Tank 432 Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Tank 432" by Scream Factory offers a captivating visual presentation, adhering closely to the film's originally intended look. Presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio on an AVC-encoded BD-25 disc, the movie features an average video bitrate of 26993 kbps and an overall bitrate of 33.21 Mbps. The visual aesthetic, marked by a bleak and grim color scheme, mirrors a bleach bypass effect with overexposed illumination, particularly evident in nature-focused close-ups and hazy landscapes. The depiction of sunlight on characters’ faces and atmospheric elements like cigarette smoke enriches the visual texture, while hues predominantly lean into light olive and turquoise tones, especially during dusk settings.

Detail and clarity are effectively balanced, driven by a digital source masked with a film-like grain, delivering a crisp and sharp image. The picture quality captures intricate details such as dust particles, texture variations in uniforms, and even subtle elements like spit. Depth remains standard, with solid spacing between foreground and background, and minimal blurring during character movements. Black levels are stable, occasionally touched with a greenish hue without any crushing observed. While the overall color palette feels desaturated, focused elements like orange prisoner jumpsuits and glow sticks within the tank interiors provide vivid focal points. Notably, a unique vision sequence introduces a more vibrant spectrum with robust greens, reds, and purples enhancing the visual impact.

Scream Factory’s execution ensures that skin tones consistently align with the movie’s washed-out aesthetic, meticulously rendering facial features and physical attributes in medium to close-up shots. Noise and artifacts are kept to a minimum, ensuring a clean viewing experience that aptly conveys the gritty ambiance of "Tank 432."

The Blu-ray release of "Tank 432" offers a dual audio presentation with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (1664 kbps, 24-bit) and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 downmix (1664 kbps, 24-bit). The 5.1 surround mix delivers a robust auditory experience, successfully creating fully realized environments with a 360-degree soundscape. Foley effects are distinctly deep, contributing a lifelike quality, especially notable in quieter moments. Gunfire, explosions, and the intense steel-on-steel clashes within the tank generate a significant low-frequency extension, resonating powerfully through the subwoofer. This mix also brings out nature sounds and general ambiance surrounding the woods effectively.

In more intricate sequences, the surround sound presentation excels. One standout moment features characters hiding in an abandoned tank while external forces knock on it from various directions. This scene utilizes all five channels impressively, offering an immersive auditory engagement. The involvement of the center channel is equally noteworthy, providing precise action and effects reproduction which contributes to the engrossing auditory experience.

Despite the impressive soundstage, dialogue clarity remains a concern. The predominantly Scottish English dialect of the cast poses challenges for clear enunciation, leading viewers to potentially rely on English SDH subtitles for better comprehension. While speech discernibility improves inside the tank scenes, the background effects occasionally necessitate subtitles for clearer understanding. Opting for the 2.0 downmix may also help focalize dialogue across the center channels for viewers seeking improved speech clarity. Nevertheless, the overall dynamic balance of effects, music, and vocals in this release is commendable, bringing a well-rounded and strikingly detailed audio profile to "Tank 432."

The Blu-ray release of "Tank 432" offers a minimal yet focused selection of extras that enthusiasts may find valuable. While concise, the special features deliver quality presentations in high definition, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The main draw is the original theatrical trailer, which is presented in 1080p with a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen format and accompanied by DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 sound, delivering a robust auditory and visual experience. Additionally, fans of the Scream Factory and IFC Midnight catalog will appreciate the inclusion of bonus trailers for other titles, which automatically play before navigating to the main menu. These supplements provide a brief but immersive extension to the film itself, ideal for those looking to delve deeper into the ambiance and marketing of "Tank 432."

Extras included in this disc:

• Original Theatrical Trailer: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.
• Scream Factory Bonus Trailers: Three trailers for other Scream/IFC Midnight titles that play before the main menu appears.

Nick Gillespie's Tank 432 strives for tension and atmospheric dread, yet falters due to its disjointed narrative and prolonged ambiguity. Debuting as an independent thriller, the film follows mercenary soldiers who, with their hooded hostages, seek asylum in a derelict tank amidst a war-ravaged landscape. The early scenes, reminiscent of John Woo's chaotic battle sequences, quickly transition into a claustrophobic setting within the tank's confines, inadvertently stalling the initial momentum. Rupert Evans as Reeves and Michael Smiley as Capper deliver commendable performances, with Smiley providing a rare splash of color in otherwise serious proceedings. April Pearson stands out with a unique charisma that momentarily lifts the movie’s dreary atmosphere.

The movie oscillates between potential and tedium, mirroring classics like Samuel Maoz’s "Lebanon" but failing to capture their gripping intensity. Despite intriguing elements, such as hallucinatory visions of hooded figures and unexpected philosophical discussions on Greek mythology, Gillespie's script lacks coherence. Scenes often build anticipation but conclude without fulfillment, diminishing audience engagement. Dialogue is frequently monotonous, leading to repetitive exchanges that do little to develop the storyline or deepen character relationships. Technical details like the abandoned compound's setting, bug-infested corpses, and the haunted tank suggest a rich narrative universe but remain under-explored due to constrained directorial execution.

Ultimately, Tank 432 is a middle-of-the-road thriller that elicits more questions than it answers. While it poses some compelling scenarios and showcases a capable cast, the lack of concrete revelations and seamless narrative flow leaves viewers adrift in confusion instead of engrossed suspense. Visually adept with some memorable moments, it nonetheless feels akin to a TV movie rather than a cinematic experience. For the curious viewer, a rental is advised over a full purchase to gauge personal reception.

"Tank 432," a military-horror thriller directed by Nick Gillespie, emerges as a polarizing film veering towards ambiguity and a fragmented narrative. The Blu-ray release by Scream Factory showcases a commendable visual transfer that aptly captures the film's eerie and claustrophobic atmosphere. However, the audio track, although engaging in its original form, leaves room for improvement, particularly in its lossless 5.1 mix, which does not quite live up to the atmospheric demands of such a genre.

The lack of substantial bonus features on the Blu-ray is a notable shortcoming. Filmmaking enthusiasts who value director insights, behind-the-scenes footage, or commentary tracks will find this release wanting. This absence sharply limits the overall appeal of the package, reducing it primarily to a basic viewing experience of the film itself. For fans of Ben Wheatley's works or those intrigued by Gillespie's direction, "Tank 432" might serve as an odd yet interesting addition to their collection.

In conclusion, "Tank 432" may leave a significant portion of its audience feeling perplexed and unsatisfied due to its incomplete narrative and cryptic ending. While the visual presentation on Blu-ray is noteworthy, the overall package is somewhat lackluster without compelling extras or a robust sound mix. It’s advisable to approach "Tank 432" with tempered expectations; renting the film first is recommended before making any purchase decision.