The Himalayan – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1976
Director: Huang Feng
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Angela Mao, Chan Sing, Dorian Tan, Guan Shan, Ling Hon, Angela Wang En-Chi, Han Ying-Chieh, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo 

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 116 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Set against the stunning mountain vistas of Nepal, Tseng Ching Lam (Mao), a noblewoman betrayed and falsely accused of adultery by her devious brother-in-law. Fleeing into exile, she vows vengeance and begins her transformation by mastering the secret Tibetan fighting art of Mi--a discipline of spiritual strength and deadly precision." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

The Himalayan comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 33.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. The differences between these two tracks are minuscule. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/lobby cards/posters), a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), English language opening and closing credits (3 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview with actor Dorian Tan titled Tales from the Monastery (9 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed The Himalayan. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

A power-hungry man seizes his opportunity when his brother is chosen to marry the daughter of a noble and well-respected man.

While there are several action set pieces, The Himalayan is better described as a melodrama than a typical martial arts film. The Himalayan deals with familiar themes like deception and vengeance. In the case of deception, the power-hungry brother murders his sibling and enlists a look-alike who will obey his every command. Vengeance arises from the daughter, who has been falsely accused of adultery and narrowly escapes a certain death.

The main draw of 'The Himalayan' is its scenic Nepal locations; they give it a look that’s unlike any other martial arts film of this era. Where so many 1970s martial arts films were shot on a soundstage or in countries like South Korea and Taiwan, filming in Nepal really opens up 'The Himalayan' in a way that those other locations could not have. That said, some of the interior scenes were shot on a soundstage, according to Dorian Tan.

Although Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwand) is the star of 'The Himalayan.' The most memorable performance is Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury) in the role of the power-hungry brother named Kao Chu. His character is ruthless and impulsive in his quest for power, and he delivers a pitch-perfect performance. Other performances of note are Angela Mao in the role of Tseng Ching Lam and Dorian Tan (The Hand of Death) in the role of Hsu Chin Kang, an old childhood friend of Tseng Ching Lam. Another cast member of note is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher), portraying an evil henchman.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job drawing you in and setting a solid foundation for what unfolds. Although there are many peaks and valleys over the course of 117 minutes, the narrative never lags; it always maintains and builds momentum. While the film emphasizes exposition over action set pieces, it is important to note that the action sequences are still exemplary. Ultimately, 'The Himalayan' is an enthralling film that finds a satisfying blend of exposition and action.

The Himalayan gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer