Shadows in the Old House

The owner of the old house Xiangyun Villa, Wu Jishan, died a year ago and has yet to be buried, so the residents of the neighborhood regard the place as a murderous mansion. On the anniversary of his death, his only daughter, Yunfang, returns from her studies abroad, accompanied by her fiancé, Zhang Shouyi, and many of her relatives. Lawyer Song announces his will in public: 1. The distribution of the property is described in the second will; 2. The second will will be announced in three days; 3. If Yunfang is dead, the property will be inherited by her fiancé; if she dies without being married, her nearest relatives will inherit. All at once the people are suspicious of each other and create murder, while all the actions are watched by the servant Lao Cai and Wang Yiping, the assistant of the lawyer Song. In the end, the culprits are caught and Yunfang and Yiping become a loving couple.

Directed by Chen Yiqing, Xu Xinfu, Shadows in the Old House leans on a strong ensemble — Wu Ching-Hung, Kuo Ping, Yang Chi-Ching — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about horror titles of 1948.