Plot: What’s it about?
Keller (Charles Porter) and Scott (Sam Saprong) are two low level street thugs, about to go on what should be a routine drug run. The two have done deliveries countless times, but this time around, they have some unexpected company. An undercover police officer and his backup are poised to make a bust on the two, with ample firepower to make sure it happens. But when the bust goes bad, Keller and Scott escape amid a hail of gunfire. Scott ends up with a bullet wound, but he survives and the two continue their escape, looking for shelter. They manage to find what looks to be an abandon house, with boarded up windows and all, so they break in to find refuge from the authorities. But they soon learn that the house has an eerie atmosphere and when things begin to unravel, will either be able to escape the house with their lives?
I hadn’t heard much about Nailed prior to this review, but based on the artwork, I expected a low rent Saw rip off. As it turns out, the movie is closer to Asian style horror, with an emphasis on atmosphere and eerie visuals over torture and graphic violence. I don’t think I would call Nailed a great movie, but it is solid and there is a great movie in here somewhere. The story is good, but could use some polish to draw out the maximum tension. I thought the pace was well timed and the journey to the effective conclusion is well done, which isn’t common in recent horror films. Nailed is brought down by the lackluster cast however, who are passable, but really seem out of place here. A more skilled ensemble could have added a lot, as could better equipment to help with the visuals and the amateurish production values. Even so, Nailed is effective and better than a lot of the current crop of horror, so if you want a scare, Nailed is a solid rental.
Video: How does it look?
Nailed is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie seems to have been shot on lower end digital cameras, so the image here isn’t that impressive. Some of the darker scenes come off as murky and detail is almost nonexistent, but this is due to the source, not the transfer. The image also has that wonderful digital haze, not to mention some pixilation issues that crop up and prove to be a distraction. I found this image to be rather lackluster, but with a low end digital video source like this, there isn’t much more we can expect from this transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option sounds decent, but is limited by the production values of the source. I doubt the filmmakers had much in mind in terms of sound design, so we have a basic, unremarkable soundtrack here. The main issue is that the production value as far as sound is low, so the audio has a raw, home video presence. This means the dialogue is inconsistent and the audio on the whole lacks polish, though the music sounds fine. So while the audio here isn’t going to impress, there’s only so much that could be done in this case. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary brings together several cast and crew members, including one brought to us over the telephone. The track is solid and has some good information, but nothing too landmark. The group talks about how the project was started, the ins & outs of the production, and how they feel it all turned out. There is also a well made featurette that runs about twenty minutes, as well as the film’s trailer.
