When a rash of strange murders threatens to delay the inauguration of the would-be Empress Wu Zeitan, she’s forced to pardon a man she forced into exile eight years ago: the enigmatic Detective Dee. Upon returning home, Dee partners with the enthusiastic Commander Bei and China’s foremost master of disguise, the Ghost Doctor, to unravel a mystery rife with horror, suspense, and wuxia-style action.
Based on real people and events from the Tang era, then filtered through the cold-hearted neo-noir of the Coen Brothers and garnished with the incredible “wire-fu” setpieces of CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME is a lysergic history class taught by a pop culture fiend. Famous for importing technicians and specialists from Hollywood, director Tsui Hark continues to raise the bar on action and special effects in Chinese cinema.