Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 11, 2019

The director of “The Taint,” Drew Bolduc returns with a less provocative tale of interplanetary conflict. “Assassinaut” is a futuristic story of four children sent to a space station for diplomatic reasons, only to find themselves stranded on an alien planet, on the hunt for the President. It’s a mix of “Ender’s Game” and “Escape from New York,” only realized with very little budgetary might, forcing Bolduc to go low-tech as much as possible. Fans of practical effects and kid-centric adventures might get the most out of “Assassinaut,” which periodically highlights bloody events and monstrous encounters to maintain interest, staying true to B-movie aspirations.

There’s an issue with pace when it comes to the overall thrill of watching “Assassinaut.” The production gives off the vibe it was once conceived as a short story, as there’s not a lot of incident here to sustain an 80-minute-long run time, and supporting characters tend to be less developed. It’s an interesting idea, and Bolduc has a vision for the feature, using industrial locations and the open world to create a special space/survival mission for four children. There could be a lot more to “Assassinaut,” which tends to drag between showcase scenes of gruesome violence.

Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation is dealing with an oddly shot picture. There are distorted lenses in play and milkier black levels, aiming for a certain style that doesn't always track as intended. Detail emerges with facial surfaces and goopy practical effects, which keep their gross, moist textures. Planetary travel also delivers fine distances. Colors are as intended, with lighter hues registering on uniforms, and greenery is appealing. Bloodshed offers bold reds. Delineation is adequate without a true sense of black. Compression is problematic at times, finding banding emerging throughout.

Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a clear read of dialogue exchanges, securing the young cast's interactions while more forceful adult appearances retain their authority. Scoring is engaging, with a heavier synth hold that goes deep at times. Low-end does well with music, also rumbling along with space travel and explosions. Surrounds aren't incredibly active, but atmospherics are supported on the alien world and inside tight space station rooms.

Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Drew Bolduc and producer Bedhan Ball.

• Commentary #2 features Bolduc.

• Deleted Scenes (HD) include "Extended TV Scene" (:33), "Kids Walking in Slo-Mo" (:33), "Nice Looking Scientist Cut Dialogue" (1:03), "Captain and Commander Snake" (:21), "Captain Romance" (:33), "Bodyguard Showdown" (1:44), "DJ Time Goblin" (1:47), and "Sarah Shooting Hallucinations" (:19).

• "Dental Association" (1:46, HD) is a short film.

• Video Interviews (HD) present Drew Bolduc (5:25), Vito Trigo (12:18), and Shannon Hutchinson (11:43).

• And a Trailer (1:43, HD) is included.

Assassinaut Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Assassinaut" does well enough with lowered standards, as Bolduc is much better with individual scenes of strange events and acts of intimidation than he is with an entire narrative. It's largely a visual experience without seasoned actors, but there are goopy encounters, a few violent surprises, and a central quest that keeps it interesting, helping out when the film isn't always interested in moving along with any discernable motion.