Lan Tin-lung, master of the Liangyi Castle, calls upon all upright swordsmen to help wipe out the notorious Lunar Sect.
“The Angry River,” directed by Huang Feng, has the distinction of being the first production from Golden Harvest, the studio that would go on to launch the international careers of stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Released in 1971, it’s a notable debut for the company, even if the film itself doesn’t stray far from genre conventions.
Angela Mao Ying stars as Lan Feng, a young martial artist in search of a rare herb — ganoderma atrum — to cure her poisoned father, one of many victims of the villainous King Hell (Pai Ying). The herb acts as the film’s MacGuffin, setting the story in motion and motivating Lan Feng’s journey across the titular Angry River and into the Sorrowful Ghost Valley. Despite the movie being named after it, the river itself plays a very minor role in the film.
The quest for the herb proves to be the least challenging part of Lan Feng’s journey. The sequence leans into the fantastical, most notably with an unconvincing rubber-suited monster, and resolves quickly with Lan Feng exchanging her martial arts skills to obtain the herb. The real conflict emerges on her return home; she is relentlessly pursued by those seeking the same cure for their own poisoned allies (or to improve their martial arts skills, which the herb is said to do to those not poisoned).
The fight sequences are well choreographed by a young Sammo Hung, and Mao proves to be a compelling and capable lead. There’s an energy here that hints at the future success of Golden Harvest. Still, the film feels routine, adhering closely to genre expectations without offering much to set it apart from its contemporaries.
Released on limited edition Blu-ray by 88 Films, “The Angry River” features a “new 2K restoration from the Original Negative.” The image quality is generally pleasing, though the Mandarin mono track occasionally sounds muddled and exhibits minor static. It’s not a major distraction and will likely go unnoticed by viewers relying on subtitles. An English language dub is also included.
Extras are light, including an audio commentary by Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, an image gallery, and the original trailer. The limited edition release includes a rigid slipcase and a double-sided fold-out poster.
While the release may disappoint those seeking a more robust set of extras, the strong transfer makes this a worthwhile release for both longtime fans and curious newcomers.
Available on 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ May 12th from 88 FILMS
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