The Golden Triangle – Dark Force Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong/Thailand, 1975
Directors: Rome Bunnag, Wu Ma
Writer: Thaworn Suwana
Cast: Lo Lieh, Tien Ni, Tien Feng, Sombat Metanee, Tanyarat Lohanan, Suwin Swangrat, Manop Aswathep, Somchai Samipak, Bo Vibulnan, Krisana Amnueyporn

Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $26.95

"An undercover agent infiltrates a powerful opium syndicate operating in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle, but his mission is complicated when he falls for the cartel's enigmatic female leader. Danger, betrayal, and deception unfold in this gritty martial arts crime thriller set against a backdrop of the international drug trade." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This release is from the only known existing 35mm print that is the most uncut version available, running 95 minutes."

The Golden Triangle comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.6 GB

Feature: 21.4 GB

The source is presented as is; there are nicks, scratches, and other debris. Most of the time colors look acceptable, image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, there are no issues with compression, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The audio has some minor imperfections; dialogue comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. There is one scene that is in Italian, and there are no English subtitles.

Extras:

This release comes with no extras, only an option to play the film.

Summary:

An undercover agent infiltrates a drug ring located in the Golden Triangle.

The Golden Triangle is a crime film featuring action sequences primarily composed of fistfights and gunplay; these sequences are far removed from martial arts. When it comes to its action sequences, they are standard fare, nothing memorable. That said, though the premise covers familiar ground—a crime syndicate entrenched in the world of drugs—it's the Golden Triangle that sets it apart from other similar films.

The main draw is Lo Lieh (King Boxer) in the role of Tong Wong, a wanted man seeking refuge in the Golden Triangle. Although this is not one of his stronger performances, he still manages to hold his own against the rest of the cast. The actual star of The Golden Triangle is Sombat Metanee; he portrays the cop who goes undercover. His performance is strongest during fight scenes, while his more dramatic moments are lacking. The most memorable performance is Tien Ni (Corpse Mania), who portrays the daughter of an opium smuggler.

The narrative is minimal; nothing significant occurs, and the story is primarily structured around the action sequences that lead to a car chase finale. Some of the action sequences stand out, such as a slow-motion shootout and a fight in a bubble bath. However, the visuals fail to captivate; they merely fill the frame without leaving a lasting impression. Ultimately, The Golden Triangle is a by-the-numbers action/crime film that never manages to gain any momentum.

Dark Force Entertainment gives The Golden Triangle a serviceable audio/video presentation.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer