The millennium may be new, but some things never change. A mere four months after part six caused barely a ripple on the cinematic scene, along comes the seventh instalment in the Troublesome Night series.

The weakest of the lot, it would be a surprise if cast and crew spent more than a week wrapping this one up.

The Troublesome Night stories are chiefly related in their ghostly content. Nam Yin is a fixture as producer-writer, and regular stars are Louis Koo Tin-lok, Simon Loui Yu-yeung and the grande dame ghoul of Cantonese cinema, Law Lan.

But Nam produces mediocre results; Koo, the lead throughout the series, is barely on view; and this Troublesome Night has another difference from the others in the series - there are no night scenes. This would certainly have helped contain costs.

As in the other Troublesome Nights, the mixture of the ultra-modern and old-fashioned superstition provides an interesting dynamic. There is no contradiction between the female lead's dependence on her mobile phone and her utter belief that strange goings-on are caused by other-worldly spirits. Alas, the ghostly events in Part 7 are none too intriguing.

This time the story revolves around two other Troublesome Night stalwarts, Peter Lai Yiu-cheung and singer-actress Amanda Lee Wai-mun. Alex (Lai) is an MTV director filming star Mandy (Lee) on a remote island, where residents include a police inspector (Loui), restaurant owner (Law Kwun-lan) and her paramour (Hui Siu-hung).

In Troublesome Night tradition, odd incidents take place, including the sighting of a handsome young man (Koo) in search of his true love (Chan Chung-ling).

A highly implausible plot twist - standard fare for the Troublesome Night series - bedevils their relationship when a "wild child" is discovered.

Auntie Ping (Law Lan) recognises the child and the plot thickens, never mind that there are major discrepancies involving the appearance of the now-grown-up child. She resorts to the usual Law Lan-style mumbo jumbo and puts the spirits at peace.

It may be even beyond her powers, though, to resuscitate the series in time for part eight.

This review is copyright (c) 2000 by Paul Fonoroff. All rights reserved. No part of the review may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.