Broadcast Signal Intrusion is a neo-noir set in 1999 Illinois. Harry Shum Jr. plays James, a video archivist and camera enthusiast who is still grieving the recent disappearance of his girlfriend. From the beginning, we can see James’ pain and paranoia. He is a loner in the truest sense of the word, communicating with his boss and co-workers through sticky notes and avoiding human contact throughout the film. One night while transferring old news tapes to DVD, James sees a disturbing pirate signal captured on the tape.
He becomes intrigued, searching everything at his disposal to discover the source and perhaps the meaning behind the broadcast intrusion. With his job on the line and the Feds breathing down his neck, James enters a bizarre underworld in search of answers. Obsessed with the idea that there are more intrusions that need to be analyzed to decode their meaning, James begins to believe that somehow these disturbing videos are connected with the disappearance of Hannah.
Harry Shum Jr. drives this film home. His performance is outstanding. We watch him change from experience to experience in a fascinating dive into an increasingly bizarre rabbit hole of last century’s hacking exploits. While it could go the way of The Matrix or other cyber thrillers, Broadcast Signal Intrusion roots itself firmly in noir stylings from the get-go. The somber trumpet, cleverly crafted conspiracy and steady pace really drive the noir themes and tropes home as James continues to dive into his obsession. Centering the viewer’s experience on James’ encounters makes the nightmare sequences more nightmarish, the breakthroughs more substantial, and the betrayals hurt so much more.
It makes the mystery much more mysterious to experience it as it unfolds, not through a frame story or narrator. While embracing horror elements at many points (such as the intrusions themselves and an on-screen suicide), Broadcast Signal Intrusion remains firmly in the mystery genre. It is brooding, dark, and dreamlike at times, portraying James’ nightmares with little warning and frightening clarity. This film is a superior choice for any horror film collection in a public library and is highly recommended. Editor’s Choice.
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