Movies about wars feel like they’ve taken a backseat to superhero in the 21st Century. To many of us growing up in the ’70s, war films constantly played on TV during weekends. It felt like there was no bigger superhero than John Wayne in a military uniform. While we imagine that movies about service men in action cost a fortune, Roger Corman figured out ways to stage a battle without blowing up the budget. Even Stanley Kubrick’s first low budget feature film Fear and Desire was about men in uniform on a mission. It’s not impractical stage a war without a massive production crew lingering behind the camera. That’s why I’m not surprised that The Asylum produced a World War II epic film without changing their production ways. From the people who made Sharknado come a film that doesn’t have G.I.’s having to battle Great Whites from Germany. Assault on Hill 400 is based on a true event and gives the action a real edge.
On November 14, 1944, Captain Massney (A Mother’s Revenge‘s Richard Lounello) and Lieutenant Lomell (Deadly Vows‘ Josh Nuncio) of the 2nd Ranger Battalion get assigned a dangerous mission. Their small unit has must take Hill 400 from the German troops. General Weaver (Backdraft‘s William Baldwin) and General Cota (Kill Bill‘s Michael Madsen) are adamant about this task. Turns out Hill 400 is a major strategic spot that the German use for artillery attacks against Allied Forces. If they can’t secure the hill, all of their post-D Day advancement will be for nothing. Along with the rather small unit is a combat photographer (The Dark Knight & Star 80‘s Eric Roberts) capturing what seems like a suicide mission. The members get irritated at him snapping away as they hunt for Germans in various deserted buildings on their path to Hill 400. As elite as the Rangers are, can they really complete the mission while being outnumbered at least 10 to 1?
How did The Asylum make a World War II film for less than Saving Private Ryan opening battle? A majority of the film is shot in the woods. Not much need to set decorating when it’s just trees and grass covered in leaves. Baldwin and Madsen do nearly all their scenes inside a military tent that has no windows. No need to show equipment and background troops beyond an open flap. The establishing shot of the tent base is CGI so they didn’t have to put up any poles. They also digitally inserted the explosions in the woods so that saved a fortune on pricey explosive effects. The same is true with rifle and machine gun fire so they didn’t have to spend much on blanks. The cast doesn’t go cheap in their performances. Eric Roberts gets into his World War I vet who snaps away on the new soldiers. He understands the mission of the movie is to remember this small, but significant moment in history. This film is treated with a bit more seriousness than normally associated with a movie from The Asylum. Assault On Hill 400 depicts an actual event with a serious effort.
The Video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The image looks sharp. You’ll see the smoke rising up from the battle fields. Audio includes 5.1 DTS-HD MA Surround and 2.0 DTS-HD MA Stereo. Pick the one that reflects your home entertainment system. You’ll hear bullets zip around the room in surround. The movie is subtitled in English.
Trailer (1:40) shows off the battle in the forest action.
Image Gallery (3:04) includes behind the scenes shots.
Shout! Factory presents Assault On Hill 400. Director Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray. Screenplay by George Clymer. Starring Eric Roberts, William Baldwin, Josh Nuncio, Richard Lounello and Michael Madsen. Running Time: 87 minutes. Rating: Not Rated. Release Date: August 1, 2023.
