Five police officers in Hong Kong are kidnapped. The police commissioner is on a business trip overseas. Two vice commissioners, Sean Rau and M.B. Lee, then take over the case. The two vice commissioners are rivals who both vie for the police commissioner seat. At first, M.B. Lee takes the lead in the case, but comes to a dead end. Sean Lau then takes the lead, but he falls into a trap. Both men are then investigated by the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption).

郝冬（黄轩 饰）在收听午夜电台节目时，谈到了自己失眠的痛苦经历。郝冬的女友——电台DJ依凡（薛凯琪 饰）开始对他进行心理辅导。而郝冬却对她讲述了自己的梦魇：一个白衣飘飘的长发女子（周楚楚 饰）从高楼坠落，这令他难以安眠。而更令人恐惧的是，他那些关于九里村的童年记忆，虽然支离破碎，却令人不寒而栗。当时，建国初期，一对夫妇来到了九里村，支援村里农业生产建设，丈夫叫建国，是杂交水稻专家，他的妻子名叫骆晓月。来到村子没多久，建国因下河触电身亡，而晓月则被村长的智障弟弟骚扰。后来，晓月竟然在夜间被人用柴刀杀死。警察调查中，发现智障弟弟为最大嫌疑人，但是由于其为精神病，故未受惩罚。20年过去了，郝冬再度回到九里村，住在舅舅家中，又遭遇了一连串令人毛骨悚然的诡异景象。当他在一步步揭开真相的时候，同时也陷入了对于凶手杀人的回忆中，陈年往事如疮疤被揭开，真相令人瞠目结舌……

According to demon lore, it takes hundreds of years to attain human form. Even then, lacking a human heart, a demon cannot experience the true pains and passions of existence. However, there is a legend that if a pure human heart is freely offered to a demon, it can become a mortal and experience true life. Sequel of Painted Skin (2008).

2010 film by Kim Tae-yong

2012 film by Pang Ho-cheung

2011 film directed by Zhang Yimou