Film

Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back

Name: Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Released: 2017
Cast: Kris Wu, Lin Gengxin, Yao Chen, Lin Yun, Mengke Bateer

Mythological fantasy

A Chinese fantasy-action film riffing on the classical Journey to the West tale, centering on internal conflict among a monk and his three disciples as they battle demons crossing mythical terrain. Visually inventive with wire-work and practical effects, it's energetic if uneven—more interested in spectacle and emotional reconciliation than narrative coherence. For viewers who want colorful adventure and don't mind loose plotting.

TMDb rating

3.0

If you liked this

The Mummy1999

A film cut from similar cloth: adventure, banter, supernatural threats, practical stunts layered with early CGI, a ragtag team learning to trust each other under pressure. Brendan Fraser's charm carries it as effortlessly as Kris Wu attempts to here.

But Dated effects in places and the pacing sags mid-film. The romance subplot interrupts momentum when you want more monster-fighting.

The Forbidden Kingdom2008

Jackie Chan and Jet Li in a wuxia-fantasy film that chases the same spirit: colorful action, wire-work acrobatics, a mix of comedy and peril, Asian mythology as playground. Knowingly fun without taking itself seriously.

But The script is thin, the Western protagonist often grinds the pace to a halt, and the whole thing feels like a theme-park ride. Some will find it slight.

Big Trouble in Little China1986

A Western hero stumbles into a demon-infested otherworld of sorcery and practical stunt work. John Carpenter frames the action clearly, mixes humor with genuine stakes, and treats supernatural rules with invented-universe logic that feels lived-in.

But The tone is deliberately goofy—if you want epic gravitas instead of scrappy charm, this will feel too jokey. Some action sequences are harder to follow than others.

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The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Incredible Kung Fu Master1979

A distant ancestor of Demons Strike Back using the same mythology but pre-dating CGI—it shows what the filmmaking impulse was before spectacle became the point, when restraint and ingenuity were forced partners.

A Chinese TV series from the early CGI era that adapted Journey to the West for serialized television. Campy, earnest, low-budget, full of practical stunts and obvious miniatures. Pure artifact and pure fun if you want to see where this tradition came from.

But It's slow by modern standards, the effects are creaky, and it assumes knowledge of the source material. Long runtime for minimal plot; this is devotional viewing, not efficient storytelling.

Kung Fu Hustle2004

Stephen Chow's martial-arts comedy balances slapstick, heart, and genuinely inventive action across an ensemble cast. It shares the energy and spirit of camaraderie-through-combat that Journey seeks, with better execution and more consistent laughs.

But The tone whipsaws between comedy and violence without always landing both. If you want grounded action, the exaggeration will read as cartoonish rather than fun.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000

Ang Lee's wuxia masterpiece proves wire-work can be poetry. The fights are balletic, the emotional stakes genuine, and the mythic register elevated. A reminder of what the genre achieves when restraint meets ambition.

But It's a slow-burn and meditative where Demons Strike Back is frantic. Patience is required; action sequences are fewer and they're earned through character work, not spectacle.

Ong-Bak2003

Tony Jaa's practical acrobatics and fight choreography are stunning—no wire-work safety net, just human bodies doing near-impossible things. A reminder of what committed stunt work looks like when it's the whole point, not decoration.

But The plot is genuinely threadbare and the dialogue forgettable. You're watching for the action; the story is scaffolding. If narrative matters to you, this will frustrate.

The Great Wall2016

Matt Damon and Zhang Yimou's fantasy-action hybrid about warriors fighting an alien threat across mythic Chinese terrain. Visually sumptuous, color-coded armies, and the commitment to scale that Journey reaches for but doesn't quite land.

But Critics and audiences were divided. The script is hollow, cultural tensions in the casting linger, and style overwhelms substance so thoroughly it becomes exhausting.

xXx2002

Vin Diesel as a wisecracking action hero dropped into exotic locations and paired with an ensemble of specialists. Fast-paced, knowingly dumb, committed to its own ridiculousness without apology. Pure fun.

But The plotting is nonexistent, the dialogue is pure marketing-speak, and the action, while energetic, rarely surprises. If you want substance, this will bore you to tears.