Brotherhood (Blu-ray) (2010)

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General		Extras
Category	Thriller	Gallery-Photo Trailer-x 6, but none for this film
Rating
Year Of Production	2010
Running Time	80:10 (Case: 85)
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Will Canon
Studio Distributor	Eagle Entertainment	Starring	Trevor Morgan Jon Foster Lou Taylor Pucci Arlen Escarpeta Jesse Steccato Jennifer Sipes
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$29.95	Music	Dan Marocco

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 English Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	Unknown	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

How bad do you want in?

     Adam Buckley (Trevor Morgan) is in a van with other potential members of the Sigma Zeta Chi fraternity house driven by fraternity leader Frank (Jon Foster). As part of their initiation they are required to rob a convenience store of $19.10 at gun point (the house was founded in 1910!). In reality, it is only the commitment to rob a store that is important, as another fraternity member intercepts each of them on their way into the store, prevents them entering and provides them with the cash. However, when it is the turn of Kevin (Lou Taylor Pucci), the intercepting person has gone to the wrong store; the robbery goes wrong and Kevin is shot in the shoulder by Negro store assistant Mike (Arlen Escarpeta). Kevin is rescued and taken back to the fraternity house because Frank is unwilling to risk gaol by taking him to a hospital. Adam opposes his decision while Kevin continues to bleed profusely from his wound, but Frank is sure that they can cover up and escape prison. But in covering their tracks Mike is abducted to ensure his silence and things escalate into territory where no-one can be sure that tragedy can be averted. In the end, Adam must decide how bad he wants in!

     Brotherhood is a short, intense film from writer / director Will Canon that keeps up a frenetic pace throughout. Some of this pace is artificially induced by the ever-moving queasy stedicam work; the camera is seldom still at any time resulting in constant movement of actors through, in and out of frame. There are some good, exciting moments and some shocks as the tension escalates but there is also a lot of shouting and swearing that passes as acting. Although Adam is nominally the POV, and the voice of reason, none of the characters are very likeable and the various fraternity members come across as cruelly misogynist, not to mention violent and racist. Ostensibly about loyalty to one’s fraternity brothers, the film is really about covering one’s own behind as the brothers are prepared to sit around as one of them bleeds to death. It is not a pretty sight.

     Despite, or because of, the queasy camera work and unlikeable characters, Brotherhood is a hectic viewing experience that shows that director Will Canon could be one to watch. The film does generate a high level of energy, tension and excitement and you can certainly spend many a worse 80 minutes.

Video

     Brotherhood is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The original ratio is not listed on the IMDb and I’d guess that the film has been cropped for this Blu-ray release as heads often appear half in the shot, although with the constantly moving camera with actors in and out of shot it is difficult to be sure. As such, the framing is variable and deliberately distracting anyway so it is not a big loss.

     The film events occur over one night so the majority of sequences occur in diffused lighting, even some of the interiors. The colour palate has been slightly bleached out in post production giving a muted, flat look. However, detail is excellent, contrast and brightness consistent, blacks and shadow detail very good. I did not see any artefacts.

     Descriptive subtitles for the hearing impaired are available with dialogue in a white, yellow or blue font with audio cues in green, yellow or blue also. From my sampling they appeared to be accurate.

     Lip Synchronisation was fine.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Audio is a choice between English DTS-HD MA and Dolby Digital 5.1. I listened to the DTS track which was good.

     Dialogue was clear. The surrounds are utilised constantly for music, ambient sound and effects without being overdone. Some effects, such as the car crash, were very effective. The sub woofer is mostly used for the score.

     The music by Dan Marocco provided good support, aided by a number of pop songs well integrated into the action.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Image Gallery

     44 movie and behind the scenes colour stills. Music plays, use the remote to advance to the next still.

Trailers

     Trailers for other films from Eagle Entertainment: Blood Out (2:11), Every Day (2:37), Pathfinders (2:18), Mr. Nice (1:59), By the Will of Genghis Khan (1:56) and Group Sex (2:29).

     At this moment I cannot find a record of another Blu-ray release of Brotherhood. There is a Region 2 UK DVD release whose specifications are not listed.

     Brotherhood is a short, intense film that keeps up a frenetic pace throughout. Despite, or because of, the queasy camera work and unlikeable people, Brotherhood is a hectic viewing experience that does generate a high level of energy, tension and excitement. You can certainly spend a worse 80 minutes.

     The video is acceptable, the audio is good, the extras limited to a stills gallery.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall