---
title: "Return of the Dead"
year: 1979
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/return-of-the-dead-1979"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 178121
imdb_id: null
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 98
community_rating: 5.3
vote_count: 0
content_rating: "Unrated"
---

# Return of the Dead (1979) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/return-of-the-dead-1979

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Return of the Dead is a film first released in 1979. Catalogued under Horror, Fantasy. Produced and broadcast by Shaw Brothers. Current status: Released.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "Three asylum inmates spin eerie ghost tales of wishful folly and vengeful spirits."

### Why Watch
- Anthology format delivers varied supernatural stories
- Atmospheric ghost revenge themes create tension

### Caveats & Content Note
- The segmented narrative may feel uneven for some viewers
- Tone & Suitability: Features supernatural horror and ghostly violence, intended for mature audiences.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: anthology, horror, fantasy, ghostly, gothic

## Streaming Availability Matrix

Direct streaming licensing updates dynamically. Consult the live tracking interface at https://www.archytele.com/show/return-of-the-dead-1979#watch.

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Li Han-Hsiang
- **Networks / Studios**: Shaw Brothers

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Choh Seung-Wan** as *Xiao Yun Yu*
- **Ku Feng** as *Wang Zhi He*
- **Chan Wai-Ying** as *Meng Wei*
- **Chun Wong** as *Kao Tai-Zhang*
- **Lau Luk-Wah** as *Xiao Bao*
- **Lau Wai-Ling** as *Old Professor's mistress*
- **Elliot Ngok Wah** as *Jiang Tao*
- **Si Wai** as *Lin Kun-Quan*
- **Tai Kwan-Tak** as *Xiao Da-Zhi*
- **Wang Lai** as *Mrs. Wang*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is the film's structure?
The film is presented as an anthology, with three separate stories narrated by asylum inmates.

### Q: When was Return of the Dead released?
It was released on December 21, 1979, in Hong Kong.

### Q: What genres does the film belong to?
It is classified as horror and fantasy.

### Q: How long is the movie?
The runtime is approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes.

### Q: What are the basic premises of the three stories?
Story one follows a husband and wife warned about careless wishes; story two features a naked female ghost seeking revenge from a watery grave; story three involves a dead prostitute returning as a ghost.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Return of the Dead — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/178121)
- [Return of the Dead (1979) | DIV.cz](https://div.cz/film/return-of-the-dead)
- [Return of the Dead (1954) | Kinobox.cz](https://www.kinobox.cz/film/5232249-return-of-the-dead)
- [Return of the Living Dead (2026 film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Living_Dead_(2026_film))

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*