Silo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Silo Blu-ray Movie Review

Corn in the USA.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 21, 2021

Shining a light on what's referred to in farming circles as "grain entrapment", Marshall Burnette's Silo depicts the fallout from an agriculture accident that threatens the life of Kody (Jack DiFalco, The Goldfinch), an asthmatic teenager and aspiring speed metal vocalist. Together with pal "Lucha" (Danny Ramirez), he works on a farm in rural Idaho (is there any other kind of Idaho, really?) and, during routine maintenance inside a massive grain silo, becomes wedged in the top of a massive pile of corn that weighs 1.5 million pounds. In a dark corner of physics foreign to city slickers whose knee-jerk reaction is "just pull him out!", that's not how it works: Kody might as well be trapped in cement from the waist down, with each breath tightening due to the massive force exerted on his lower body. But one wrong move, either by himself or his rescuers, and Kody might be buried by a crop that's keeping his town alive.

The premise has potential, but 127 Hours this ain't: Silo takes a low-key approach to the material, seasoning the slow build-up and rescue attempt with a thick coating of personal drama that doesn't always work; in fact, much of it ends up distracting from what should be the film's dramatic focal point. From vague character connections to an acre's worth of emotional baggage that includes Kody's strained relationship with his widowed mom Valerie (Jill Paice, Person of Interest), regret over the death of his father, Valerie's anger with former family friend Frank (Jeremy Holm, House of Cards), Lucha's internalized regret, and the plight of fellow farm worker Junior (Jim Parrack, True Blood), whose own father suffers from Alzheimer's, this simmering small-town soap opera might exist much more comfortably as a ten-episode television season, not a 77-minute drama (69 minutes, plus surprisingly long credits).

So while "It's bland and the portions are too small" isn't much of a critique, that's pretty much what you get with Silo. The rescue itself is, of course, emotionally effective but rarely raises above the temperature of a TV movie-of-the-week, with passable performances, cinematography, and editing that make it look like a polished enough production while never actually feeling like one. In fact, that's a decent one-word summary of Silo: "passable". Still, good intentions are clearly there -- that counts for something, and anyone who's lived or worked in an environment where this kind of thing could happen may be swayed more dramatically. (Or own Brian Orndorf, for example, gave it much better marks in his theatrical review earlier this year.) Either way, if Silo prompts any measurable degree of positive change in an industry where almost 1,300 workers have died in similar accidents since 1964, that'll supersede any criticism.

For now, Silo is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Oscilloscope Laboratories, who have a long tradition of supporting lesser-known film with solid home video editions. The same holds true for this one, as we're treated to a rock-solid A/V presentation and a handful of bonus features that split the difference between drama and reality.

Silo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot in a wide 2.39:1 aspect ratio (which does plenty for the picturesque landscapes, but flattens out most other scenes), Silo looks great on Blu-ray. This digitally-shot film ticks all the boxes for a quality home video presentation: solid image detail, great color reproduction, visible textures, and black levels that hold up well enough as the rescue attempt creeps into sundown and beyond. Oscilloscope's Blu-ray is well-authored and, due to its short length, easily maintains a high bit rate despite this being a single-layered disc. Trace amounts of banding can be seen on harsh gradients (car headlights, fluorescent bulbs, etc.), but it's rarely distracting and almost expected given the format. Overall, it's a fine effort that should play as well on the small screen as it likely did making the festival rounds.

Silo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the dual DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio mixes don't aim for the fences but consistently get the job done, with the surround track serving as the default option. Both are largely front-loaded affairs but, as expected, the 5.1 track provides an more immersive atmosphere where larger locales are concerned... which are pretty numerous, from the wide-open fields to, of course, the towering grain silo itself, which feels expansive and claustrophobic at the same time. Dialogue mostly resides front and center with echoes occasionally spilling into the rears, while machinery and music cues occasionally occupy the rears even though discrete effects are very rare. Still, the more straight-ahead 2.0 track is a capable alternative, so if you're not set up for surround you should still get enough out of this one.

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

Silo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a clear keepcase with ominous cover artwork and no inserts; a Limited Edition Digipak edition, as always, is available at Oscilloscope's official site. The bonus features provide a short but sweet overview of the subject matter, most of which lead towards proactive information than the on-set experience.

• Silo: Edge of the World (10:45) - This short documentary offers a quick overview of the rescue attempt made during the film, as well as a few real-life farmers offering their own experiences on the subject.

• Panel Discussions - Two separate virtual Q&A roundtables with members of the crew (including director Marshall Burnette, as well as lead actors Jeremy "Frank" Holm and Jim "Junior" Parrack), as well as a total of four representatives from the agriculture and fire rescue communities, who speak about unique challenges making the film, real-world issues, and staying true to the subject matter.

• Farmer Panel (53:42)


• Firefighter Panel (45:41)

• Building the Silo (3:22) - Time-lapse footage of the grain silo construction, a five-day process.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:02) - A short but effective promotional piece that can also be seen here.

Silo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marshall Burnette's Silo attempts to shed light on a particularly troubling aspect of farm safety that seems more easily preventable than it actually is, but this standard-issue rescue film gets bogged down with a few made-for-TV subplots that distract more than enhance. It's a passable experience at best, though its obvious good intentions -- combined with a potentially greater impact on those who actually live in that world -- gives this one a strong "your mileage may vary" x-factor. Oscilloscope's Blu-ray edition, as usual, serves up a strong A/V presentation along with a few thoughtful extras, which might be enough to tip the scales for curious newcomers. It's a rental for most, though.