Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Broadcast Signal Intrusion Blu-ray Movie Review

A head full of static.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III January 7, 2022

Rare as they are, broadcast signal intrusions -- or the hijacking of radio, television, and cable signals by unlicensed outsiders -- have intermittently occurred for decades... and if you knew what they were before the definition, chances are you're familiar with the most well-known ones like Captain Midnight or the Max Headroom Incident. Jacob Gentry's psychological thriller Broadcast Signal Intrusion builds an ever-twisting narrative around this concept, tying fictionalized signal hijacks to the mental unraveling of lowly Chicago tape archivist James (Harry Shum Jr.), whose wife vanished some three years earlier. After randomly discovering one such intrusion on a decade-old local broadcast, James learns of similar ones that occurred right before the disappearance of two other women in the area.

Soon enough, he falls down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, dead-ends, and potential clues about his wife's fate, which gives Broadcast Signal Intrusion a very strong Zodiac vibe in that our laser-focused protagonist sacrifices his job and well-being to solve a possibly unsolvable mystery. It's a long, strange journey and one that poses more questions than it actually answers: along the way, James meets a mysterious kindred spirit in Alice (Kelley Mack), an investigator who first prods his interest (Steve Pringle), a loner whose post office box is tied to a familiar recording (Chris Sullivan), a bug-eyed drifter who's been investigating the incidents for years (Justin Welborn), and more. (Sadly, some of these characters -- none more than Alice -- feel like hastily inserted sign-posts just to speed things along.) It all adds up to a sporadically thrilling mystery that's so dedicated to red herrings and pure, unfiltered mind-fuckery that it forgets to stick the landing. Broadcast Signal Intrusion ends up closing an ouroboros-like circle with no definitive revelations... just a marginally satisfied lead character who may have found the truth but ruined his life doing it.

Even so, my built-in love for these weird little happenings made Broadcast Signal Intrusion worth the trip even with a few obvious drawbacks. It's pretty well-acted, was obviously shot with care, and the fusion of its fictional drama with look-alike historical intrusions and other creepy clips (including a recurring homage to / rip-off of YouTube sensation Tara the Android) makes for an entertaining ride. There's great attention to detail in its recreation of a 1999 vibe, and that doesn't just extend to the respectably good production design: Broadcast Signal Intrusion actually feels like a film literally made that year, as it lightly borrows a few key narrative elements from era-specific movies like The Matrix and Fight Club. Had Broadcast Signal Intrusion been polished to a smoother shine, this might have been a future cult classic; as-is, it just feels like a really great premise that doesn't quite reach its full potential.

Obviously enough, a film like Broadcast Signal Intrusion feels right at home on the small screen, so it's very good to know that MPI Media Group's Blu-ray package at least offers rock-solid A/V specs including a very good lossless 5.1 mix. But this is more of a movie-only disc with minimal bonus features, and that's a real shame: like the unresolved truth at the end of its story, this main feature itself should just be the tip of the iceberg.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Broadcast Signal Intrusion earns a respectable showing on Blu-ray courtesy of MPI's 1080p transfer; although I'm unsure of the film's source material format and resolution, it fees like a fitting bridge between the cleanly-recorded footage and noisy, low-res intrusions scattered throughout the film. Its relatively natural color palette is occasionally infused with atmospheric tones, from the golden glow of nighttime Chicago streets to the cold, clinical halls of James' workplace. Well-lit outdoor scenes showcase tight details, solid textures, and depth, with the darkest scenes -- such as a climactic car accident aided by the exaggerated red glow of brake lights -- flattening out but still decently rendered with almost no perceivable black crush or posterization. In contrast, those intrusions, as well as other homemade clips like the SAL-E Sparks footage, boast a terrific attention to detail with tracking lines, static, and other VHS/Beta-era anomalies that fit the film's tone perfectly. Simply put, this looks to be very respectable treatment of difficult source material and, while a true 4K presentation may have yielded even more impressive results, there's something to be said for Broadcast Signal Intrusion's beautifully raw but measured appearance on Blu-ray.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unsurprisingly, Broadcast Signal Intrusion takes advantage of countless opportunities for creative sound design to heighten its considerable tension, from creepy atonal noises and distortion that swallow certain moments to foreboding echoes and other background effects. Even so, it frequently leans on more claustrophobic elements while keeping most of its dialogue squarely up front, boxing in its main character while getting a bit more experimental and loose as he gradually tumbles down the rabbit hole. My only subjective complaint here is Broadcast Signal Intrusion's somber, jazzy score: the filmmakers were obviously going for a classic noir feel but I much prefer the more electronic-infused music paired with its trailer -- maybe that's too on-the-nose for most, but those sparse trumpet solos just stuck out like a sore thumb. Either way, this is still a fundamentally great presentation with terrific ambience, effective use of discrete channels, a satisfying low end, and almost everything else you'd want from this type of film.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the main feature only.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. Unfortunately, bonus features are minimal; I'm sure that COVID-related complications are to blame here, but a film like this would have benefitted greatly from an audio commentary, interviews, deleted scenes, contextual featurettes, full-length versions of the signal intrusions and tapes seen during the film -- anything, really.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:06) - This creepy and effective promotional piece -- which kind of spoils the film but not really, I guess -- even boasts lossless 5.1 audio, which is a nice touch. Watch it here.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jacob Gentry's Broadcast Signal Intrusion takes a rich, potentially great premise and only carries it halfway, but in the process manages to create a decently captivating film that's fun to get lost in. Sadly, the refusal to answer most of its questions feels half-baked rather than purposeful, but this one might age a little better than expected. For now, MPI's Blu-ray package serves up suitably great A/V specs but the lack of bonus features -- combined with its somewhat high price tag -- will keep most blind-buyers away. It's definitely worth a watch, though, no matter the format.