Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION [SxSW Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]
The intersection of reality (or pseudo-reality) and genre is always an interesting mix depending how deep the rabbit hole goes. With "Broadcast Signal Intrusion" [Midnighters], the filmmaker Jacob Gentry plays an interesting balancing game. While apparent that this is one of his first filmmaking forays, there is an undeniably steady hand. The visuals peppered by "the intrusions" directed by a separate artist, really give a sense of place with a vicelike grip. While "Silence Of The Lambs" might be too lofty a comparison, there are similarities in the way the characters work and the structure of how the layers are peeled away. The true nature of people and their reflexivity of their purpose is interesting. Those smaller details are the ones that interest Gentry without taking away from the plot. Lead Harry Shum Jr. as James does his job admirably playing a video archivist in 1999 yet it also harks back to noir films plus certain Hong Kong detective elements while being inherently American. The music by Ben Lovett really helps with the process balancing between a Hitchcock feel, Jerry Goldsmith and John Carpenter melding live instruments and digital. Kelley Mack as the mysterious Alice also works well without darkening the sky too much. And the cinematography gives away just enough while harking back to Old Chicago, especially with the imagery of the trains. The film is also not so dark as to turn off certain audiences and yet it keeps tightening the noose. The acting is satisfactory, nothing utterly stellar, save for a late entry who simply turns it on a beautiful paradoxical way that heightens the final act. But back to the balance. The film gets in a nice 80s tune cut that perfectly fits a scene that is instrumental to the film. While some plot holes do persist, they aren't enough to disassemble or detract from the progress of the story. For a film this plot driven, there are some interesting moments of reflection, even if most of the facts don't quite line up. However from beginning to end, "Broadcast Signal Intrusion" is bold, confidant, entertaining and stylish while not being too full of itself or meta in its delivery, A-
By Tim Wassberg
