If you’re looking for a sugar rush of pure, unfiltered CGI spectacle, Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back delivers in spades. As a sequel to Stephen Chow’s 2013 film Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons , this Tsui Hark-helmed installment doubles down on the bizarre, colorful, and utterly chaotic energy of its predecessor—for better and worse.
This movie is an absolute feast for the eyes. Tsui Hark’s signature imaginative flair turns every fight scene into a psychedelic explosion of magic, martial arts, and monster mayhem. The Red Boy’s flaming attacks and the giant, fighting Buddhas are genuinely awe-inspiring on a big screen. Lin Gengxin steals the show as a manic, unpredictable Sun Wukong, constantly toeing the line between hero and menace. His chemistry (and bickering) with Shaofeng Feng’s stoic Monk Xuanzang provides most of the film’s humor and heart. download journey to the west the demons strike back
The plot is thin to the point of transparency. It’s essentially a video-game quest: go to a city, fight a demon (the Red Boy), then fight a bigger demon (the Spider Queen and a giant golden ape). Kris Wu, while charming, is miscast as the lead monk—lacking the spiritual gravity or comedic timing the role demands. Worse, the film falls into the modern blockbuster trap of non-stop action. By the third act, the constant explosions of digital confetti become exhausting rather than exciting. If you’re looking for a sugar rush of
You love over-the-top Chinese fantasy action and can forgive a paper-thin story. Skip it if: You need coherent plots, character development, or prefer the 1986 TV series’ more grounded take. Tsui Hark’s signature imaginative flair turns every fight
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
The Demons Strike Back is not a good movie in the traditional sense, but it is an entertaining one if you calibrate your expectations. Don’t expect the philosophical wit of the original novel or the tight storytelling of Stephen Chow’s best work. Instead, treat it like a roller coaster: loud, fast, forgettable, but a decent thrill while it lasts.