Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 25, 2023

War is Hell. And it’s potentially profitable for moviemakers. Stepping away from their usual “mockbuster” routine (including “Top Gunner,” “Planet Dune,” “Battle Star Wars,” and “Independents’ Day”), production company The Asylum looks to celebrate U.S.A. heroism in World War II with “Assault on Hill 400,” which attempts to recreate the spirit of an endeavor from the 1940s, but retains the appearance of a low-budget effort from 2023. Director Christopher Ray (“3-Headed Shark Attack,” “Dick Dickster”) and writer George Clymer (“The Rebels of PT-218”) strive to offer a respectful understanding of military danger and camaraderie, and that intent gets the movie to a certain level of engagement. However, silliness is unavoidable with some creative choices, and the general backyard atmosphere of “Assault on Hill 400” doesn’t provide an epic cinematic quality to help bring the story to life.

In 1944, General Weaver (William Baldwin) and General Cota (Michael Madsen) are set up in the Hurtgen Forest near Belgium, tasked with taking down a German stronghold known as Hill 400. Unable to organize a major attack, the leaders turn to First Lieutenant Lomell (Josh Nuncio) and Second Lieutenant Massney (Richard Lounello) to lead a small group of soldiers, finding their way through Nazi defenses to take control of enemy territory, allowing American forces a chance to gather power and push down on the Germans. The war is wearying for all, but Lomell and Massney are determined to complete their mission, joined by McHugh (Johnny Barden) and Petty (Justin Dudo), and all activity is captured by photographer Anderson (Eric Roberts), a government journalist tasked with chronicling the mission. Reaching Hill 400 isn’t easy, with the men battling determined Nazis, dealing with dangers from all sides, along with a decline in morale, with the Americans missing home and peace, dealing with a war that feels endless, putting pressure on Weaver and Cota to make something happen with this fight.

“Assault on Hill 400” doesn’t have the money to recreate a major movement of WWII. Instead, there’s a small slice of Belgian forest to experience, with Ray forced to make something big out of the woods, with the endeavor actually shot in Buffalo, New York, and that’s a tough match for European locations. Ray doesn’t have cash, but he has smoke, lots and lots of smoke, with almost every single shot in the film clouded in the stuff. It’s meant to summon instant atmosphere in the picture that needs it, as most of “Assault on Hill 400” takes place in the wild, watching the Americans march into danger in the autumnal setting (visible breath on the actors suggests this was not a comfortable shoot), keeping to a routine of characters walking to a destination and fighting the enemy. Perhaps one doesn’t need a monster budget for such a tale of survival, but Ray can’t hide his financial limitations, and no amount of smoke is going to help magically create a sense of danger for the mission.

“Assault on Hill 400” looks to maintain plenty of authenticity, including a commitment to the language of war, with the screenplay throwing around ranks and names without much in the way of proper introductions. For those who aren’t WWII hobbyists, the movie takes some time to get used to, giving the actors a challenge to solidify personalities in a matter of minutes before the story is off. While Baldwin and Madsen are prominently featured/billed on the poster art for “Assault on Hill 400,” they actually have small roles, portraying the grizzled men in charge of the woods, trying to reassure Massney and Lomell of their support while dealing with the realities of such a promise, as extra units aren’t available to help with the cause. While I’m sure this isn’t a deal-breaker for some viewers, the billing is still an annoying quirk of the business, as most of the picture remains with unknown actors, and Roberts pops into view every now and then, portraying a seasoned photographer who apparently still doesn’t understand how to conduct himself in combat, snapping away like crazy during moments of stealth.

To help fill the run time, more dramatic moments are created for “Assault on Hill 400,” getting to know a few of the characters more closely, including a friendship between McHugh and Petty. The men trade tales of home and food as they choke down army rations, also detailing experiences at Normandy. These are small beats of conversation to help break up the action, soon joined by a more feminine appearance in Ursula (Anna Krempholtz), a German nurse tending to the wounded in a bombed-out building. It’s enough to bring the character in to help identify the complications of war, to showcase how compassion isn’t always limited by borders. However, things get silly when Ursula begins flirtations with Lomell, with Ray aiming to bring a little softness to his tale of hard men in the middle of the fight of their lives. It fits awkwardly with the rest of the picture.

Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a decently detailed look at the low-budget ways of "Assault on Hill 400." Rough skin particulars on soldiers are open for study, capturing age and levels of filthiness, and military uniforms are fibrous, with a heavier, woolen appearance. Forest locations are dimensional, even with all the smokiness, and a few interiors are open for examination, with a decent look at decoration and decay. Colors favor a more muted mood of wartime activity and cold weather movement, but greenery is appreciable. Clothing delivers darker greens and grays on soldiers, while brighter whites are present for medical help. Delineation is satisfactory. Some mild banding is detected.

Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA handles dialogue exchanges with clarity, with acting choices and wartime emphasis sharp throughout the listening experience. Scoring supports with definition, delivering an active synth sound for suspense sequences and more reflective, personal moments. Surrounds are focused on pushing out musical moods, along with some atmospheric activity. Battlefield clashes deliver a decent low-end event, with booming bombs common. Sound effects are crisp, going wider with shoot-outs and general area chaos.

Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery (3:04) collects BTS snaps.

• And a Trailer (1:40, HD) is included.

Assault on Hill 400 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Assault on Hill 400" follows pressures put on Lomell and Massney, who are tasked with planning an attack meant to transform the war, giving heroic forces a chance to push Germans back. There's plenty of combat action, with shoot-outs and bombings common, sold with some unconvincing CGI but a lot of thespian enthusiasm. Focus on dangers everywhere works with the limited reach of the production, but Clymer and Ray get ridiculous in the end, introducing a "final boss" for the Americans to face off against, adding some "Hogan's Heroes" energy to its depiction of Nazi villainy/buffoonery. "Assault on Hill 400" has good intentions, but there's not much Ray can do with nondescript locations and a serious lack of cash. The Asylum goes for the history books with this endeavor, but it's hard to get a sense of wartime mayhem and desperation when little money is being spent to recreate such critical valor.