the existing fade-in is extended.
No time difference. [00:01:30][00:01:33] In the extended version, the text crawl begins earlier.
No time difference. [00:18:02][00:18:05] When Mei-Mei is approached during the hunt for Chun-Fang, the subtitles are burned into the image in the extended version.
No time difference. [00:18:07][00:18:10] Chun-Fang can still be seen in the water. He says that it is clean and cool.
Extended: 3 sec. [00:18:19][00:18:25] Shortly thereafter, as Mei-Mei flees, the subtitles from the extended version are superimposed again.
No time difference. [00:18:20][00:18:26] The camera zooms out from Chun-Fang, who calls after Mei-Mei, telling her to come to him and take a bath. As he does so, he splashes around in the water.
Extended: 6 sec. [00:24:00][00:24:12] After the masked Chun-Fang says he wants to destroy what Lung has, he rips Yen Chu’s top off. She starts screaming. Chun-Fang lifts her skirt up.
Extended: 13 sec. [00:24:02][00:24:28] After Chun-Fang has torn the skirt, a shot follows in which he throws it away. The now-naked Yen Chu continues to scream.
Extended: 7 sec. [00:24:06][00:24:39] Chun-Fang reaches down to grab the small axe. In another shot, he holds it over the naked Yen Chu.
Extended: 8 sec. [00:24:28][00:25:09] Chun-Fang swings the axe over Yen Chu’s head once more. Blood splatters onto his mask. Yen Chu writhes and screams for help.
Extended: 24 sec. [00:24:49][00:25:44] In another shot, Chun-Fang dances on the waterwheel. The naked Yen Chu can be seen on the right side of the frame.
Extended: 3 sec. [00:25:04][00:26:01] The unconscious Yen Chu can be seen a little earlier.
This brief gap is likely due to the fact that the 88 Films Blu-ray uses a different video source here. The following scene, in which Yen Chu’s skin is flayed, is of lower quality. This is not the case with the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray.
Extended: 1 sec. [00:26:06][00:27:04] This is followed by another shot in which Chun-Fang peels off the skin. The follow shot, in which he completely rips the scrap of skin from the body, begins earlier.
Extended: 14 sec. [00:26:24][00:27:36] The shot with the angry people in the brothel starts earlier.
Extended: 1 sec. [00:26:46][00:28:00] The brothel madam is shown for longer.
Extended: 0.5 sec. [01:08:27][01:09:41] Chun-Fang hurls Tsui further forward. The follow shot begins earlier.
Extended: 1 sec.. [01:17:03][01:18:18] Chun-Fang is shown longer as he grabs Lee Chin’s scarf. The follow shot begins 4 frames earlier.
Extended: 1 sec. [01:17:39][01:18:56] After Chun-Fang pushes Lee Chin’s leg to the side, he is seen using his arm to push her leg upward. Lee Chin screams as this happens.
Extended: 17 sec. [01:18:29][01:20:03] Lung is seen on the street earlier.
Extended: 1 sec. [01:20:01][01:21:36] The shot where Lee Chin is flayed begins earlier.
Here, too, the subtitles are burned into the image.
Extended: 1 sec. [01:20:03][01:21:39] Chun-Fang looks at the peeled skin for a longer time.
Extended: 5 sec. [01:38:35][01:40:17] The “End” credit at the end is different.
No time difference. The alternative endingAs previously mentioned, the Vinegar Syndrome release offers the option to watch the film with the alternative ending. The previously described extensions can be watched with both versions. [01:36:54][01:36:54] In the alternative ending, we continue to see Chun-Fang and Lung engulfed in flames. Poon calls out to Lung through the hole. This is followed by slow-motion scenes in which Chun-Fang and Lung continue to burn. Poon and his men turn around and see the lanterns created by Chun-Fang. The “The End” credit appears.
1:10 min. At the regular ending, we see a shot of the burning Chun-Fang, then the scene fades from the fire to the final scene, where Lung is seen in his house. Lung is marked by burn scars and is burning promissory notes. Poon appears, and Lung shows remorse for what his arrogance has caused.
3:37 min. |
